‘Independent oversight needed’ to choose Archbishop of Canterbury, says Labour MP

The government is facing calls to remove the Archbishop of York from the process of appointing the next leader of the Church of England after he was accused of a series of safeguarding controversies.

Stephen Cottrell takes over Justin Welby’s official duties within weeks until a permanent replacement is found. It’s after Welby became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in history to be forced from office for failing to do enough to stop John Smyth, the most prolific abuser associated with the Church.

We spoke to Luke Myer, Labour MP and member of the Ecclesiastical Committee, which advises parliament on measures proposed by the Church of England.

I started by asking him whether Stephen Cottrell should be allowed to continue with his formal role, helping to appoint a new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Luke Myer: In my view, given the serious concerns that have been raised around the handling of the Tudor case, I do believe that the Archbishop of York shouldn’t be involved in the process of choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Cathy Newman: How unprecedented would that be?

Luke Myer: It’s true that that would be unusual, but we have to be realistic about the situation facing the Church. As a Christian, we are relying on the Church for moral leadership at this time and the process needs to have credibility.

Cathy Newman: And you think he doesn’t have credibility? I mean, some have called for him to resign. When you look at the safeguarding failings, not only the Tudor case that you’ve talked about, the succession of failings, isn’t it?

Luke Myer: There has been an independent review and the recommendations of that are clear, that there needs to be an independent oversight process for the Church. We cannot continue the way the Church has been. And so that’s why I believe the bishops, like the Bishop of Newcastle, who have been raising these concerns publicly, need to be listened to and the victims need to be listened to as well.

Cathy Newman: But the Bishop of Newcastle feels like a very sort of lonely voice in this. Why aren’t other bishops supporting what she’s saying?

Luke Myer: So I’ve met with the Bishop of Newcastle recently and it’s true that she is very isolated. But there are others in the Church who are raising concerns, and particularly clergy at a local level are concerned about what is happening.

Cathy Newman: Do you believe the government may intervene to ensure that Stephen Cottrell is removed from the process to pick the next Archbishop?

Luke Myer: There are certainly lots of members of parliament who are concerned. I’m raising this issue through parliament, through the ecclesiastical committee, which I sit on. And I think unless the Church is able to get the independent safeguarding oversight that the review called for, then there will be others looking more closely.

Cathy Newman: And just to pin you down on Stephen Cottrell, on the multiple safeguarding failings that he’s been accused of. He’s apologised in each case. Do you think he should resign, as some members of the General Synod are saying?

Luke Myer: I certainly think that he shouldn’t be involved in the process of selecting the next Archbishop. I think that the concerns that have been raised around the Tudor case and other cases are serious. And so the process needs to have credibility.

Cathy Newman: You represent someone who advocated for survivors. How badly let down do you think survivors have been by the Church?

Luke Myer: My constituent was the survivor advocate on the Independent Safeguarding Board, and she’s been very frustrated by the way that process was treated. The board was disbanded and the victims feel they’ve been left in the lurch. The church really needs to address these issues.

Cathy Newman: Do you think It can, though?

Luke Myer: I believe it can. I’m an optimist as well as a Christian, Cathy, and I think that these issues can be dealt with, but they must be dealt with in the proper way. There are clear recommendations there about what the Church needs to do. It needs to follow those recommendations.