Sheringham: St Peter

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope, without wavering, for (God) who has promised is faithful”. (Hebrews 10. 23)

This is just what we need to hear, especially after news of the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby. There is enough Doom and Gloom on our TV news screens without the readings from St Mark (ch13. vs 1 – 6) and the Prophet Daniel (ch12. vs 1 – 3).

By contrast, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews urges us to hold fast to our hope in Christ. Christ who has perfected (us) for all time. To hold fast in faith as we face the storms of life referred to by Daniel and St Mark.

This perfection in which we are held because of our faith, applies not only to us with all our imperfections, but also to former Archbishop Justin Welby with all of his imperfections.

At the end of the week in which he resigned as Archbishop, the church had already scheduled Today as “Safeguarding Sunday”. The irony should not be lost on any of us.

The resignation was over a failure in the handling of complaints around a breach of safeguarding, which if handled pro-actively back in 2013 would have prevented the perpetrator from continuing his abusive activities.

The person concerned was in the habit of using his leadership position to identify possible victims for his abusive activity. Such an abuse on individuals who had trusted that they would be safe is bad enough. But there is another level of abuse to consider here. Such a breach of trust is also an abuse of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by extension abuse of all of us here who have based our way of life in the faith that by his resurrection Jesus Christ brings the hope of New life; in the eyes of the public, the media, and the enemies of Christianity our Christian way of life is devalued. The finger of suspicion is pointed at us – you and me.

The safeguarding protocols put in place by the Church of England are an important tool for ensuring the safety of potential victims from abusive individuals - safety of the intended victims, and safety for the honour of the gospel and our way of life in Christ. We have a duty to comply.

Justin Welby has struggled to deal appropriately with issues of historic abuse by a vile few in the church who have over the years been allowed without censure to take advantage of vulnerable children and adults. These imperfections of leadership have become overwhelming to his ministry as Archbishop, so he has rightly chosen to step back from the role.

However, we cannot doubt his faith. He is as able as we are to take comfort from the letter to the Hebrews as he hears it read at worship this morning. Hold fast to the confession of hope in Jesus Christ.

He has to continue to live with his imperfections as indeed we ourselves have to live with our own imperfections.

This is a deeply painful time. None of us hold such a public role as he did, so we are spared the glare of publicity that Justin Welby is now facing. This does not mean that we are spared from the same pain from living imperfectly each day whilst continuing our own attempt to live the Christian life.

The media trumpeting that the church is still not a place people can trust to do all the right things when it comes to keeping people safe, is a lesson to us all about the importance of safeguarding in our church community. If you become aware of someone taking advantage of their position in church life then it is important that you bring it to the attention of those who work on your behalf to deal with safeguarding matters:

Children and young people Constance Tyce

Adults Father Andrew Lane

For the safety of people around us, and for the honour of the gospel and our Christian way of life, it is important to be vigilant and report any suspicion of abusive behaviour.

As we pray for ourselves in this endeavour, it will be important to pray for Justin Welby at this difficult moment in his ministry. His very public failing is no worse than any of our own very private failings.

We must remain vigilant; we must ensure people in church life are safe from abuse, we must protect our gospel from dishonour, we must hold fast to the confession of our hope whatever life throws at us. For our hope is in the new life of resurrection; life that is valued in the Kingdom of God.

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope, without wavering, for (God) who has promised, is faithful”.

Amen.

The Revd Canon Malcolm France

Sheringham: St Peter

And now for the good news!

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