Anglican Church falls from grace over homosexuality debate

In trying to trace the local Rwandan history of the Anglican Church I established that the christian revival which touched the whole of the Great Lakes Region through the Gahini Diocese played a central role in the politics and culture of the vast region. That is why today we have those we describe as ‘A baporoso ba Gihini’, (The Anglicans of Gahini Diocese) but why say so it’s because they revolutionised the culture converting many to Anglicanism. The Gahini Diocese which is located in Rwanda’s eastern province remains up-to -date with a vibrant follower-ship even though most of them have grown old; though sadly the church in a far African country has been not been spared in the homosexuality debate raising dust in the ranks of the church. This raises many questions whether the church which was to be described as the salt of the world has been diluted to tasteless to be trampled upon on as it endures this western inspired debate on homosexuality; this issue is now under hot debate in corridors of the Anglican church around the world but as of now with no compromise reached whether homosexuality should be legalized. Historically, christian churches have regarded homosexual sex as sinful, based on the Catholic understanding of the natural law and traditional interpretations of certain Bible passages. The poor Africans have now been thrown into confusion as they used to believe almost any thing written as gospel truth but this time they stand firm against the issue meaning that Africa seems to be more conservative on original versions of faith, unlike their western counter-parts. In the west it’s a matter of debate whether to accept homosexuality or not which compelled his grace Bishop Kolini to boycott the Lambeth conference. It was heard through international media outlets that a big number of bishops don’t support the issue of homosexuality but what is vivid on the ground is that the pro homosexuality lobby is gaining prominence or much international publicity. Even Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has recently put his weight those who will not support this abomination, “Don’t fear; resist and do not compromise on that. It is a danger not only to the believers but to the whole of Africa. It is bad if our children become complacent and think that people who are not in order are alright.” Bishops opposed to the idea of the Anglican church accepting homosexuality in its ranks organized what was described as the global Anglican future conference, a meeting of conservative bishops held in Jerusalem in June 2008 (one month prior to Lambeth), which was thought by some to be an “alternative Lambeth.” In some parts of the world homosexuality is a constitutionally protected right, some countries have even gone further to bless same sex marriages. For the already struggling Anglicans matters are further complicated by the latest reports of the controversial Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams writing that the Bible doesn’t forbid same-sex relationships when there is a commitment similar to traditional marriages, a British newspaper reported this month. This tells me that the west is confusing theocracy and democracy; originally theocracy is when God rules through religious leaders in this case man has no right to question or to subtract or add on and democracy is a man made way where the voice of majority rules. The Anglican church has tried to be liberal meaning that there is no single Anglican Church with universal juridical authority, since each national or regional church has full autonomy. This sort of autonomy is turning the church to debate on a number of topics including the question of homosexuality and ordaining of female bishops. My reminder is that God hates it and the scriptures says that He never changes he’s the same today and forever which means if men accept it in western constitutions it doesn’t mean that it is ethical in the face of God. The world expected a lot from the Lambeth conference, remember the church is at war with a different spirit which many describe as an anti-Christ. The world is defining life in different ways and what the church leaders both opposed and in full backing of same sex unions is that life is what you make it but at the end of the day every one will know whether they took the wrong side of the living word. My conclusions is in a form of pondering an ethical question who is going to save the Anglican church, a friend of mine who calls herself a devoted Christian responded when man fails to worship God in truth and spirit God said he can even use the stones to lead his people. She added that’s why God is using females bishops because man have failed to worship God. Christian thinkers it’s your turn to make things better or worse. Ends