Archbishop of York touts new safeguards as archbishop of Canterbury leaves office

The Church of England plans new initiatives to prevent abuse of power by church leadership, according to the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell’s Feast of the Epiphany letter released on Monday. The letter’s release coincided with the final day of service from the current archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. In the letter, Cottrell apologized for the church’s institutional failures that allowed sexual abuse to take place within the church. The report is a stark reminder that abuse survivors are calling for change and not just words of lament, he said.

Welby submitted his resignation in November after a published investigation exposed his failure to report sexual abuse within the church. The Makin Review exposed a long conspiracy of silence about the abuses of a former church lawyer in 2013, Welby admitted in his resignation statement. He claimed full responsibility for the trauma, saying he believed that the police had been informed and a resolution would be found. Welby’s resignation will be finalized at 11:59 p.m. on Monday and the archbishop of York will absorb most of the vacant office’s responsibilities.

What kind of reforms does Cottrell propose? Church leaders plan to discuss several proposed independent safeguards, including independent oversight and audits, and day-to-day protective protocol, according to Cottrell. Leaders will also push to enact measures strengthening the church’s disciplinary code and other provisions to express the church's heartfelt sorrow to abuse survivors in tangible ways, according to the letter.

He also detailed institutional changes already in place. Over 100 professional abuse prevention staff work at both regional and national levels, and over 20,000 clergy, lay ministers, and church officers now undergo abuse prevention training, he said. Thousands of volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults will also complete rigorous vetting, he added.

Dig deeper: Read my report about Welby facing criticism in October for pro-LGBT sentiments.