The resignation of Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, stems from his handling of one of the Church of England's worst abuse scandals. The case centers around John Smyth, a prominent trial lawyer who severely abused young men through evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 80s.

Smyth brutally beat approximately 30 victims, aged 16 and older, often while both parties were partially or fully naked. Eight victims received a combined 14,000 lashings over three years, with one victim enduring 800 strikes in a single day. The abuse occurred in specially prepared locations, including a soundproofed shed, and left victims physically scarred and traumatized.

When Iwerne Holidays camp leaders discovered the abuse in 1982, they documented the crimes but failed to alert authorities. Instead, Smyth relocated to Zimbabwe, where he continued abusing victims and was linked to the suspicious death of 16-year-old Guide Nyachuru. He later moved to South Africa, where he lived until his death in 2018.

Justin Welby's connection to the scandal is significant. He attended the camps and knew Smyth personally, receiving warnings about him in 1981. Despite learning of the abuse allegations in 2013 as Archbishop, Welby's response was inadequate. The recently published Makin Review criticized the church's handling of the case, leading to Welby's resignation.

This case demonstrates how even Bible-believing evangelical institutions can prioritize reputation over righteousness, mirroring similar cover-ups in other denominations. The scandal emphasizes three crucial lessons:

1. God can protect His own work
2. Covered-up misconduct causes more damage than swift disclosure
3. Criminal abuse must be reported to authorities immediately

The tragic consequences of this cover-up, including Guide Nyachuru's death, underscore the importance of immediate action when abuse is discovered, regardless of potential reputational damage.

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