ALERT: Benjamin Nzimbi, Anglican Archbishop/Kenya +Benjamin Nzimbi/Kenya says:
"The devil has clearly entered our church," said an angry Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya regarding including LGBT Christians at all levels of Churchlife.
The Reverend John Makokha/Kenya says:
"...the greatest challenge in the continent of Africa is religious and cultural homophobia. The continent of Africa is on fire because of this kind of homophobia."
The Reverend John Makokha/Kenya
Greetings +Nzimbi,+Wandabula : LGBT Christians in KenyaUnited Methodist Senior Minister in Nairobi,Kenya
By The Reverend John Makokha
I am Reverend John Makokha, United Methodist minister in Nairobi, Kenya within East Africa Conference. I am married to my beloved wife Anne (Co-worker) and we have four daughters. I am also the senior pastor of Riruta United Methodist Church.
I am a holder of Bachelor's degree in Education from University of Nairobi and Master of Arts degree in Missions from Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology. Most importantly I am a pro LGBTI minister in the whole of the East Africa Annual Conference, if not the whole of Africa.
According to my ministry experience to LGBTI and PFLAG, the greatest challenge in the continent of Africa is religious and cultural homophobia. The continent of Africa is on fire because of this kind of homophobia.
I am also currently the volunteer Country Coordinator of Other Sheep for Kenya.
You can visit www.rirutaumc.com and www.othersheep.org
We will share more through writing interactions.
Grace and Peace,
Reverend John Makokha
The Reverend John Makokha and his family are CURRENTLY UNDER ATTACK:
"KENYA – September 2, 2008: “I do not find religious arguments against homosexuality persuasive because I have come to learn that historically religion has been manipulated and misinterpreted to oppose the rights of various minority groups such as women, slaves, etc.”
So said Reverend John Makokha of the United Methodist Church of Kenya in his August 16 open-letter to Bishop Daniel Wandabula who is allegedly silent, after numerous complaints by Makokha that he is getting hateful messages from the church, based on his positive views on homosexuality. (See letter)
Makokha is accused of advocating for homosexuality by “some people in the church” who also claim that he intends to visit some churches in East-Africa to promote homosexuality.
This after Makokha has been outspoken against the discrimination of gay people by the church.
“Some confusing statements were put out concerning Other Sheep and me. Some people went further to impersonate me through e-mails and other forms of communication using disparaging remarks. It grieves me deeply that a number of my good friends have turned angrily against me and my family. On my part, I love them still and wish them no ill. Let us continue to be on speaking terms for the sake of Christ”, Makokha said in the letter.
He added that during his ministry LGBTI people, he discovered that many of them live under fear. “They are stigmatized; they daily experience rejection and all kinds of discrimination both from the society and the church. These brothers and sisters need a lot of love, respect, understanding and care. They need a minister who can listen to them and give them an assurance of God’s love. This is a frightened group that needs Christ”, he said.
Makokha believes that LGBTI people should be included in churches as he believes that they existed in the African history. “We need a gospel for LGBTI inclusion in Africa. Despite much denial of homosexuality in Africa, it has emerged from research that homosexuals have always been part of African society but, like other areas of human sexuality, it is treated as a taboo”, Makokha advised.
He also revealed that people who speak openly about homosexuality are “bound to learn a hard lesson” at the hands of the church.
“The United Methodist Church in Kenya refused to pay me a salary two years ago because of being pro LGBTI minister.”
To add salt to injury, Makokha’s family has also bore the brunt of his views on homosexuality. His wife was allegedly stopped from teaching at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST) because of his association with the Other Sheep.
“This has caused great suffering to my family”, he lamented.
He also declared that “I greatly respect the family unit and the heterosexual individuals, as I am also heterosexual''.
The controversy continues to steers on in the United Methodist Church of Kenya over homosexuality and the divisive line still stands between pro and anti gay people.
Meanwhile Makokha appealed to the church to stop intimidating and harassing him and his family.
Bishop Daniel Wandabula Bishop Daniel Wandabula/Kenya says:
NOTHING at all.
While Makokha has not received any response from Wandabula, efforts to get comment from him by Behind the Mask were unsuccessful.
Makokha, works closely with Other Sheep - an ecumenical Christian organisation that includes lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LBGTI) people.
Rev. Josam Kariuki, Senior Pastor/Kenya and Bishop Daniel Wandabula CONTACT: Bishop Daniel Wandabula and Senior Pastor of Nakuru United Methodist Church is Rev. Josam Kariuki P. O. Box 16220 Nakuru 20100 KENYA. +254 722 491332 rewardcare@yahoo.com
Nakuru United Methodist Church is in Nakuru District - Kenya which is part of East Africa Annual Conference.
CONTACT: The Most Rev. Benjamin M. Nzimbi P.O. Box 40502, Nairobi
Tel Office +254-2-714755 Fax. +254-2-718442
E-mail: archoffice@ackenya.org or archoffice@swiftkenya.com
*Abrazos to GayUganda/found at the side bar or here:
Reverend Stands His Ground
*"Reconciling Ministries" daily mini-feed or here:
Reconciling Ministries
*"Voices of Witness: Africa" here:
Voices of Witness: Africa"
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4 comments:
Hi Leonardo--Great post. This is exactly the kind of person TEC should target to give financial support and aid to. I am shocked that he is not getting any support from the Methodist Church.
Leonardo - a lazy question, sorry. Any info on whether Rev. John Makokha is receiving at least moral support from the UMC of the USA?
This man makes me proud that I was a member of the UMC in my 20s and 30s. In my neck of the woods, they were a tad "high church" for Methodists, and about the only place where young adults flocked that was mainline protestant. And such wonderful music we sang, a gift. My intro to John Rutter, actually.
Special note: Big L, my dear, I am planning a huge shipment of baked goods, of course...when does your weather cool down? We can't have melting chocolate chips in the cookies and such.
I should come visit and teach you how to make a pie crust LOL...we start with banana cream, then chocolate cream, then...well?
Is tomorrow too soon?
If so, ANYTIME you are welcome dear Lynn...do you think we ought invite others? Anyone unsuspecting victim for the like volcano hike? More than one? No problem, we'll tell them it's just like other forms of Mountain Climbing and rope them together with a very thick fuse.
That was hysterical the Maureen Dowd piece...mil gracias.
make that, LIVE volcano, hike.
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