The Children’s Society were wrong to cancel Welby - but I understand why they did

The abuse of children is quite possibly the worst crime imaginable. Revelations about the Church of England’s failure to prevent child abuse within its ranks have therefore understandably shocked the nation and rocked the institution of the Church. 

The scandal surrounding the mishandling of the John Smyth affair has already led to the resignation of Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. The fallout over a failure to sack David Tudor may yet ensure the same fate for Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York. 

There is no suggestion whatsoever that Welby or Cottrell are in any direct way responsible for the abuse, yet their failure to take appropriate action against known abusers is having wide repercussions.

If the Church is more concerned with procedure than rooting out sin, it has lost its way

This week, the Children’s Society refused to accept a financial donation from Welby. The Archbishop, set to step down on 6 January, had included a donation to the charity in his final Christmas e-card as a gesture of support, highlighting the charity’s work with children affected by “criminal and sexual exploitation, abuse,” and other challenges.

In a statement, Children’s Society CEO Mark Russell said: “After careful consideration, we have respectfully decided not to accept the donation offered by the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury. The Children’s Society is deeply committed to supporting the survivors of abuse, our teams support victims of child sexual abuse, and this means that accepting this donation would not be consistent with the principles and values that underpin our work.”

Some may criticise the decision to turn away a financial gift that could help hundreds of needy children. But in many peoples’ eyes, the CofE has become synonymous with poor safeguarding practice. In today’s outrage-fuelled, frenzied media environment, the Children’s Society has taken an understandable position.

Toxic 

These controversies point to wider truths about the Church and society as a whole. Firstly, the media’s response to the Children’s Society’s decision was to ask if Justin Welby has now become “toxic”. 

This language has become all too familiar in modern times; when a person or organisation makes a mistake, we are quick to label them ‘unclean’ and seek to disassociate ourselves lest their ‘toxicity’ infects us too and leaves us irreparably tarnished. 

This speaks of a culture that has no hope for redemption; in the light of the gospel, the challenge for Christians is to think differently. Jesus cared so little for ‘reputation management’ that he regularly associated with those who were considered toxic in first century Palestine.

Process and procedure

Secondly, we have learned that the CofE has become just as hamstrung by process and procedure as secular organisations. Smyth was allowed to continue abusing children because Welby believed the right processes had been followed. Cotterell claims Wood could not be sacked because ‘the process’ would not allow it. 

I have no reason to disbelieve either of them, and anyone who works in the public sector will be familiar with the constant, nagging fear of being found not to have followed the correct procedure. This has, in many institutions, become more important than achieving a good or right outcome. 

Fear of man

This is exactly what Jesus warned against when he criticised the Pharisees for outwardly appearing to follow religious law while using it to evade their moral responsibilities. If the leaders of the Church have become more concerned with being seen to follow procedure than caring for the flock or rooting out sin, then the Church has lost its way. 

At the heart of the failure to act against child abusers is a fear of man; it is the same reason why bishops are happy to make public interventions on issues such as climate change but not on controversial topics like abortion and marriage.

When a person makes a mistake, we are quick to label them ‘unclean’ and disassociate ourselves lest their ‘toxicity’ infects us too 

This scandal will once again raise questions about the future of the Church of England and whether or not it is time to disestablish Church from the state. Whatever one’s view on this matter, it seems unlikely that the institution can survive unless it rediscovers its mission - and its courage. 

The purpose of the Church is not to follow due process, or to invent more procedure, or to ‘manage’ the problem of disgraced priests. Rather it is to fearlessly follow the example of Jesus - courageously exposing sin, offering redemption, making disciples. 

Thankfully there are many parish priests in ordinary places doing exactly that. We must pray that their good work is not hindered by the crisis facing the wider institution.