Justin Welby's time period as Archbishop of Canterbury ends at midnight on Monday, two months after he resigned over safety failures within the Church of England.
Welby took up the position in 2013 however introduced his resignation final November after the publication of the Makin Overview, which discovered him partly answerable for the failure to resolve the John Smyth case.
The late Smyth used Christian camps to groom boys and younger males for sadistic abuse. The Makin Overview mentioned Welby failed to make sure Smyth's abuse was reported to the police and that extra may and will have been executed to convey him to justice.
Welby introduced his resignation: “It is rather clear that I have to take private and institutional duty for the lengthy and retraumatizing interval between 2013 and 2024.”
He continued: “I hope this resolution will clarify how critically the Church of England takes the necessity for change and our deep dedication to making a safer church. As I step down, I accomplish that in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.”
Welby's official duties will finish on Monday night time after a night service at Lambeth Palace. It isn’t sure the place he’ll go subsequent or if he’ll resume priestly duties – he must be granted a Allow to Officiate (PTO) by his space bishop.
Throughout his tenure, Welby performed an essential position in key state occasions. He officiated the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II. and in addition topped King Charles III. and Queen Camilla.
Nonetheless, he was additionally accused of main the church away from biblical educating on marriage and sexuality. Even earlier than he stepped down over the Smyth scandal, there have been requires his resignation after he mentioned homosexual intercourse in a dedicated relationship was not sinful.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury has not solely rejected biblical marriage, he has rejected Christ,” Christian Concern's Andrea Williams mentioned on the time.
“Subsequently, even earlier than the publication of the Makin Overview, Welby disqualified himself from holding such a place of energy within the bride of Christ, the Church.”
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell will take the interim management of the Church of England till Welby's successor is called. Cottrell himself confronted calls to resign over the dealing with of a separate safeguarding case involving a priest.
