The Resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Dear Anglican Family,

Pentecost-tide greetings to you all.

Last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury announced his intention to resign from that post. His Grace, The Rt. Rev. & Rt. Hon. Justin Portal Welby is the Archbishop of the province in the Church of England called Canterbury. As Archbishop of Canterbury, he is the head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the Worldwide Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Welby resigned, taking institutional and personal responsibility for the failure of the Church of England to give the appropriate response to serious allegations of the brutal abuse of more than 100 boys by an employee of the Church of England with whom he was personally acquainted. This abuse went on over several decades, eventually occurring in two other countries after the time in England.

The whole disclosure of the nature and extent of the abuse is shocking and horrifying.

This unfortunate situation reminds us of the Church’s responsibility always to protect and to care for minors and all vulnerable people and to deal appropriately with allegations of violations of the same. Abuse of any kind upon a person of any age, gender, or circumstances is wrong and a serious matter, with far-reaching consequences, especially for the victims and their families. Abuse can cause victims to lose sight of their value as children of God and destroy their personal dignity.

We are challenged in our own diocese and in our own two countries, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, to remain advocates for the right treatment of others and for the protection of all. The Church must always be a safe space.

The decision to resign has an immediate impact on the Church of England and on the United Kingdom. It does not impact our operation and governance in this diocese or in the Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI). It does, however, impact the consciousness, minds, and hearts of our worldwide Anglican Communion because we are a family connected by common history, faith, devotion, worship, and living. “We are the Body of Christ and members one of another” (Romans 12:4–5), writes St. Paul, and we say this in the mass regularly.

The public disclosure left the Archbishop to make a painful and difficult decision. His statement on his decision speaks for itself and for him. I commend it to you for your reading [and link it here] for your convenience.

As we feel sadness and regret, we offer thanks for the significant contribution which Archbishop Welby has made both to the Church of England and to the Worldwide Anglican Communion.

What we must do now is pray for him, his wife Caroline, their family, his staff and colleagues, his diocese and province, and for the Church of England.

We also pray for the victims and their families, and for the wholesome and thorough addressing of the issues, for the care and healing of those who have been damaged, for peace and resolution overall, and that there be no more victims of any abuse anywhere.

Let us all commit ourselves to this: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!”

Especially do we pray for Archbishop Justin as he journeys on in ministry under God’s loving and providential care.

Let us remain loving, serving, and faithful here in our own time and space … until God calls us home.

Amen.

Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Laish Boyd
Diocesan Bishop

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