The Church of Uganda has reacted to the resignation of The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The announcement comes after a damning report revealed his failure to address child abuse allegations within the Church of England.
The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, issued a statement expressing sorrow over the revelations. “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,” Dr. Kaziimba said.
The Archbishop of Uganda highlighted that the Church of Uganda, in partnership with members of the Gafcon Movement and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans, had already distanced itself from Archbishop Welby’s authority. This decision was made years ago due to Welby’s failure to uphold traditional Christian teachings on marriage and family.
“The compromised leadership that has led to the tearing of the Anglican Communion’s fabric at its deepest level,” Archbishop Kaziimba stated, emphasizing the broader consequences of such governance within the Anglican community.
Despite the troubling news, the Church of Uganda reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of children, in line with its November focus on child protection. Archbishop Kaziimba urged everyone to foster environments where children can thrive. He referenced Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:14: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
The Church of Uganda also commended the Gafcon Movement and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans as a means for global Anglican unity, based on scriptural authority and the mission of spreading the Gospel.
Archbishop Kaziimba concluded his statement with a message of hope and prayers for the Church of England. “On behalf of the 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,” he said. The Archbishop also extended prayers for Archbishop Welby and his family, as well as for the healing of abuse survivors.