Gransnet forums

News & politics

Welby still can’t read the room

(94 Posts)
RosiesMaw2 Tue 07-Jan-25 08:38:54

From this mornings DT

Disgraced Welby throws leaving party

It is understood that as many as 120 guests attended the palace over the course of the day to celebrate and bid farewell to the outgoing archbishop .
Earlier yesterday, former Church staff and current senior employees were seen arriving at Lambeth Palace, including William Nye, the secretary general to the Archbishops’ Council and General Synod. One of the Church’s most influential figures, Mr Nye, 58, has himself faced calls to resign, with some victims claiming the archbishop’s right-hand man mismanaged changes to national safeguarding processes
Critics argued the festivities exemplified the archbishop’s failure to gauge public sentiment, a lack of sensitivity previously evident in his valedictory House of Lords speech and the five-day wait before resigning after the Church’s handling of the Smyth abuse scandal was exposed. Only a month ago, he was forced to apologise for appearing to make light of the Church’s serious safeguarding failures in his Lords speech

Words fail me.

theworriedwell Tue 07-Jan-25 19:02:37

OldFrill

This is the problem when people rely on quoting media rather than the actual report, you misinterpretations and misconceptions. I have given the link to the report.
It really isn't relevant that it's "not your church" especially if you choose to comment on it.
The survivors/victims remain traumatised by the refusal of the church to effectively act on the recommendations of the report. To further make comedic speeches and party is absolutely a kick in the teeth to all those that suffered.
Would you not think that if abuse was reported to you on a daily basis you'd start doing something about it? He did nothing.

So you think he should have investigated every case personally? Do you know what is involved? I used to work for the police and it would take a team to properly investigate one case.

It is relevant that is isn't my church as I am making it clear I don't know about the running of the CofE and also I have no bias in it. If you think I'm not allowed to post I suggest you contact gransnet.

Well you obviously know how it is all run if you know he did nothing, apparently he did check it had been reported and maybe he was too trusting.

Are you claiming he covered it up? How did that work, did he tell the people who reported it to him that they must not report it when they were telling him they had?

Iam64 Tue 07-Jan-25 20:11:48

I hope we can avoid getting cross with each other as the consensus is Welby was right to resign. There’s also agreement that his farewell speech, then his farewell party suggest the man either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care about the devastating impact of abuse. Maybe it’s both.

I was considering whether the worst he could be accused of was lack of professional curiosity about the serious allegations allegedly referred but I now believe he didn’t understand or care enough

Luckygirl3 Tue 07-Jan-25 21:28:23

He got it all wrong and should have acted sooner. But having got things wrong and having this pointed out to him he should have been able to grasp the seriousness of the issues to the individuals involved - and indeed to the CofE as a whole. I think it is this that he has failed to grasp - he has behaved as though he need not have resigned but had done so to keep people happy/quiet. It has been hard to discern any sense that he really gets what the problem is and why the buck had to stop with him.

A bit of me is aware of his struggles with depression and I understand that during a bad episode he could very well have had impaired judgement or simply have been unable to concentrate properly. But that is what his colleagues are there for - to act on his behalf when he is not well.

The sheer complacency of those at the top is very very worrying. The sense that they do not care or empathise is quite shocking really. Defending one's job above all else is not what one might hope for in someone in that position.

Allira Tue 07-Jan-25 22:14:26

So you think he should have investigated every case personally? Do you know what is involved?

Obviously he couldn't investigate everything personally himself.

However, he had a team of people working for him, and, as the buck stopped with him, he should have made sure they kept him updated.
It is so easy now to use reminders on an electronic device and forgetting to chase up progress on something as important as this is unforgivable.

We could even do this years ago with a diary or bring forward system.

OldFrill Wed 08-Jan-25 04:35:43

theworriedwell

OldFrill

This is the problem when people rely on quoting media rather than the actual report, you misinterpretations and misconceptions. I have given the link to the report.
It really isn't relevant that it's "not your church" especially if you choose to comment on it.
The survivors/victims remain traumatised by the refusal of the church to effectively act on the recommendations of the report. To further make comedic speeches and party is absolutely a kick in the teeth to all those that suffered.
Would you not think that if abuse was reported to you on a daily basis you'd start doing something about it? He did nothing.

So you think he should have investigated every case personally? Do you know what is involved? I used to work for the police and it would take a team to properly investigate one case.

It is relevant that is isn't my church as I am making it clear I don't know about the running of the CofE and also I have no bias in it. If you think I'm not allowed to post I suggest you contact gransnet.

Well you obviously know how it is all run if you know he did nothing, apparently he did check it had been reported and maybe he was too trusting.

Are you claiming he covered it up? How did that work, did he tell the people who reported it to him that they must not report it when they were telling him they had?

I've read the report.

Sarnia Wed 08-Jan-25 08:40:02

Iam64

Sarnia, black lives do matter. That shouldn’t exclude equality for gay men and lesbians, or indeed women .

The point I was trying to make was the African bishops will not budge on their acceptance of other groups but are loud in their trumpeting of black people. Not acceptable in my book. I had hoped that the next Archbishop of Canterbury would be a woman but clearly the Church are still wearing their misogynistic, dinosaur specs.

Esmay Wed 08-Jan-25 12:14:04

I think that Welby has brazoned it out until the very end .

pascal30 Wed 08-Jan-25 12:21:36

Esmay

I think that Welby has brazoned it out until the very end .

agreed...

mabon1 Wed 08-Jan-25 12:58:08

Cotterell should go too.

pascal30 Wed 08-Jan-25 13:01:17

Sarnia

Iam64

Sarnia, black lives do matter. That shouldn’t exclude equality for gay men and lesbians, or indeed women .

The point I was trying to make was the African bishops will not budge on their acceptance of other groups but are loud in their trumpeting of black people. Not acceptable in my book. I had hoped that the next Archbishop of Canterbury would be a woman but clearly the Church are still wearing their misogynistic, dinosaur specs.

I also wish that the next Archbishop would be a woman.. The only ones with integrity in this whole sorry mess.. I also think the African Bishops need challenging and being brought into line with their very backward views.. But maybe only a woman could do that..

NotANana Wed 08-Jan-25 13:02:08

Just to make it clear that I do not condone any failures to report anything which harms other people. Neither do I condone the utterly cloth eared attempt at "humour" in his House of lords farewell speech. He got it wrong. Period.

I do not see why he shouldn't be allowed to say "goodbye" to people who have worked for him over the years. It looked like a small(ish) gathering.

GrauntyHelen Wed 08-Jan-25 14:54:43

I'm glad Canterbury has gone sad that he's not behaved better in his departure Time now for York to go !!

Avanew Wed 08-Jan-25 14:57:21

fancythat

Which I think, personally, is all part of the demise of Christianity in the Country.

We need Leaders who are doing things Biblically correct.

Just to quote what would be biblically correct, Matthew 18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
......If Welby took the Bible seriously he might not be throwing parties?

Anniebach Wed 08-Jan-25 15:01:41

He was right to acknowledge his staff

oodles Wed 08-Jan-25 15:42:36

Thanks for the link to the Making report, I'll have a look later.
It will be good if the proposed bill becomes law, but sadly as with anything like this there will be obstructive MPs, I remember there were a couple who filibustered when the bill which included up skirting being made illegal and almost scuppered its passage, thankfully it became law. As the dreadful Pelicot case showed the investigation began with a charge of up skirting, it is a gateway to further offences
I was sad to read that former Abp Sentamu has also been implicated in a cover up and that the Bishop.of Newcastle has not allowed him to officiate in her Diocese, he seemed a good man. Maybe one issue is that combining the role of priest and CEO of the church of England is a lot for one person, but a CEO carries the can for failures.
On an individual parish level safeguarding is taken very seriously indeed, these days, and victims are now believed and supported, which was not the case anywhere some years ago some years ago, not just in the church but also in broadcasting, and the police and well basically everywhere.
Hopefully this will improve prevention, and acting on any reporting, and give those in positions of power, from parish level all the way up, a kick up the surplice.
As for the leaving do, I guess if it was a leaving party for those who had worked with him, to thank them a d say goodbye, then it's a bit different to a celebration. His speech back before Christmas was seriously ill judged.
I don't think that there will be a woman archbishop sadly this time round anyway, let's hope that in the future there will be one either in York or Canterbury, many of those trying to make a difference are women, but again, keeping a load of men in order is a big ask

DamaskRose Wed 08-Jan-25 15:50:13

I think he should have been allowed to thank his staff. He should have done so privately and left. Quietly. His behaviour at the end of his tenure, even if he was falling on his sword, was despicable.

jocork Wed 08-Jan-25 16:01:49

fancythat

theworriedwell

fancythat

Though I think has been said before, he did report it.
He didnt follow it up enough.
If I have got that right.

Makes me wonder about my actions. I was helping out at my child's school, doing craft and things with the children. One child said something about what happened at Cubs' camp that rang alarm bells. At the end of the day I went to his form teacher and told her what he said, she said leave it with me and I did. Should I have checked she did her job? Did I do the right thing to report it and trust the other person would do their bit?

A good question.

I would like to think that years ago that would have been enough.[I could have been wrong].

Nowadays, I think we have to follow things up. Sadly.

I worked in schools for many years. I have reported things following the defined protocols and one never hears what the outcome is. I assumed once I'd reported something that I'd be updated but that isn't the case. So many things are handled on a 'Need to know' basis and I sometimes think more teachers need to know about concerns as we are dealing with pupils on a day to day basis, but we are not trusted to know when things are going on in students' lives. We are expected to be proffessionals but have vital information withheld from us making our jobs more difficult!

CarS Wed 08-Jan-25 21:19:14

Like the Post Office.....Complete control within any establishment breeds corruption. A lot of lessons learnt but whether things will change we can only hope.

flappergirl Wed 08-Jan-25 22:05:48

What does anyone honestly expect from an antiquated organisation that is totally enmeshed with the establishment and run almost exclusively by men? I'm not even sure that the addition of "token" women helps either, given that Paul Vennells was in the running for Bishop of London.

flappergirl Wed 08-Jan-25 22:06:35

That should read "Paula" Vennells!

fancythat Wed 08-Jan-25 22:21:51

jocork

fancythat

theworriedwell

fancythat

Though I think has been said before, he did report it.
He didnt follow it up enough.
If I have got that right.

Makes me wonder about my actions. I was helping out at my child's school, doing craft and things with the children. One child said something about what happened at Cubs' camp that rang alarm bells. At the end of the day I went to his form teacher and told her what he said, she said leave it with me and I did. Should I have checked she did her job? Did I do the right thing to report it and trust the other person would do their bit?

A good question.

I would like to think that years ago that would have been enough.[I could have been wrong].

Nowadays, I think we have to follow things up. Sadly.

I worked in schools for many years. I have reported things following the defined protocols and one never hears what the outcome is. I assumed once I'd reported something that I'd be updated but that isn't the case. So many things are handled on a 'Need to know' basis and I sometimes think more teachers need to know about concerns as we are dealing with pupils on a day to day basis, but we are not trusted to know when things are going on in students' lives. We are expected to be proffessionals but have vital information withheld from us making our jobs more difficult!

I agree with every word you wrote.

The "need to know" basis works both ways.

All very well entrusting others, but what if they themselves are the actual problem? Or the possible problem>

And to futher confound matters, what if they are at least part of who you are supposed to refer to?

All the above has happened to me, not direct to me, but got in the way of reporting.

And further, what if people you think may well be a problem, and others you work with do too, and the superiors of that person are friends with them?

It all becomes a very tangled web?

And then you are told it is all a "need to know basis".

Hmm. Or a lot worse.

I am not saying I know the answers.

But some "systems" in some organisations need serious overhaul[ironically the people doing them are likely the "problem" people anyway]

Anyone still following the gist of all this?

Sarnia Thu 09-Jan-25 08:57:08

Avanew

fancythat

Which I think, personally, is all part of the demise of Christianity in the Country.

We need Leaders who are doing things Biblically correct.

Just to quote what would be biblically correct, Matthew 18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
......If Welby took the Bible seriously he might not be throwing parties?

Puts a whole different meaning on 'Suffer little children to come unto me'.

Smileless2012 Thu 09-Jan-25 09:18:24

'Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me for such is the kingdom of heaven' Matthew chapter 19 v 14

TakeThat7 Thu 09-Jan-25 12:52:27

I looked up the archbishop apparently he is very rich two million left by his mother no doubt a massive pension wage was excessive and all the people damaged by the church but he's not donating any to the poor or the victims he failed to protect Isn't it in the bible that it's harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to get through the eye of a needle Maybe he should be worried

TakeThat7 Thu 09-Jan-25 12:53:44

Time for him to show some kindness ??