It is with a deep sense of sadness and regret that the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby has been received. He has been an outstanding Archbishop and symbolic spiritual leader of our Anglican Communion and was due to demit office in 2026.
Unfortunately, a report captioned the Makin Review which investigated the serious violations of some 130 boys over several decades by a now deceased Attorney, John Smyth, and who was acting as an agent of the church which was later brought to the attention of Archbishop Justin in 2013 and has been deemed not to have received the attention and follow-up which abuses of this nature require of those in positions of leadership. In the context of ongoing revelations of a history of Bishops and other leaders of churches covering up instances of abuse by clergy and other operatives of the church, the matter is now one that is treated with utter seriousness by the Courts, the victims, advocates for the rights of the abused, and responsible citizens as a whole. Indeed, churches in Canada and the United States have witnessed major rulings by the Courts in favour of the victims of abuse.
Abuse of any kind and of any age group or gender is a very serious matter and leaves serious scars on its victims and form part of a lifelong struggle to restore a sense of wholeness to the scarred sense of self and limitations it often places on the ability to have wholesome relationships as an adult.
In recognition of the seriousness of this matter, the Anglican Communion has adopted a Safe Church Protocol which is intended to prevent its occurrence and outlining the disclosure process for reporting and seeking redress for abuse. It is a comprehensive instrument which speaks to how we organize our ministries, the personnel who function within them, as well as our institutional space to ensure that persons are informed regarding the nature of abuse, how and to whom to report such experiences, and the provisions that are in place to assist the victims cope with the violation which has taken place.
Our Province of the West Indies has adopted the Protocol at its Provincial Synod and each Diocesan Synod has been charged to do the same. We are fortunate to have as one of the Communion-wide Commissioners of the Safe Church Commission, Mrs. Ena Barclay, from the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, and a second person, Dean Shelly-Ann Tenia of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago, as the Provincial representatives to the Commission.
Work is already underway toward the full implementation of the Protocol through presentations at Synods, training with the Mothers’ Union and other auxiliaries within the church, as well as with Sunday School Teachers and Camp Counsellors. The adoption of this protocol means that Bishops of this Province, as in the current case with the Archbishop of Canterbury, will be held accountable for failure to act appropriately and with thoroughness in reporting and addressing instances of abuse. This is also true of priests and any designated leader who functions with authorization by the ecclesiastical authorities.
Let us not assume that cases of abuse within the church are confined to only certain denominations, or that it is a matter that relates only to church-related institutions. It is present in schools, the workplace, and just about any institution in which persons have power over others, especially those who have trust in them, and who then use their power to violate the trust and abuse their victims.
Let us be reminded that the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury is not a matter of distant concern in another land or a denomination that may not be within our circle of loyalty and allegiance. It is a reminder of the fact that people are preyed upon and victimized by abusers and predators, and we have a responsibility to end such violations by reporting such abuses and to protect and support the victims in their hurt, pain and attempt at reaching a place of healing.
Yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend Howard K.A. Gregory, STD, DD
Archbishop of the West Indies