The Church of England issued the following press release this morning.
Smyth independent review publication plan
22/10/2024
The National Safeguarding Team, NST, has now received the independent review from Keith Makin relating to the John Smyth case. A detailed plan, drawn up in consultation with survivors, is now in place to enable those that choose to do so to read the document in advance in a timely manner and with support on request. The NST has also been asked to factor in the half term period and the fact some of those impacted will not be around during those weeks. Once this process has been completed the report will be published in full on Wednesday November 13. On this day survivors will have the opportunity for a confidential webinar to ask questions. After the survivor webinar there will be a separate press conference.
I wonder if Archbishop Welby will be at the presser?
He might send XX York of course… but if you didn’t know the background the current statement is a masterpiece of being reasonable and survivor focused- not a whisper of how long things have been delayed.
So with a script of ‘nothing to see here’ and ‘we are profoundly sorry for the survivors but it was nothing to do with the Cof E gov/ money what money?’ he will probably put in a stirring Synodical level performance in his best old Etonian
Do we know if the report will be published in full? Or will we get only a summary, or a redacted version?
The announcement says ‘in full’.
Yes, but do we believe it?
No
Janet, on 2/7/24, Keith Makin said “ I will hand the report to the Archbishops Council for subsequent publication”. The report ( hopefully) will be digested in full by all but the response from leadership, including members of Synod, ( hopefully not another fudge) will be scrutinised in detail to see if leadership stands up to bring justice to survivors and victims.
You seem to have more confidence in the report’s accuracy and integrity than the Smyth survivors have.
Unless Mr Makin has caved in to Maxwellisation, I expect the publication (and its consequences) to be seismic. The tone has become more survivor-led, which was clearly needed, but the next steps will be watched very closely. Many will be wishing half-term didn’t end.
Do you think that the Archbishop will offer his resignation to His Majesty?
The buck stops with him. It may turn on what Makin says about the disclosure to the Bishop of Ely in 2013 and how Lambeth handled it. I don’t think the early Iwerne period is so relevant. Everybody knew, but how many of the Welby generation can be said to have been in a role where they should have disclosed? The position of what I term the higher functioning victims will be interesting. Whatever it says, the entire constituency will be exposed for what it is. All that mattered was ‘the work’ and the protection of reputation.
Half Term!
Let’s pray especially for all those who were emotionally traumatised, harmed and polluted by that man’s sickness and perversity. And for the soul of the little one who died, as a result of him being able to continue his practices overseas.