ATTN AFRICAN ANGLICAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE/UGANDA: The persecution of LGBTI Anglicans/others ought NOT BE IGNORED

Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

It´s particularly troubling that the LGBTI Anglican/other ¨issue¨ that is confronting deep rooted ¨immoral fiber¨ of ¨exclusionists/haters¨ in Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya isn´t on the AGENDA for the African Anglican Bishops Conference. Apparently LGBTI topic ¨omission¨ is an excuse for easing tension(s) with the more ¨inclusive¨ South African Bishops. Anglican Bishops from South Africa whom I´m amazed would have to be ¨tip-toed¨ around to be ¨protected.¨ It is many of the South African Bishops who are the very BRAVE BISHOPS of Africa who have the Real Experience ministering ¨hands on¨ to LGBTI Anglicans with spiritual and emotional needs.


Clearly much of what the ¨African Bishops Conference¨ intends to rehash is regional problems that have little or nothing to do with ¨listening process¨ solutions. Avoiding the subject of LGBTI Anglicans/others in Africa however does guarantee more raw bloodletting when excluding and abusing LGBTI Anglicans in Africa (and enabling forced ¨closeted behavior¨ that is deadly for everyone and contaminates families and everyday lives with ongoing deceit).

True, Africa is riddled with dictatorships, bloody civil wars, greedy property grabs and heterosexual/homosexual social disease. Child witchburnings are running rampant in Uganda and Nigeria and vertical corruption throughout society HERE is very sad and dehumanizing...but the persecution of LGBTI citizens ought NOT BE IGNORED either!

Archbishop Henry Orombi, Anglican Church of Uganda

Many African Anglican powerdriven Bishops, such as Archbishop Orombi/Uganda and his House of Bishops--who excommunicated and removed the retirement pension of Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo for the fabricated ¨crimelike¨ stewardship of ¨ministering to LGBT Ugandans¨-- aren´t able to face REALITY. These lofty priests live in a world inside of their own narrow-minded and self-righteous self-protecting. Many lack religious and spiritual leadership and basic understanding of Gay people while preaching about LGBTI Christians as they use blame, shame and ex-Gay twisted/witchcraft therapy references instead of ¨love thy neighbor¨ common sense.

Meanwhile, other African bishops continue to pontificate/drive-away and demonize others by further endorsing ignorance, fear, bigotry and hate. Often this hate is directed against their/our brothers and sisters at The Body of Christ (see pending anti/kill-lgbt law currently tabled before the Parliament of Uganda, the thieving of Anglican Church property in Zimbabwe and the failed Anglican Church endorsement avoiding ¨human rights equality¨ changes for a new constitution in Kenya...it passed popular vote anyway and now citizens have a dim view of religious leaders, Archbishop Wabukala/others included, in Kenya as a result HERE ). Some bishops are a disgrace but in order to save face and cover-themselves for ill-informed-actions they outshout and play ¨big man.¨ Avoiding the REALITY of facing/contradicting the wrongful, yet popular, lies and taboo against ¨the Gay¨ invasion HERE .

Archbishop Okoh, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and his ¨War On Homosexuality¨ HERE

The ¨War On Homosexuality¨ and the spewing of other fear/hate-mongering tactics that encourage deadly fears amongst bigots and innocent Christians/others, is, in fact, irresponsible leadership at Church. It´s plain SIN and ought be addressed DIRECTLY by ALL 400+ Anglican Bishops at the Anglican African Bishops Conference next week in Uganda. Hate generated against LGBTI Christians and other citizens must be CHALLENGED before more LGBTI Anglicans and other people are demoralized, marginalized and abused by way of Church.


LGBTI Anglicans and others are exploited, victimized, raped, enslaved and demonized in UGANDA, NIGERIA, KENYA and CENTRAL AFRICA

HERE, and HERE, and you must read HERE, Nigeria HERE,
Kenya HERE, Sudan HERE and the Anglican Province of Central Africa HERE.

Lord have mercy


ALL AFRICA ANGLICAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE, August 23 to 29
Entebbe, Uganda

Dear African Bishops of the Anglican Communion,

You are from over 400 dioceses in Africa. You are Anglican Bishops who are expected to gather together with the Archbishop of Canterbury at a one-week All African Bishops' Conference that will take place in Uganda from August 23 to 29, 2010.

Bishops, are you prepared to minister pastorally and sensitively to ALL, irrespective of sexual orientation?


"Securing Our Future: Unlocking our Potential,"(Hebrews 12:1-2)

Bishops of the Anglican Communion from over 400 dioceses in Africa are expected together with the Archbishop of Canterbury. A one-week All African Bishops' Conference (AABC) will take place in Uganda from August 23 to 29. HERE

According to Edward Gaamuwa, the chairman of the organising committee, the council of Anglican provinces of Africa meeting in Pretoria, South Africa in 2001 resolved to hold an African Anglican Bishop Conference to focus on African needs.

"The Anglican Church is very old in Africa but African problems and issues are still being treated as an appendix to other issues at the church's international forum," Gaamuwa said in an interview.

Some of the aims for this conference include mobilising the bishops to tackle the obstacles that continue to keep the continent in conflict, poverty, corruption, poor leadership and disease.

There is also the need to create a platform for interaction and partnership development and also to expose church leaders to various models for resource mapping, investment, management and global technology.

And how the Anglican Church in Africa is spearheading and participating in global initiatives that seek to address the threats to human dignity...read it all HERE

THE ALL AFRICA BISHOPS CONFERENCE VENUE:

Imperial Resort Beach Hotel
August 23 to 29
Entebbe, Uganda
PO Box 895,Entebbe, Uganda
Telephone: +256 (0) 414 303000
Fax: +256 (0) 414 303333
Web: www.imperialhotels.co.ug/impresortbeachoverview.html

· Thanks to Flickr Photo Sharing
· Thanks to Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo, Uganda
· Thanks to The Bishops of The Anglican Church, South Africa
· Thanks to Box Turtle Bulletin, sidebar