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Dear friends in Christ,
Yesterday we learned of the Most Reverend Justin Welby's resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury.
In Bishop Welby's statement, he admitted mishandling an egregious sexual misconduct matter, and he lamented how his actions impact the Church of England and the larger Anglican Communion. This is a sobering reminder of the sin that continues to stain our church at every level.
There are two things I'm communicating with you today:
1. Our Presiding Bishop's response to the Archbishop's resignation:
Today I am praying for the people of the Church of England, for our siblings in the Anglican Communion, and for all victims and survivors of abuse, especially clergy abuse. Abuse in any form is horrific and abhorrent, and it grieves me that the church does not always live up to its ideal as a place where all of God’s children are safe.
I commend Archbishop Welby for calling the Church of England to address its safeguarding failures, and I pledge the Episcopal Church’s commitment to this critical task in our own contexts and in the Anglican Communion. The church must be a refuge where people can come with the deepest wounds and vulnerabilities and be nurtured, respected and never abused.
2. In the Diocese of Maine we are committed to create and maintain faith communities that work continually to prevent abuse of every kind. We do this by making sure Safe Church training and safeguarding policies are up-to-date for every leader, and by referring people with reports of abuse and harassment to the clergy disciplinary process known as Title IV.
Today, and in the coming weeks, our immediate response is to pray for the victims and survivors of abuse throughout the church, and importantly, for Archbishop Welby and his family during this difficult time of transition, penitence, and by God's grace, reconciliation.
All Christians are called to protect the vulnerable; however, elected and appointed leaders in the church are particularly responsible to seek and speak the truth. Please join me in recommitting ourselves to this holy and essential work.
May God bless you and keep you.
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