Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, the chair of the committee and a former head of the courts, urged the witnesses to look at sitting in public, because that's an issue which a number of people have raised, and I share the concern.
Arun Arora, the bishop of Kirkstall, stated that the Church of England's decision to cut funding for racial justice from 26.7m to 12m reflects resistance among some members to support racial equity initiatives; he fears extreme views are influencing decision-making.
Stephen Cottrell emphasized the need for the Church of England to reflect on the role of the archbishop of Canterbury, suggesting the responsibilities may need to be distributed more broadly in the future. This comes in light of the recent crisis where Archbishop Justin Welby's actions during the abuse scandal were called into question. The church, facing unprecedented challenges, might need different leadership expectations moving forward.
