Kaziimba regrets ‘compromised’ Canterbury leadership

KAMPALA - Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu has regreted that the ‘compromised’ Justin Welby leadership of Canterbury broke the unity of the Church.

This is in the wake of the resignation of Archbishop Welby following a damning report into abuses at Christian camps in 1970s and 1980s.

Kaziimba in a statement on Wednesday (November 10, 2024) expressed pity that it was Welby’s same ‘compromised’ leadership that had led to the fabric of the Anglican communion being torn at its deepest level.

“It grieves us deeply that so many people suffered from the continued abuse of John Smyth over many years simply because the church’s leadership covered up the abuse, did not uphold the moral teaching of the Bible and the church, and failed to defend the vulnerable,” Kaziimba said.

He added: “Along with other members of GAFCON and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, several years ago the Church of Uganda ceased recognising the authority of Archbishop Justin Welby because of his inability to uphold the historic and Biblical teaching of the Church of England on marriage and family”.

GAFCON is a network of Anglicans from over 50 countries who guard and proclaim the unchanging truth of the Bible.

In an April 21, 2023 statement issued in Rwandan capital Kigali, GFCON stated: “We have recognised that the Archbishop of Canterbury has abdicated his historic place as the “first among equals” among the primates and churches of the Anglican communion, and we no longer recognise him as our leader.”

“The Church of England General Synod’s decision to provide prayers of blessing to same-sex unions and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthusiastic support of it are decisions we cannot recognise and have resulted in the breaking of fellowship with him and the Church of England,” the statement added.

Welby on Tuesday announced he was resigning following a damning report that concluded that the Church of England covered up serial abuse of children.

Welby had faced days of growing pressure to quit after the independent probe found Welby "could and should" have formally reported decades of abuse by a Church-linked lawyer to authorities in 2013.

In the wake of the resignation, GAFCON stated that it recognised the observations, findings and recommendations of the makin report, including the danger of a church culture in which what is expedient takes priority over the values for which the Church stands.

“As we proceed with the Cairo Covenant, our fellowship will hold fast to paramount biblical and spiritual principles, including those of fostering a safe church, implementing oversight over best safeguarding procedures in the interests of all groups, parishioners, stakeholders and vulnerable persons who operate within the Anglican Communion,” it stated.

Appointed the Church of England's highest-ranking cleric in 2013, Welby had apologised for what occurred but previously insisted he would not resign because he did not know about the wrongdoing before then.

A petition demanding his resignation, launched in the wake of the report's revelations, by Tuesday had garnered nearly 14,000 signatures while leading clergy, including some bishops, were increasingly urging him to quit.

ALSO READ:

Demands for Church of England reform after abuse scandal

Anglican church head urged to resign over abuse scandal

"It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024," Welby said in a statement.

He added: "I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse."

The independent Makin Review concluded that John Smyth, a lawyer who organised evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s, was responsible for the "prolific, brutal and horrific" abuse of as many as 130 boys and young men.

It found the Church of England the mother church of Anglicanism covered up the "traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks", which occurred in Britain, Zimbabwe and South Africa over several decades.

Smyth, who lived in Africa from 1984, died aged 75 in South Africa in 2018 while under investigation by British police. He never faced any criminal charges.

GAFCON commended

Kaziimba commended the GAFCON movement and the covenanted relationships of the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans to others as the best way forward for Anglicans to re-unite under the authority of scripture and in the cause of extending the great commission of ‘our’ Lord Jesus Christ.

“In this month of November, the Church of Uganda is focusing on children. I urge all of us to go the extra mile to ensure that children are safe by creating a conducive environment for them to be born, raised, and nurtured. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14),” Kaziimba said.

He added; “On behalf of Church of Uganda, we assure the Church of England of our prayers to lift high the cross of Christ, restore the authority of scripture, and proclaim the unchanging gospel in a changing world. We extend our prayers to Archbishop Welby and his family and also pray for the continued healing of all those who have endured abuse.”