By John Makokha
Other Sheep Kenya held a seminar in a Nairobi hotel on August 22, 2009 called “Religion and Sexuality in an African Cultural Context.” The 25 participants were drawn from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community as well as Parents, Friends of Lesbian and Gay (PFLAG).
The participants came from diverse religious backgrounds and organization such as the United Methodist Church, Baptist church, Anglicans, Kenya Assemblies of God, Catholic Church, Metropolitan Community Church, Nairobi Pentecostal Church, Apostolic Church, Redeemed Gospel Church, Islam, Changing Attitude, Reconciling Ministries Network, Ishtar MSM, Daystar University and the United States International University (USIU).
Rev. Henry Mayor (Retired Anglican minister from UK) and director of Changing Attitude said that he came to Kenya to help the Anglican Church discuss homosexuality. He facilitated on Changing Attitude: The European Experience of LGBTI ministry. He had raised funds to train 40 Anglican clergy in the Bondo diocese in Kenya: “This is a big step since a journey of a thousand miles start with a single step.” Changing Attitude is linking up with Anglican groups around the world to officially accept LGBTI people in the Anglican Church.
Mayor said that there are people who say being gay is not African, but a western import. Said Mayor, “Our organization is devoted to changing the attitude of the Anglican Church towards homosexuals.” He believes his calling is from God: “There is no human being who is normal except Jesus Christ”.
He said that homosexuality has caused the great sin of dividing Christianity. Christians should love all people without discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Christian community must change their attitude and be positive about LGBTI persons: Stated Mayor, “Bishop Gene Robinson is such a wonderful Christian."
Rev. Michael Kimindu (MCC/Anglican minister and Other Sheep East Africa Coordinator) said that there are people whom the clergy and laity do not accept in the church such as divorcees, homosexuals, people living with AIDS, polygamists and alcoholics: “These are the other sheep.”
Kimindu said that sexual orientation is not an issue that is to be fought but accepted. Religious leaders should serve God by serving the vulnerable, including LGBTI persons. The gospel is not about hate but about repentance, reconciliation and renewal. Jesus did not die so that our sexual orientation can change, but our hearts. As Mayor poignantly stated, “Hatred and isolation do not constitute the grace of God and Christ’s mind is love”.
Mayor continued that there are thousands of LGBTI persons who think God hates them. The message from Other Sheep is that God loves you.
Rev. John Makokha (United Methodist minister and Other Sheep Kenya Coordinator) said that most LGBTI persons who grapple with their sexual orientation have abandoned the church in Kenya: “You cannot worship God in a church where everyone is breathing homophobia.”
Scientific research has shown that sexual orientation is not a religious issue but a biological issue.
Makokha explained that Riruta United Methodist Church has officially moved out of the East Africa Annual Conference due to homophobia, isolation and rejection by the leadership. Riruta UMC is the only reconciling church in Africa and it is now seeking to align itself to other annual conference/church outside Africa that shares its vision and mission of inclusiveness and love of Christ for all people.
Anne Baraza (Other Sheep Advisory Counselor and Riruta United Methodist Women President) said that LGBTI persons are a minority in Kenyan society and their needs are unlikely to be a burden to their clergy or congregation: “Sexual orientation is not chosen but intrinsic”.
Mrs. Baraza said that many LGBTI have traveled a difficult road due to depression, stigma and isolation perpetrated by the religious community: “I have had clients who have testified that they have visited charismatic conservative evangelical clergy to cast out demons/witchcraft of homosexuality to no avail.” As Christians, we should be concerned with looking below the surface to the real person.
She told the clergy to attend to the LGBTI as they would to any other children of God for whom Christ died. The LGBTI community should not be judged, rejected or condemned, since they have experienced much pain and hurt already. Baraza stated that “some have sought suicide as a way out.” The clergy were advised to be there for the LGBTI community in the name of the Lord and help them walk on their journey of faith.
She advised the LGBTI community to not create room for heterosexuals to attack them: “You cannot hate homosexuals without understanding them. Start mingling with heterosexuals and when opportunity allows bring up the topic of homosexuality. Try to correct them where they are misinformed or under informed about homosexuals. This is one sure way of breaking the ice existing between the two.”
Peter Wanyama ( Anglican/Other Sheep Kenya Treasurer) said that some of the challenges facing the LGBTI community in Kenya include access to health care, high HIV/AIDS infection rates, self stigmatization, religious bias, security threats and lack of legal representation on homosexual related cases.
The participants recommended more seminars, especially for PFLAG, and counseling to address issues affecting them and their children. The issue on HIV/AIDS came up, and the participants noted that homosexuals are at a higher risk of being infected, so it should be given serious attention. Capacity building programs should be put in place to address issues affecting them.
This seminar was a success due to the grant acquired from UHAI-EASHRI (East Africa Sexual and Health Rights Initiative).