The two Churches

Forgive my bad poetry.

It was ‘inspired’ by this article. I have always known of the Episcopal Church’s position on gay people.

I heard when Gene Robinson was made a Bishop, and of course, the brouhaha in the Anglican Communion which followed that. I didn’t know that the ‘Episcopal’ Church was part of the Anglican Communion, but I was adequately schooled by the rise of Akinola, and of course my country mate Orombi.

I was ‘born’ into the Church of Uganda, and once upon a time flirted with the Pentecostals. Before I came to my ‘current persuasion’. Maybe it is fair to say I have no faith, at the moment, but I continue to be very interested in matters of faith. My lover is a staunch Catholic. At least he was, till my lack of faith, (and homophobic pronouncements from the Holy See), shook him. I have many kuchu friends who believe deeply. Strongly. I support them. My lack of faith is a personal conviction. Why should I force it onto others? One can say an atheist is a believer. Of course it is true, though the atheist’s faith is the belief in the lack of a god. But that is digressing.
I was reasonably schooled in the Christian faith, and still love the teachings of Jesus. About love, practical love. And other things.

Anyway, in the same Church, or, as they call it, Body of Christ, one part, calling themselves conservatives have come out with a virulent, tough position with regards to people of my sexuality. They affirm that it is not natural, not normal, not scriptural. They have been militant, to the point of threatening to tear apart the Communion of the body, to usher in a new Reformation, because of differences in issues about my sexuality.

Orombi of the Church of Uganda is a particular leader in that. Martin Ssempa is another leader. He is rabid, in comparison to Orombi. Martin has instituted a gay witch-hunt within the Church, and within the country, using his considerable charisma and political acumen. He has been very successful recently, though his obsession with homosexuality pre-dates this years’ events. He is currently forging alliances with Moslems, other Christian groups, to fight homosexuality within the country. Stated aim is to ‘Kick Homosexuality out of Uganda’. Lofty ideal indeed.

Contrast this with what is happening in America.

I am quite aware of the fact that homosexuals were persecuted in America, and Europe. I am aware of the Nazi concentration camps, the Stonewall riots in ’69. What most Ugandans (and Africans) believe is that it has always been ok for homosexuals in the west. So they term it a ‘Western evil’.

Fast forward to now, in the US, a country where homosexuals were zapped with electricity in an effort to reboot our sexuality and make us heterosexuals, where they were hunted because of being security risks, part of the body of Christ is coming out and saying, enough is enough.

They acknowledged that, we are human beings. They acknowledged that we are natural, normal.

It is thrilling to understand that they accept that we are as fully Children of God as they are, despite the apparent ‘scriptural’ contradictions, which the conservatives bible-bash us with. The evolution of this thought has taken time, but it has come quietly, consistently, and strongly. With a certain grim inevitability.

When Gene Robinson was elected Bishop, the rest of the Anglican communion went mad. They couldn’t believe what had happened with their American brothers. From what I read, the Americans were taken aback. They didn’t expect that this kind of thing would happen. They were forced to go slow, in their acknowledgement of us as members of the body of Christ, despite our differences.

The conservatives have nearly split the church. Matter of fact, seems they went all the way but. They leaned back, at the last moment. These are momentous times. Funny that I have been following that friction on this very blog.

The ‘progressives’, despite the fact that they had been told to go slow for the sake of the whole communion, held on, for long enough. But they have taken the next step. Bravely, succinctly, knowing the problems. They are adamant in what they believe.

They believe that us homosexuals are also children of God.

What a challenge! What a testimony!

The part I liked best in this article is why they have taken the extraordinary step, in spite, and despite the opposition from their brethren. To quote, “they felt compelled to act because of their pastoral responsibility to gay couples who were increasingly coming forward to ask the church to bless their unions. Many also said they saw it as a simple matter of granting equal rights to gay men and lesbians.”

Once they took the step to accept us into the body of Christ, they saw the logical extension of that. We are as human as they are. Not second class citizens or believers. So, when we ask for what the rest of the children of God are receiving, what logic is their in denying us the blessings of God?

A related article with an interesting analysis is here.

Hey, you wondering what they did? Here it is "the church voted to open the door to ordaining openly gay bishops. And on Thursday the bishops voted to start the process of developing rites for blessing same-sex marriages, and to give the green light to bishops who are already doing so.

Hallelujah!

gayuganda

Tell me Again

You don’t hate me?

Ok, tell me, again

for I am slow, to understand

weak of mind, quicker to flame,

and anger-

tell me again

Why I prison deserve;

for loving him, the man I love.

[He is beautiful, he loves me,

holds me in his arms,

and makes love to me;

he holds me at night,

chases the terrors away,

kisses, touches, holds, loves

and he’s all for me]

tell me again-

Why you spit at me?

Ok, you’s a big man,

known, honoured,

you have all, that I lack-

a woman to love,

children, money, social standing

I see you on TV, radio

hear your voice, your laugh

in my head, nightmares

as you threaten prison,

tell me again, how much you love me?

Tell me of your love, please-

you know so little, and much;

and say too much-

you deny me family;

clan, tribe, country-

tell me again, how much you love me?

I am bad, corrupt, evil, a devil

to taint and steal children-

corrupt and tempt youths;

to preach about on Sunday,

and cast away, out of church-

tell me again, how much you love me?

I do not deserve,

a place at your god’s table-

he is your god, I am a sinner;

and you his priest, to preach his love

Strange love that you preach;

love stilled in hate,

loud in spit, low in touch,

tell me again how I love to hate,

and you love to love

tell me again… please?

©GayUganda 16 July 2009

For Laughs

OBSERVER LOCKER ROOM: Is sodomy real in Ugandan football?

Sports

Written by OUR STAFF

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 18:14

Homosexuality talk has dominated the past few weeks in Ugandan football and the ever vibrant locker-room hasn’t been spared;

Vianney: Eh! This homosexuality talk has even got to the FUFA President. He sounded a warning to those involved.

James Tumusiime: But surely, instead of concentrating on sorting our more pertinent problems, we are discussing Homosexuality.

Echwalu: I really can’t say much on the subject because I’m not sure it exists in Ugandan football.

Ssemuwemba: The only guy that I have seen being pinned so far is Charles Ayiekoh. But he looked innocent to me.

Kiggundu: How did you find out when you didn’t sleep in the same room with him?

Vianney: But seriously, Ayiekoh actually insinuated that he was being tarnished by some football people that don’t like him.

Kiggundu: Don’t be fooled by a guy who is trying to show innocence. Investigate the guy and be sure. For now, he’s guilty until proven innocent to me.

Jeff: You enjoy pinning guys Edris but how do you say that the guy is gay when you have no proof?

Vianney: For me my concern is that gay incidents have been talked about in Villa but no official has ever been brought to book.

Lumu: That’s the problem with you jokers…you only stop at ‘someone.’ Why not mention him?

Vianney: Eh, are you ready to defend it in court?

Lumu: Then just shut up and save us from your rumours

Vianney: Anyway…I hope FUFA and Police produce evidence on Ayiekoh to prove his guilt or innocence. Otherwise, no one from FUFA has tackled the Villa talk since.

Zziwa: Well, the issue has always been the lack of evidence.

Ssemujju: There is no way we can let such an immoral act thrive in Uganda. No way. Thank God it’s not at Express but at Villa.

James Tumusiime: What people do in their private lives is their business. Homosexuality isn’t a concern to me.

Sebugwawo: I agree. What an adult decides to do, is his business provided it doesn’t hurt me directly.

Vianney: Just imagine if it was your relative being sodomized. Wouldn’t it matter still?

Sebugwawo: But Vianney, none of them is forced.

Vianney: Maybe not; but they’re manipulated. I hear in Villa, a player who didn’t give in wouldn’t get football boots.

Jeff: Is that true?

Vianney: So I heard. I guess a commission of inquiry ought to be appointed to get info from victims and remove perpetrators.

Sebugwawo: All that is crap. The fact remains no victim has ever come out in the open.

Vianney: Eh, I’m, getting worried about you Bugos…I just hope I’m wrong in my thinking about your sexuality.

Sebugwawo: Haha…why don’t you get me a woman and I prove you wrong?

Vianney: Man…I’ve got married and cannot risk

Orombi's fight

Episcopal leaders vote to lift ban on gay bishops

The church may move to sanction blessings for same-sex couples as well, further alienating conservative parishes.

By Duke Helfand

July 15, 2009

The Episcopal Church, casting aside warnings about further alienating conservatives within its ranks, on Tuesday lifted a de facto ban on the ordination of gay bishops and is continuing to weigh a measure that would sanction blessings for same-sex couples.

Bishops, clergy and lay leaders voted overwhelmingly at the denomination's General Convention in Anaheim to open "any ordained ministry" to gays and lesbians.

The liberalized policy represents a reversal from guidelines adopted by the church at its last convention in 2006 that effectively prohibited the consecration of bishops whose "manner of life" would strain relations with the 77-million member Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the communion.

The new approach is likely to deepen theological fissures that led some traditionalist Episcopal congregations and dioceses last month to form a rival church. And it is almost certain to trigger a backlash among conservative Anglican leaders who have urged the U.S. church to refrain from relaxing ordination and marriage standards.

But progressives in the 2.1-million member denomination said the move toward inclusion reflects the reality of a church that is home to many partnered gays and lesbians who belong to parishes that encourage their involvement and already bless their unions.

"Being an Episcopalian means you can disagree and still worship together," said the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles. "We're going to leave the door open for all those who disagree with us to find a place here and peace here."

Tensions have been mounting since 2003, when a partnered gay priest, V. Gene Robinson, was consecrated as bishop of New Hampshire. Several conservative Anglican leaders, especially in Africa, cut ties to the U.S. church after his election.

The spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, had expressed apprehension during a brief visit to the conference last week about decisions "that could push us further apart."

On Tuesday, an elated Robinson celebrated the lopsided vote in the church's two legislative bodies -- the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, composed of clergy and laity.

"I'm simply delighted at the possibility that another diocese will recognize the gifts of a gay or lesbian clergy person," he said. "I long for the day when someone who shares my experience as an openly gay bishop joins me in the House of Bishops. It has been lonely."

But a bishop who left the church last year predicted that the decisions made in Anaheim would increase strains with disaffected conservatives.

"Clearly the activists have done a good job promoting their agenda," said the Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, a founding bishop of the newly formed Anglican Church in North America, which hopes to gain recognition from the Anglican Communion as a rival province to the Episcopal Church.

"The generosity shown by the rest of the communion has been astonishing and has been thrown back in their face," Minns said. "There will have to be a renegotiation of how the Episcopal Church fits into the family."

The measure to consecrate gay bishops won the support of more than two-thirds of the denomination's two legislative houses. The church's presiding bishop, the Most. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, also supported it.

The resolution seeks to reassure Anglican leaders about the U.S. church's loyalty, saying that the convention reaffirms its "abiding commitment" and financial support for the communion.

But the measure also affirms that "God has called" gays and lesbians in partnered relationships to "any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church," adding that the call "is a mystery which the church attempts to discern for all people."

Church leaders said the new policy does not repeal the 3-year-old moratorium but instead calls for Episcopal officials to abide by church canons, which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Debate on a separate measure concerning blessings for same-sex unions is expected today in the House of Bishops, which postponed a vote Tuesday after members asked for more time to discuss the issue.

The measure would allow bishops to "provide generous pastoral response" to gay and lesbian couples, but it would not require those who object to deliver the blessings. Several bishops and lay leaders said they expected a compromise that would permit blessings.

The Rev. Susan Russell, president of Integrity USA, a group that represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the church, said the Anaheim convention would send a message to the global communion that the church is "committed to both honesty and unity."

But Russell acknowledged the potential for continued conflict.

"There are absolutely challenges," she said. "There is no attempting to skirt the fact that what we are doing is stepping beyond where many in the communion would prefer we go."

The Issues With Homosexuality

Moses Banturaki13 July 2009

At first there was a man on TV saying he had seen the light and repented, and soon after told of a recruiting drive in schools.

Then there were a couple of high profile pastors and some boys counter accusing each other.

Most recently, a football coach was almost lynched by boys who he had 'touched' inappropriately. Soon it was a subject of every public discussion. Apparently it is present in our 'unspoilt' society and maybe for much longer than we care to admit. But should we really be collectively stressed by homosexuality?

Malaria kills six children a day you know. So where are our priorities?

To put it in perspective, a football coach bedding a 23-year-old player of the same sex is not a story about how our society is coming to an end. It is a story of two consenting adults, period. The only way we can judge this relationship as wrong is for us to stand on some moral high ground and therefore expose ourselves to questions about our own morality. Before we all get carried away then let us remember that there is poor remuneration, poor management and under funding to contend with in football. So can we all please just calm down.

On a personal level though I think homosexuality is improper and I am neither homophobic nor a religious zealot. I just happen to believe that everything beneath and beyond the stars is purposefully designed by God and anyone who is familiar with the Human sexual anatomy (which is most of you) will appreciate that this preference between members of the same sex is a contradiction of the Creator's original intention.

However it is not up to me to decide what others should do. And neither should you, no matter how much you would rather have homosexuals dressed up in fluorescent bibs for easier identification and victimisation.

But just because I think we were all created with free will, does not mean it makes me comfortable when someone attempts to influence my children's choices.

If I must respect the right of people to bed whoever they fancy then they must respect my right to disagree with their orientation campaigns.

For all I care people can fancy goats, just don't recruit my children into it, because I just don't see this as a shining example of goodness. So if you don't mind allow me to educate my own children, thank you.

So for me the issue is not that gay people are invading our society or being discriminated against. It is that we should always guard against one man's freedom inconveniencing another's.

So when some homosexuals start recruiting in our schools and churches like they are an army marching on to war I have cause for concern. As a guardian of my children I am obliged to ensure that they don't take direction from a stranger in a fake suit and an accent to match, most especially if he/she is promising the good life in exchange for sexual orientation. Go ahead and call me a gay 'basher', but until my children are of age I shall remain responsible for the lifestyle choices they make - and those choices shall not include homosexuality, sorry.

Can we therefore close this matter? The homosexuality in our football clubs is a matter of choice between two consenting adults. What we should really worry about is this literature and money going around convincing our 12-year-olds on what moral choices to make.

Let everyone who doesn't fancy the influence of these perverts (gay or straight) stand up and say no!

Elsewhere in Africa

Have to remind myself that it is not only Uganda.

Not a great thought for a very beautiful morning. And it is a very beautiful morning.

Yesterday, Sunday, it rained. Drizzled, actually. It has been a very dry spell for the last few months and the dust is everywhere. Dry, dusty, windy. And cold at night.

The drizzle dampened the air, removed much of the excess dust, and tied it down to earth. So the morning is realy fresh and lovely. Sun is as golden as ever. Yesterday we went out man watching. Strictly eye candy stuff.

Got across this story from Senegal. It is not nice, at all! But there, it happened. It seems to be significantly different from a similar one earlier in the year.

SHOCK AS GAY MAN IS EXHUMED FROM A “STRAIGHT ONLY” CEMETERY

Last Updated: July 7, 2009

By Jerina Chendze Messie (BTM French Reporter)

SENEGAL – 07 July 2009: The Senegalese gay community was shocked beyond words as the body of a gay man was exhumed from the local cemetery of Thiès, 70 km East of Dakar, dragged in the streets before being dropped in the courtyard of his family home by an angry mob who vowed that they will not have a gay man buried in their graveyard.

The corpse of Madièye Diallo, a gay man whose sexual orientation was well known in the area was, according to sources, exhumed for the second time by alleged homophobic community members who asked his family to bury him elsewhere.

Diallo’s friend who chose to remain anonymous said Diallo was an active member in the local branch of And Legeey, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisation well known in the country and that he was in charge of organising events and meetings.

He added that the family does not want to say where they eventually buried Diallo for fear of more harassment.

The friend further explained that Diallo was an icon of gay people in Senegal after his photograph was largely disseminated by the media following an alleged gay marriage, which received huge media coverage.

Fearing for his life, he left the country and sought refuge in Mali.

He eventually came back, living between the two countries until he got sick and died.

“I spoke to his family and now they just want things to calm down before deciding what to do” the said.

Meanwhile four gay men have been arrested in Touba, 194 km East of Dakar, during the first week of June.

Just after their arrest, one of the most prominent religious leaders was heard on a local radio station saying that they [religious authorities] will do their own justice.

While no one knows the exact details of the men's arrests, a source known to Behind the Mask said people don’t want to get involved because they fear the power of religious leaders in that predominantly Muslim area.

And, this one is from Cameroon. Truly not only in Uganda

FREE EWANE! – GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

Last Updated: July 3, 2009

By Jerina Chendze Messie (BTM French Reporter)

CAMEROON – 03 July 2009: A gay rights group in Cameroon is calling on the justice department to immediately drop charges against and release Yves Noe Ewane, arrested in May this year, allegedly for being gay.

Ewane was charged under sections 74 for criminal intention, 346 for gross indecency and 347 for homosexual conduct under the Cameroonian Penal Code, following a complaint filed against him by the mother of a supposed minor who accused Ewane of having sexual relations with his son.

Summoned to appear in court on 21 June the plaintiff and his mother did not pitch and the medical examination failed to prove that the boy was sodomised as alleged by his mother.

Alice Nkom, president of Association pour la Defense des Homosexuels (ADEFHO), an organisation that defends the rights of homosexuals in Cameroon, who is also representing Ewane says that the judge has everything he needs to close the drop the charges since “it appears that there is no witness or plaintiff.

In the absence of complainants, Ewane argued his innocence saying he had never had sexual relations with the boy.

Sebastien Mandeng, vice president of ADEFHO says Ewane is just a victim of stigmatisation since he was arrested last year for homosexual conduct and remanded in custody for six months at Douala New Bell Prison before being released.

“He has never been tried nor convicted and the case was dismissed for lack of evidence. He is a very sociable man who likes to entertain people at home but every time he is seen with somebody there are allegations of homosexuality. Just because he was accused once and although he was cleared, his neighbors still stigmatize him”, he said.

Ewane was sent to Douala New Bell Prison on the 19 May 2009 after being kept on police custody for three weeks at Douala Bonanjo Police Station. If found guilty, he will face a prison sentence of six months to five years and/or a fine of $50 to $500.

Out of your Sight

Out of your sight
I fret and fritter
unsure, discomfited;
uncomfortable-

Do you love me?

Maybe you do, am I sure?

Uncertainty, sure companion to all lovers
stalks and follows me.

With you, the waters calm,
turbulence of spirit irons out;
all fear is removed.
The sight of you, your eyes, your gaze
the touch of you-
all that’s the miracle that
pulls me with love to you.

©gug 02 July 09