As a member of the Lords Spiritual and as your diocesan bishop, I was deeply saddened and perturbed by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s valedictory speech in the House of Lords yesterday (5 December 2024). Whilst mention was made of safeguarding and the care of children and vulnerable adults in the Church of England today, I had hoped that the pain and trauma of victims and survivors would have been placed front and centre. The Archbishop’s comments and tone regarding rolling heads and pity for a diary secretary were badly judged, as were the reactions of laughter in the chamber. In this, there is something strongly indicative of the culture changes we need to be living.
At the heart of all this is living and enabling healthy relationship. How we speak, listen and act is important, and I recognise that includes how I and we conduct ourselves in the space of the media and social media, and relate to one another, whatever our age or story. In this season of Advent, how we seek to shine the light of Christ in dark places, needs to be done with wisdom and love.
I hold fast to the statement I put out with Bishop Robert on Tuesday 12 November and the letter sent to all our worshipping communities on Friday 15 November.
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Thank you Rachel. A painful and prayerful response.
Thank you Bp Rachel for centring your comments on care and respect for those who were abused and harmed – taking cace to respond well to survivors in Al circumstances is a vital dimension of safeguarding and needs to be borne in mind whenever any of us act and speak. Calling out unacceptable and Iill-informed behaviour is key to driving the culture change that is much need within the C of E at the moment as evidenced in the Makin and Scolding reports recently published
Thank you Bishop Rachel. I absolutely agree.
The tone was, quite frankly, so very wrong and my thoughts and prayers are with the brave survivors of abuse and their families.
Whilst this was probably an attempt at humour, it was certainly neither the time nor the place. And came across as self pitying. The sniggering..appalling. The Church of England can and needs to do better.
Thank you +Rachel, for your strength, courage and deep kindness