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Gay-friendly bishop
marooned in Africa
 24
May 2006- Kenya- The Bishop of Chelmsford has been abandoned by his
hosts during a visit to Kenya, after local Anglican clergy took offence
at his liberal views on homosexuality, it has emerged.
The Rt Rev John Gladwin has been told
that hospitality has been "withdrawn" by the Archdiocese of Kenya to
himself and 20 other clergy because of his views about homosexuality.
The bishop and his group are currently
on a fortnight's visit to Kenya aimed at strengthening the 20-year links
between their church and the dioceses of Embu, Mbeere, Kirinyaga and
Meru in Kenya.
This month
Bishop Gladwin was named as one of four new patrons of Changing
Attitude, a campaigning group that aims at equality of opportunity for
lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the Anglican Church.
The Anglican Church in Kenya is part of
a group known as the "Global South" that is opposed to a liberalisation
of the Anglican Church's teaching about homosexuality.
The Archbishop of Kenya, the Most Rev
Benjamin Nzimbi, said in a statement that the Kenyan Church was "unable
to continue with advancing the lined-up activities with the diocese of
Chelmsford."
The Church of England group are
currently in a hotel in Embu, a diocese to the north east of Nairobi,
and have to stay a further week in the country before they can return to
Britain.
The Rev Christopher Newlands, chaplain
to Bishop Gladwin, and not part of the Kenya visit, said the development
was "deeply to be regretted".
"They are in a hotel at the moment and
we are trying to see what we can do to recover the planned programme and
make the best possible use of their time out there," he said.
"Clearly we are doing everything we can
from this end and in Kenya to try to heal the problems that have arisen
over this misunderstanding about what working on Changing Attitude means
and what the Lambeth Resolutions call us to do - listening to the
experiences of lesbian and gay people in the church."
A statement issued on behalf of Bishop
Gladwin by Mr Newlands said: "I hope that we can get over this
misunderstanding and make clear our determination to carry forward the
Lambeth Resolutions and to learn how God is at work in all his people in
England and in Kenya."
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