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Gay Kenyan Anglicans Send Strong Message to Lambeth Conference
28 June 2008- Nairobi, Kenya – Kenyan Anglican clergy,
gays and allies have sent a strong message of affirmation and
inclusiveness to the bishops at the forthcoming Lambeth conference, due
to be held next month.
The message was unanimously agreed at the ceremony
organised by Integrity USA, a pro-gay Anglican based group, in
partnership with the Other Sheep organisation in Kenya at a meeting last
week.
Rev. Cynthia Black and Katie Sherrod from Integrity USA
carried out the personal interview of the participants using video
recording. The objective of this program was to take the voices and
faces of gays, lesbians and allies to the Lambeth conference for the
Anglican bishops to see and hear from the horse’s own mouth.
Rev. Michael Kimindu, an Anglican priest and Other Sheep
East Africa Coordinator, said that it is hard for young people to
discover that they are gay in Kenya.
They come to fear God and hate themselves, he pointed
out, adding that society and religious condemnation causes young gay
people to live in isolation, depression and subsequently commit suicide
in schools, colleges and homes.
“Religious teachings are against homosexuality, and for
us allies we are looked at as people promoting a gay movement in
Africa,” said Rev. Kimindu.
“You cannot discourage or promote what you cannot change.
It is not a choice – it is inborn.”
His message to the bishops was that they should be
bishops and not judges.
“[The bishops] should appreciate the diversity of God’s
gifts in relation to the clergy and laity in the church without being
dictators. [They] should commission well educated people to conduct a
research on homosexuality. The findings can help remove grey hairs in
their approach.”
Rev. Kimindu said that the church in Kenya has lesbians,
gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons who have questions and
are seeking answers.
“They are living in the closet due to fear of stigma and
condemnation propagated by religious homophobia.”
He said the bishops should stop thinking that
homosexuality is un-African.
“The truth of the matter is homosexuality is part of
human history and since civilization started in Africa, therefore
homosexuality started from Africa. We should not blame the West for
introducing homosexuality.”
The meeting last week heard from a number of Christian
gay men and women.
Peter Wanyama and Fabian, who are Anglicans and partners,
said that they hoped the church will one day bless their union. They
have been partners for two years and they love each other so much.
Wanyama said that there are so many gay and lesbian
people in all cadres of leadership in the society and the church in
Kenya.
“The church receives our offerings, tithes and utilizes
our gifts and yet discriminates against us,” he said.
His message to the bishops is that they should represent
Christ holistically. They should stop looking at gays and lesbians as
enemies.
“We need to be inclusive and accepted in our church where
my late father was a priest.”
Maxi who is a lesbian said she knew her sexual
orientation when she was eight years old and in a boarding school. This
caused her to live in isolation until she met other lesbians in high
school, college and community.
She used to be Catholic but drifted because of anti-gay
sermons. She is the secretary of PFLAG (Parents, Friends of lesbians
and gay), a ministry of Other Sheep in Kenya. The aim is to seek allies
in the society, church and the government, to understand gay and lesbian
people in a positive way.
Solo who is gay said he does not go to any church because
of the spiritual violence spearheaded by anti-gay sermons.
He said he is ready to go to church if there is
affirmation and acceptance of gay persons.
“They should stop seeing us as the worst sinners when
they are wallowing in the miasm of tribalism and corruption.”
Ben who is gay and Pentecostal said he knew he was gay
when he was 7 years old. His twin brother is also gay. He met so many
gay friends in high school. He said he is tired of staying in the
closet.
“For a long time I was suicidal without seeking a
solution from the church. It has been a real struggle.”
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