Confessions from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Jeremiah 23:1-2, “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord.”

ARCHBISHOP JUSTIN WELBY was sharp in his affirmation of the word and swift in its application to the sins of the Church: “The shepherds, as Ezekiel says, consumed the flock. It is no wonder that the Church of England has suffered judgement for that. For what worse thing could be done. And even for those in the Church who did not actively participate in Transatlantic chattel enslavement, the silence of the Church of England was a collusion, an agreement with slavery. The votes of the bishops in parliament were a support for slavery and their receiving of compensation for freeing the slaves was a profit from slavery.”

It is always refreshing to hear confession from the Church and those who speak in the name of Jesus Christ, her Lord. The Spiritual leader of the 85 million members in the Worldwide Anglican Communion, has consistently spoken with heartfelt wisdom and pastoral compassion in his reflection upon human suffering and transatlantic slavery in particular. He has unequivocally spoken about the “disgusting sin” of this crime against humanity. Note that for the Church, sin is a theological concept that recognises that relationships are distorted between the offender and God, self, and others.

He declared, “Today we know that was wrong, a vile and disgusting sin. Yet even today, when the Church of England puts aside a little of its gains, so that the future may be helped to be better than the past, we were in England as a church and as church leaders resisted, both publicly and privately ... The church sinned, the church sinned and consumed the sheep.”

The notion of reparatory justice which often includes reparations, may lead the reader to ask if the proposed £100 million is sufficient. Archbishop Justin Welby is, however, on record recognising that this is to start a social impact fund with intergenerational implications. For him, the sin is too much for the language of compensation. Also worthy of note is his focus on the descendants of the enslaved being the ones to determine how such funds would be spent. This will obtain in places such as West Africa and the Caribbean.

The Rt Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby also said, “I cannot speak for the government of the United Kingdom, but I can speak from my own heart and represent what we say in England now. We are deeply, deeply, deeply sorry. We sinned against your ancestors. I would give anything that it could be reversed, but it cannot.”

He spoke the language of confession and repentance. “So, what makes for a better future? For when we come to worship God, when we come to serve Jesus Christ, we are all equal. Even those who have sinned terribly. And we are all equal for to God all time is now. What we have done, remains in the present both for good and evil. And where there is repentance, we know that by the grace and love of God, as we sang ‘Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to your grace I cling’, there is a burial of sin. But there is not a reversal of history.”

It is common for many in the Church across denominations to present with a self-righteous image and an unrepentant spirit. So, when we see this approach, it is to be welcomed. It indeed invites us all to also look at where we too must become more self-aware on this journey of becoming. The Biblical prophets also remind us that God’s people will not be left alone. The note of hope in Jeremiah 23:3-4 was also noted by the archbishop. “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. Interestingly, Archbishop Justin Welby, in recognising the Church’s call at this time of Hurricane Beryl’s wrath, experienced by some much more than others, compared the Church’s ministry and mission with the shepherds who now tend the sheep.

The sermon on Sunday celebrated the ongoing ministry of the Church in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. “The needs come and meet us; the hurricane blows and the church whatever its plans must drop its plans and reach out to the people. And it was done. You have witnessed to Christ, and you continue to do so. And God smiles on this Diocese. God sees it in his heart, rejoices, and he says to the angels – ‘They are my folks’. He probably says it in Jamaican. I don’t speak Jamaican but I’m sure God does. It sounds a friendlier language than English…”

Anglicans will remember for a long time, Justin Welby’s words: “When you see young people who need to be drawn to Christ, love them. Use the resources you have to draw them towards faith. Treat them with respect and love when you see the poor and the weak and the disabled and the hungry. When you see the broken houses, you cannot do everything. But the one thing we can do is let Christ embrace them through us, even when we have to say, ‘Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to His cross I cling.’”