About a year ago Justin Welby stepped down as Archbishop of Canterbury after a review questioned his knowledge of a serious abuse case. As leader of 85-million Anglican believers worldwide his job wasnt easy - modern church heads dont face beheading like their predecessors but managing this huge religious group is still complex
The resignation came after investigation of John Smyth case: a well-connected lawyer who ran youth-camps for British elite teens. While publicly fighting against gay rights in mid-70s Smyth privately did terrible things: he beat young men while naked claiming it was religious practice (his actions went on until his death about 6 years ago)
The churchʼs handling of this case shows deep problems: after an internal report found Smyth guilty of evil acts in early-80s nobody called police Instead he moved to Zimbabwe with help from other church people where abuse continued. Later he went to South-Africa - the mother-church never warned its African partners about the danger
The Anglican church faces a big split nowadays: Western branches accept gay marriage (like US Episcopal church has done since mid-2010s) while African churches dont. Welby tried to stay in-between which made both sides unhappy. The Church of England now allows some blessings but wont do full marriages; this half-way approach isnt working
Church attendance dropped by one-third during Welbyʼs 11-year leadership (covid shut-downs didnt help). His background - Eton education banking career Churchill-connected family - shows how class and power stay important in church politics. The next leader will be picked through a complex process involving the king prime minister and church committee; but whoever gets the job will face same old problems