Tue Nov 12 14:25:10 UTC 2024: ## Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns Amid Abuse Scandal
**LONDON -** The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has resigned after failing to adequately address allegations of abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps decades ago. The decision comes after an independent report last week concluded that Welby did not take sufficient action to stop the individual, described as “arguably the Church of England’s most prolific serial abuser.”
Welby, the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, said he resigned “in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse” and expressed a “profound commitment to creating a safer church.”
The report, known as the Makin Report, detailed the actions of John Smyth, who ran summer camps for young Christians. The report concluded that it was unlikely Welby was unaware of concerns regarding Smyth’s behavior in the 1980s.
Welby, who served 11 years as Archbishop, faced calls to resign following the report’s publication. He initially resisted, but ultimately stepped down, acknowledging “long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.”
Church commentators noted that an Archbishop resigning over such a scandal is unprecedented. Welby is known for his outspoken leadership and his willingness to engage with contentious issues, from same-sex marriage to climate change.
The resignation marks a significant moment for the Church of England, which is currently grappling with a number of challenges, including a decline in membership and a growing rift between its liberal and conservative wings.
First Piper 