What now for evangelicals in the chaotic CofE?

Justin Welby’s resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury is truly unprecedented. No archbishop has ever, in the history of the Church of England, resigned - not even in 1621 when the primate of all England shot and killed a gamekeeper with a crossbow while hunting.

Some are still defending him, either praising the good aspects of his ministry, or even (like Charles Moore in the Spectator) saying that he should not have resigned. 

It is a remarkable lack of judgement to praise him now, when people react so strongly not only to abuse but to those who failed to prevent abuse happening. On Radio 5 Live on Wednesday morning for example, Nicky Campbell was adamant that, because of abuse in the Church, he would never, ever consider engaging with the Christian faith.

And the record is clear: read the Makin Report and watch Welby's subsequent interview with Cathy Newman. They speak for themselves.

The necessity of Welby's resignation can be gauged by public reaction. I set up a petition with two other members of Synod - one a high church conservative, the other a radical liberal Labour counsellor - and it took off on Saturday afternoon, reaching 15,000 signatures by the time Justin resigned on Tuesday at 2 pm. A survey by The Telegraph had readers vote 93% in favour of his resignation. And a YouGov poll showed that, of those who had heard of him, there was a clear negative assessment of his leadership. The one thing that Justin managed to unite almost everyone on - inside and outside the Church - is that he needed to go. 

Two issues to consider

Where does that leave evangelicals in the Church of England? There are two sets of issues we need to consider: the question of national leadership, and the question of local ministry. 

On the national question, there is already plenty of speculation about who the next archbishop should be. This is going to be a very difficult question to resolve (someone said to me ‘I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy!’) because the main part of Welby's legacy is a Church deeply divided on almost every issue. For me, the events of the last week have made three things crystal clear. 

1. We need an archbishop who simply believes the doctrine of the Church of England. I am not particularly asking for another evangelical; we tried that last time and it didn’t work. All I am interested in is having someone in post who believes the doctrine of the Church, and can uphold his or her ordination vows with integrity. 
2. Secondly, we need an archbishop who leads by consensus, rather than someone who wants to hit the headlines, make pronouncements, and divide and conquer. On every subject - race and ethnicity, sexuality, the family, guidance for schools, safeguarding - Welby has made grand pronouncements that have caused division and offence. We need instead someone who will lead by consensus - yes, with challenge and insight, but who works with, not works against, the rest of the Church. 
3. Thirdly, we need someone who is true to our theology of episcopacy. Bishops are not supposed to be CEO of their diocese, the line manager of clergy, and archbishops are not supposed to be CEO of the House of Bishops or the Church. They are to be first amongst equals - but first in serving those who serve others. Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership is incompatible with people who preach from thrones and wear crowns on their heads. St Augustine, that great African theologian, once said: ‘For you I am a bishop - but with you I am a brother’. We need to rediscover this truth. 

At a local level, we need to continue in faithful gospel ministry. Across the Church of England - and across the church in England - it is compassionate, faithful, caring, and missional evangelical congregations that are growing and drawing people to hear and receive the good news of Jesus. This work rarely hits the headlines, but it is the thing that really counts. 

I was due to speak on Radio 5 Live on Wednesday, when I heard Nicky Campbell make his vow to never engage with the Christian faith. Yet we both then spent the next 20 minutes listening to the extraordinary testimony of Sue, who had been abused by an Anglican clergyman 35 years ago. And her testimony was that it was the love, grace, and mercy of God that had sustained her and enabled her to live her life, despite the trauma of the abuse. At the end of 20 minutes, Nicky even said ‘Hearing your story restores my faith in your faith.’

There is so much good work going on on the ground in safeguarding in local churches. We need to continue to make this a priority, so that all our churches are safe and welcoming places where all can hear the good news of Jesus. And we need to not lose heart because of these terrible headlines. ‘In this world you will have tribulation—but take heart, for I have overcome the world’ (John 16.33).