Pro-gay church community established in Kenya, Uganda

afrol News, 10 April - 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that will grown in strength and statue, whilst also becoming a voice for Christians who have been marginalised by an out of date system of administration."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.

By staff writers

Dedicated to Ssempa

Yes, believe me.

I am dedicating this post to Pastor Martin Ssempa. Anti-gay nemesis of Uganda. The man who, even before homosexuality in Uganda was a political hot button and homophobia a vote getter, the man who was obsessed enough to pursue an anti-gay campaign.

I am dedicating it to the 'Inter-Faith Rainbow coalition against Homosexuality in Uganda'. I believe that is the full name. For which Ssempa is the official spokesperson, and Isaac Eyalama the mobiliser.

I dedicate it to all the anti-gay people who have come and debated me in the name of love, which I call hate.

I dedicate it to Kiwewesi. Poor guy, you may find meaning on your journey in life.

I dedicate it to Kimbowa, Tovi, and all members of Pastor Ssempa's Makerere University Community Church, bastion of the fight against homosexuality in Uganda.

Hold,

why should I dedicate something to people who will never, ever read it?

Because, Kimbowa, Tovi, Nevender, when I say you hate me, you do not understand why I say so. When I say you persecute me, you do not understand what I mean by that. You hold your holy books and bring them down, in a passion of holy fury. Hating me, but that hate blinded to believe that it is love.

Well, you do not believe my journey. And I have written bits and pieces of it here, enough to give a few hints. But someone has summarised his journey, his very long journey. One that took years, more than mine has. His struggles and fears, his sexuality and religion.

So, it may be a bit graphical. You are all adults. I dont think my challenge to know a bit of truth about me and my sexuality will embarass you too much. Truth has a cost. Always.

And this truth has a huge cost.

My challenge to you, is that you read of this one man's journey through life.

It is here. A Life of Un-Learning; A Journey to find the Truth

Ok, before I chicken out, I am also dedicating it to a certain, verbose, articulate hater of all things religion, especially Christian... Release that hate, I say. That is, err, you, gug!


Thanks Anthony Venn-Brown. For sharing your story of course.

Pedestals of Pride

You believe I don’t-

understand you, that is;

for the gulf of years, knowledge, power

in between the two;



You believe the quick, rapid fire words,

doubting your eyes, the hunger and pain in mine;



You’re deaf; blind and deaf

to my bleeding heart, for my stronger words-



Lord, can you not look, see

beyond that fragile shield of pride?

that wall; thick looking, brittle-

to that dam of mortal pain?



I can’t break your pride-

mine’s a suit of armor

to hide my soul, bathed in salt;



Look love, the world’s short, time’s brief

can we not, one the other’s pride unclothe-

stand together, both naked in our skins?



Will we the love of our lives, demean, destroy,

on our proud pedestals of pride?




©GayUganda 30 Aug. 2008

Hey, seems the doctor put himself on the receiving end!

Homosexuality is a moral disease Tuesday, 30th September, 2008

By Isaac Eyalama

I write in response to an article by Dr. Paul Semugoma titled “Same sex attraction is not a disease,” that was published in The New Vision of September 18. The issue the writer seems to advocate in his article is the acceptance of this vice. But is such behaviour rational, scientifically functional or detrimental to the high level of civilisation that we have achieved?

By claiming their relationships are normal, homosexuals are trying to influence the Government to legally bless their unions. They hope to indoctrinate society to accept it.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “In the biological evolutionary scale, the more complex the species, the longer the offspring is dependent on its mother for survival from the time of birth to maturity.”

Human beings, at the top of the evolutionary scale, require the most time of all species to reach maturity. This increases the duties of parents to their children. The best chance for the successful development of the child into adulthood occurs when both parents are deeply involved throughout the period of child rearing. Hence, marriage lays the foundation for the traditional nuclear family, whose basic constituents are mother, father and a child, and which is the primary unit for ensuring the procreation of human beings and the preservation of their societies.

Scientifically, sex is a means to an end; the end being the propagation of the human race. This end can never be fulfilled by sex between males or females. Therefore,homosexuality is irrational and illogical.

According to psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung who were objective and unprejudiced, psychologically, homosexuality is abnormal. However, large scale lobbying by homosexuals and certain psychologists biased this scientific field of inquiry hence the truth became masked.

Abnormal sexual preference, even when it becomes ‘normal’ to an individual due to abnormal circumstances can be controlled. Just because certain individuals experience sexual desires towards members of the same sex, because something went wrong in their lives does mean that that their behaviour should be accepted.

There is no doubt that Christianity, Islam and traditional religions in Africa strongly condemn homosexuality. According to the Old Testament and the Koran, the people of Lot’s days were destroyed because they engaged in homosexual behaviour, they did not repent and accepting God’s admonishment (Genesis chapter 13, 14, 18, 19 and the Koran 7: 80-84; 4:16).

In Romans 1:22-27), Paul says: “Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.”

Studies have shown that homosexuality increases the risk of getting HIV/AIDS. Anal sex can cause rectal bleeding and thereby allowing easy transmission of HIV.

It is estimated that the majority of people with HIV/AIDS in the US today are homosexual or bi-sexual males. According the General Social Survey of the University of Chicago homosexual men were at the highest risk of contracting HIV.

The cost of treating people with HIV/AIDS is high. We must, therefore, mitigate its spread.

Dr. Semugoma argued that homosexuality as a natural phenomenon even in the animal kingdom but a comparison of this vice in men with intellect is not justified. Animals at times kill and eat their offspring. We cannot, therefore, justify the killing of our children just because it happens in the animal kingdom

Common sense, science, logic, psychology and religion have contributed to its civilisation. Homosexuality is irrational, illogical, abnormal and immoral behaviour. However, We should not condemn people who practise homosexuality but rather criticise their behaviour and help them find solutions to their problem.

The writer is a public health
professional and mobilisation secretary for the Inter-Faith Rainbow Coalition Against Homosexuality in Uganda

Anti-gay bishops meet in Mukono

Tuesday, 30th September, 2008

By Ganzi Muhanguzi

A TOTAL of 39 bishops, are in the country to defend the Global Anglican Future Conference Movement (GAFCON).

GAFCON is a clergy movement against homosexuality in the Church.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh from Nigeria, who is also the chairman of the GAFCON Theological Resource Group, said the misrepresentation of Christ and his nature is a threat to the Church.
“The controversy about who Jesus is, almost crippled the Church some time back,” he said.
He urged Christians to follow the Bible and reject popular distortions.
The group is meeting at Uganda Christian University, Mukono.
Uganda’s Archbishop,s Henry Luke Orombi, in August, declared the next 10 years, a decade of mission, urging the Anglican churches to spread the gospel.

Currently in the Anglican Church, the liberal Anglicans, led by Canterbury are in favour of homosexuality, while conservatives, led by Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria are opposed to the move.

Akonola’s group is threatening a break in communion if the Canterbury does not retract their stand.

The Meeting, which ends today, attracted clergy from USA, UK, Australia, South India, South Africa, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.

Busy

Maybe the worst thing with a busy life;

rushing through it, eyes wide open-

blind to all the beauty.

A man made tragedy, that, if any;

to walk eyes open, unseeing, in a garden of beauty,

unable to touch, taste, of the nectar of the gods;

too busy to look, see, know;

like we’ll have the time, in the hereafter.

Life’s too short, too brief;

what we see not today, we will never see again.

©GayUganda 01 Oct. 2008

A Homosexual Scandal in Uganda.

Uh, another one. But one that strikes to the root of the problem for the gay Ugandan.

Kiwewesi.

He is a pastor of a Pentecostal church. Kansanga Miracle Center Church, one of the ‘new’, non traditional churches. He drew people around him with his charisma, built it from a reed walled structure to a huge, eye catching edifice in the Kansanga rich man’s slum.

He was unmarried for long. All the ladies would have loved to swoon at the feet of this charismatic young man, an up and coming preacher, a mover in the Pentecostal world in Uganda. But he was too busy doing the work of god.

I ‘hear’, as in the ‘grapevine’ that, there came a time and the pressure to get married was a little overwhelming. So, with his parents hot on his case, he gave them the go ahead.

‘I am a bit shy,’ confessed the famous preacher, ‘Dad, can you choose me a woman?’

Daddy was not shy at all. The opposite, in fact.

Quickly, a young woman caught Daddy’s resourceful eye. The family vetted the lady, and were happy about the results. Good family, good people, respectful, saved, etc, etc.

The lady was presented to the young man, who was immediately enamored. Who predictably, immediately fell in love. She could not but fall in love with him. Young, powerful, rich, charismatic, the founder pastor of one of the most powerful Pentecostal churches in Kampala.

The lady was introduced to the church. The church swooned with love for the lady.

Fundraising, and ultimately, the wedding of the year. Was it 2007, or 08? I remember, because, well, the wedding was held in Namboole Stadium, a 40,000 people seater, and was the wedding of the year. The budget was an eye popping 300 Million Uganda shillings. And the couple went off on a honeymoon in California. Or, at least that is what I remember.

Pastor Kiwewesi was wed at last. And one of the most eligible bachelors removed from the scene, in style. Society swooned.

Oh, I have removed many of the attending flares, like the lady pastor who sent the eminent Kiwewesi a message that god had appeared to her in a vision, and told her that Kiwewesi was not supposed to marry than lady, but the one this pastoress had seen in a vision…

Pastor Kiwewesi's house. Inset, the man himself.
They do live well, dont they. Sniff of envy!

And they lived happily thereafter?

Poor Ugandans.

Poor Kiwewesi.

Poor, misguided, blind, ignorant believers.

The man is homosexual. Or, so the media is breaking the news.

Poor Ugandans. We have become so enamoured of the idea that sex is bad, that we assume that our bible tells us all there is about sex. Sex is bad. Sex must happen in marriage. And marriage has to be arranged. Abstain till marriage myth. Poor Ugandans.

To some believers, marriage is arranged by the good pastor.

Kiwewesi could not come out and say that he is homosexual. Why do we, homosexuals, go to god? Why do we homosexuals have this hunger for god that, despite the fact that the church hurts us so much, we feel the need to gravitate towards it?

I did it myself. Lucky that I came to jump out of that pit of ignorance.

Maybe it is just the fact that we are like every other human being. Our spirituality is part of us. Our desire and need to believe is an overwhelming part of us. When we discover that we are gay, immediately we think to believe those who say they can heal us of this 'evil spirit'. No, thanks for small mercies, I was never brave enough to submit to a public exorcism.

For Kiwewesi, all the signs were there, for anyone who wanted to know, to see. Matter of fact, I had heard a rumour or two, from the grapevine. I have never slept with the dude, so, I cannot confirm, or deny. All I know is that on Thursday, the news was broken. On WBS television. On the Luganda programme. Apparently, it was taken up by the Monitor newspaper (funny, I have searched for that online, and I have failed to get it.) And, the red rug, and Bukedde, a Luganda daily has taken up the chase.

Poor Kiwewesi.

His life is destroyed. And for us, we are seeing, again, what can happen to any of us if we are ever exposed.

And poor gay Ugandans.

A former lover is accusing the guy. Apparently, the wedding made him bitter. He thought he had much to get from the guy, but the Pastor succumbed to the pressure of society.

Poor Ugandans. We are caught in the midst of our blind, ignorant attitude towards sexuality and matters of sex. We deny that they are homosexuals, fail to see them when they are, where they are, make their lives hell. And when we discover them, a scandal.

Poor Kiwewesi.




GayUganda