Two African primates respond to letter on sexuality

A second African Primate has issued a response to a recent letter by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York recalling Anglican Communion leaders’ “commitment to pastoral care and friendship for all, regardless of sexual orientation”.

In his response, the Archbishop of Kenya the Most Revd Eliud Wabukala said, “Christiansshould always show particular care for those who are vulnerable, butthis cannot be separated from the whole fabric of biblical moralteaching in which the nature of marriage and family occupy a centralplace.”

Both ArchbishopWabukala and Primate of the Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali -in a statement issued the previous day – stressed their intention to”uphold” the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10 which states that”homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture” and that theconference “cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sexunions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions”.

Both Primates called on Archbishops Welby and Sentamu to do the same.

The public statements from both Archbishops can be read below in full.

A RESPONSE TO THE STATEMENT

BY THE ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBURY AND YORK

This week, the Archbishopsof Canterbury and York sought to remind the leadership of the AnglicanCommunion and the Presidents of Nigeria and Uganda of the importance offriendship and care for homosexual people.

Christians should always show particular care for those who arevulnerable, but this cannot be separated from the whole fabric ofbiblical moral teaching in which the nature of marriage and familyoccupy a central place.

The Dromantine Communiqué from which the Archbishops quote alsoaffirmed (Clause 17) the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10 whichstates that ‘homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture’ andthat the conference ‘cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of samesex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions’.

Yet earlier this week, the English College of Bishops accepted therecommendation of the Pilling Report for two years of ‘facilitatedconversation’ because at least some of the bishops could not accept thehistoric teaching of the Church as reaffirmed in the Lambeth Resolution.

Indeed, in making the case for such a debate, the Pilling Reportobserves ‘In the House of Lords debate on same sex marriage, theArchbishop of York commended that the Church needed to think about theanomalies in a situation where it is willing to bless a tree or a sheep,but not a faithful human relationship.’ The anomaly only exists ofcourse if it really is the case that a committed homosexual union canalso be Christian.

The good advice of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York would carrymuch more weight if they were able to affirm that they hold,personally, as well as in virtue of their office, to the collegial mindof the Anglican Communion. At the moment I fear that we cannot be sure.

Regrettably, their intervention has served to encourage those whowant to normalise homosexual lifestyles in Africa and has fuelledprejudice against African Anglicans. We are committed to biblical sexualmorality and to biblical pastoral care, so we wholeheartedly stand bythe assurance given in the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution that thosewho experience same sex attraction are ‘loved by God and that allbaptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexualorientation, are full members of the Body of Christ.’

May God in his mercy grant that we may hold to the fullness of his truth and the fullness of his grace.

The Most Rev’d Dr Eliud Wabukala

Archbishop, Anglican Church of Kenya and Chairman, GAFCON Primates Council

31^st January 2014

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Archbishop Stanley Ntagali Comments on Uganda’s Anti-HomosexualityBill, the Church of England’s “Pilling Report,” and the Open Letter fromthe Archbishops of Canterbury and York

30th January 2014

The Church of Uganda is encouraged by the work of Uganda’s Parliamentin amending the Anti-Homosexuality Bill to remove the death penalty, toreduce sentencing guidelines through a principle of proportionality,and to remove the clause on reporting homosexual behaviour, as we hadrecommended in our 2010 position statement on the Bill. This frees ourclergy and church leaders to fulfill the 2008 resolution of our House ofBishops to “offer counseling, healing and prayer for people withhomosexual disorientation, especially in our schools and otherinstitutions of learning. The Church is a safe place for individuals,who are confused about their sexuality or struggling with sexualbrokenness, to seek help and healing.”

Accordingly, we are grateful for the reminder of the Archbishops ofCanterbury and York to fulfill such commitments as stated in the 2005Communique of the Primates Meeting held in Dromantine, Northern Ireland.

We would further like to remind them, as they lead their own churchthrough the “facilitated conversations” recommended by the PillingReport, that the teaching of the Anglican Communion from the 1998Lambeth Conference, from Resolution 1.10, still stands. It states that”homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture,” and the conference”cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions norordaining those involved in same gender unions.”

It was the Episcopal Church USA (TEC) and the Anglican Church ofCanada’s violations of Lambeth 1.10 which caused the Church of Uganda tobreak communion with those Provinces more than ten years ago. Wesincerely hope the Archbishops and governing bodies of the Church ofEngland will step back from the path they have set themselves on so theChurch of Uganda will be able to maintain communion with our own MotherChurch.

Furthermore, as our new Archbishop of Canterbury looks toward futurePrimates Meetings and a possible 2018 Lambeth Conference of Bishops, wewould also like to remind him of the 2007 Primates Communique from Dares Salaam, which says that there are “consequences for the fullparticipation of the Church in the life of the Communion” for TEC andthose Provinces which cannot

“Make an unequivocal common covenant that the Bishops will notauthorize any Rite of Blessing for same-sex unions in their dioceses orthrough” their governing body;
“Confirm…that a candidate for episcopal orders living in a same-sex union shall not receive the necessary consent.”

It is clear that the Episcopal Church in the USA and the AnglicanChurch of Canada have not upheld these commitments, and so we do prayfor the Archbishop of Canterbury as he considers whether or not toextend invitations to their Primates for the next Primates Meeting or totheir Bishops for the 2018 Lambeth Conference. To withhold theseinvitations would be a clear signal of his intention to lead and upholdthe fullness of the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10.

The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali

ARCHBISHOP OF CHURCH OF UGANDA.