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Pro-gay
church community established in Kenya, Uganda
10 April 2006- The church community of St Sebastian, based in the
Spanish Canary Islands, has announced the establishment of its first
fellowships in Africa, being prepared in Uganda and Kenya. The
all-inclusive church community is especially known for its outreach to
homosexuals. In Kenya and Uganda, both the government and local church
communities are strongly homophobic.
"In recent weeks we have been blessed
with the opportunity to extend our ministry throughout Africa and
especially in Kenya and Uganda," Revd Paul Gibson told afrol News. The
leader of the Gran Canaria-based community of St Sebastian revealed that
preparations to offer religious services in the two East African
countries are now at an advanced stage.
According to Revd Gibson, establishment of fellowships in Kenya and
Uganda "is only the beginning of a new fully inclusive church that will
grown in strength and statue, whilst also becoming a voice for
Christians who have been marginalised by an out of date system of
administration." The church leader leaves no doubt that, when he speaks
about "marginalised Christians", he mainly refers to Kenyans and
Ugandans with a sexual minority background.
The church community of St Sebastian is relatively new and has so far
mostly concentrated its services in the Spanish island of Gran Canaria,
just off the southern Moroccan coast. The community is known for
condemning the exclusion of gays, lesbian and transsexuals by most
mainstream churches. "Such exclusion is contrary to the fundamental
teaching of Jesus and is abhorrent in the eyes of God," the community
holds.
Aiming at world-wide expansion, Revd Gibson has already headed an
initiative to establish a fellowship in Britain, however with limited
success. The church leader rather decided to "re-structure" St Sebastian
and focus on Africa and Asia. "With the increasing interest amongst
marginalised people in Africa and Asia, as well in parts of Europe, it
has been decided to concentrate on these areas of need primarily. In
essence this means that the development of fellowships in the UK will
cease," he announced this weekend.
Asked by afrol News to give details on the church community's expansion
in East Africa, Revd Gibson needed to consult with colleagues in Uganda
and Kenya to avoid giving out information that could jeopardise the
security of those attached to the pro-gay fellowship. Recent government
attacks of gay and lesbian communities in both countries have scared the
group, and Mr Gibson emphasises that St Sebastian is not a community of
homosexuals but a generally "inclusive community".
In Kenya and Uganda, Revd Gibson said, the fellowships "will be run by
either deacons or priests" who had already indicated that "they wish to
be part of the Community. These will be fully trained by our vocations
team," he told afrol News. "At the current time there are several people
training for these roles across Kenya and Uganda," he added.
Revd Gibson, who also uses the title "Bishop Paul", explained that St
Sebastian's fellowships in Kenya and Uganda had been established by
"groups of Christians who feel called to serve God as he himself served
others."
Asked how potential followers could get in touch with the newly
established fellowships in Kenya and Uganda, which have no official
address or marked houses of worship, the church leader again is led by
security concerns. "Anyone who is interested in contacting a fellowship
should initially contact our Secretary" in the Canary Islands, he said,
referring to his own e-mail address: commofsebastians@hotmail.com.
"We are an Independent Christian fellowship and people of all faiths are
welcome to join us," Mr Gibson declared, adding that both Catholics and
Protestants were welcome. Asked whether the community of St Sebastian
has got in touch with the established church communities in Kenya and
Uganda, Revd Gibson said this was not the case. "We will be willing to
open discussions with other groups should they approach us, so that we
can continue to work in unity and faith with all people," he said.
The community of St Sebastian is based in the Gran Canaria holiday
resort of Playa del Inglés, which itself is one of the world's leading
gay tourist destinations. Also here, homosexuals form a large part of
the St Sebastian community's local membership.
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