Archbishop Kaziimba reaffirms commitment to Biblical values, child protection after Welby’s resignation

Archbishop Kaziimba’s remarks follow the ‘sorrow’ resignation of the Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby as the Archbishop of Canterbury after a report on his failure to address child abuse allegations in the Church of England.

The Church of Uganda along with other members of Global Anglican Future Conference [GAFCON] and the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans ceased recognizing the authority of Archbishop Justin Welby some years ago due to his perceived inability to uphold historic Church of England teachings on marriage and family.

Kaziimba expressed sorrow over what he described as the “continued abuse of John Smyth” within the Anglican Communion, lamenting the church’s failure to act decisively.

“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,” Kaziimba said.

This, he believes, has eroded trust and “torn” the Anglican Communion’s unity at a fundamental level.

Reflecting on the leadership challenges, he remarked, “Unfortunately, this is the same compromised leadership that has led to the fabric of the Anglican Communion being torn at its deepest level.”

The Church of Uganda, aligned with the Gafcon movement promotes what it sees as a return to foundational Anglican principles through covenanted relationships in the Global South Fellowship.

According to Kaziimba, this approach offers “the best way forward for Anglicans to re-unite under the authority of Scripture and in the cause of extending the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.”

This November, the Church of Uganda is particularly focused on promoting the well-being of children.

Archbishop Kaziimba urged the church and community to prioritize child safety, stressing the need for environments that nurture young lives.

“I urge all of us to go the extra mile to ensure that children are safe by creating a conducive environment for them to be born, raised, and nurtured,” he said.

Citing scripture, he added, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’ [Matthew 19:14].”

In a gesture of reconciliation, Kaziimba assured the Church of England of the Church of Uganda’s continued prayers, expressing a hope for unity and healing.

“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.

He also extended prayers specifically for Archbishop Welby and his family and also prayed for the continued healing for all those who have endured abuse.

Archbishop Welby announced that he will step down from his role following a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church of England.

The investigation found that Justin Welby should have reported John Smyth’s abuse of boys and young men to police in 2013.

In a statement, Welby said, “it is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility” for his response after he was first told about the abuse.

He added, “I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England.”

“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church.

Welby said that as he steps down he does so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.

In June, 2023, Justin Welby urged Kaziimba to withdraw his Church’s support for the Anti-Homosexual Act. However, in a bold stand Kaziimba announced that the Church of Uganda was “grateful” for the passing of the Act, which criminalises the “promotion” of homosexuality and introduces long prison sentences for offences, as well as the death penalty for “aggravated” offences.

Kaziimba also expressed that homosexuality was being forced on the Ugandan people “by outside, foreign actors against their will, culture, and religious beliefs.

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