The Church Times reports (2 August): Diocese of Bristol reviews Ugandan link after Anti-Homosexuality Act
…In a statement on Tuesday, Bishop Faull said that her diocese had been blessed by “enduring friendships” within the Church of Uganda for 50 years, but that, “For the time being, the Diocesan Link Committee will cease to meet and the diocese will be reviewing all institutional links — current and prospective — at the next Bishop’s Council in December.”
She explained that, while she welcomed Dr Kaziimba’s opposition to the death penalty, “as the Bishop of Bristol, I am compelled to reiterate that the basic dignity and safety of LGBTQ+ human beings in Uganda must not be conflated with theological debates about same-sex marriage in church or matters of abusive behaviour. However, there is a legitimate space for those conversations amongst well-meaning people who can disagree without threat of imprisonment or danger…”
An earlier (26 July) statement on the diocesan website: Bishop Viv provides clarity on the future of diocesan links to Church of Uganda.
In the 1970s and 1980s the Church of Uganda was a beacon of hope. It sided with love to stand against Idi Amin’s tyranny. Under the leadership of Bp Kivengere it challenged misogyny in remarkable ways. In 1985 I was so excited to meet an experienced woman priest in Uganda when we in England were still mired in seemingly endless arguments. The C of U continues to speak out against violence against women in prophetic ways. Canon Gideon Byamugisha was the first African religious leader to openly declare his infection with HIV, breaking stigmatization and prejudice. The Ugandan Church was… Read more »
When the environment in Uganda makes it so hard for those there to speak up for inclusion it is important that the Anglican church in other provinces keeps inclusion firmly on the agenda. This sort of protest by Bristol is the right thing to do.
It’s important not to forget that it is not only Uganda that has the death penalty for gay men. My former diocese St Albans had links with Caribbean nations that retained the death penalty or long terms of imprisonment for gay men. I regularly raised questions at diocesan synod about our association with Anglicans who colluded with this policy and in some cases promoted it. Successive chairs of the links committee declined to attend synod to answer my questions and it was left to an archdeacon or suffragan bishop to obfuscate and deliver warm words. Synod was irritated by my… Read more »
I suspect that St Albans has links to churches in the Caribbean and not nations. There are Anglicans who collude with and promote ongoing criminalisation in their nations, but the previous and present Archbishops of the West Indies have spoken strongly for decriminalisation. Local activists for decriminalisation actively seek links. Breaking these relationships would be seen with delight by Western anti-gay activists who would use such an opportunity.
Has any English diocese sought to review its links with the church in Ghana?
“The Diocese of Winchester has partnerships with […] the Province of Rwanda; the Province of DR Congo; the Province of Burundi and many dioceses within the Province of Uganda. ” [my italics] Source: https://winchester.anglican.org/mission-partners/
‘at the next Bishop’s Council in December’ seems curious that the next Bishops Council is so late in the year?