leader of gays and lesbians in nigeria tackles primate of anglican church, peter akinola

By Ismail Omipidan, Abuja (Daily Sun, Nigeria)

October 10, 2005: Leader of Changing Attitude in Nigeria, the coordinating arm of gays and lesbians in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Mr. Davies Mark, has described the move by the Archbishop and Primate of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Peter Akinola, to sever relationship with the Church of England, "as more political than religious."

Speaking exclusively with Daily Sun in Abuja recently, Mark, 33 and a teacher by profession, said contrary to the belief held by the primate and other members of the Christian community, gays and lesbians are "holy" and are not satanic or devils, as portrayed by some bishops and pastors.

According to him, Changing Attitude started in England about 10 years ago, but the Nigeria network only commenced this year. The Rivers state-born gay, who claimed to be leading a movement of 140 "active and registered" members across all dioceses in Nigeria, argued that frequent lashes at gays and lesbians in Nigeria have in no small way contributed to the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

"The frequent criticisms of gays and lesbians on the pages of the papers especially, have helped to expand HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Because of social acceptability, they (gays and lesbians) get married, and still practice their sexuality acts.

"Let society change their attitude towards gays and lesbians. You have them in every sector in Nigeria, even in government. It is just that they are hidden because of the contempt the society has for them. And it is the church that can lead the campaign for the change of attitude towards us.
"They should see us as human beings just like them. The same treatment given to people living with HIV/AIDS should be extended to us. They should understand us, so as to know how to relate with us," he added.

When told that the decision to ex-communicate gays and lesbians from the church in Nigeria was based on biblical injunctions, Mark further argued that the move to ex-communicate them in itself contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ.

He contended that Jesus Christ's teachings centred around love and care, saying if Jesus had been unaccommodating, he would not have won converts.
"What the Archbishop did is out of perspective of Jesus teachings. Jesus's teaching is about love and care. If Jesus treated the converts this way, he would not have converted Matthew the tax collector and Mary the harlot.

"What the Archbishop should have done is to meet with us, know our feelings and appreciate us for what we are. That way, we can be well integrated into the society," Mark further said.

In other Anglican Communion, he continued, convocation is convened for gays and lesbians for the purpose of listening to their experiences."

To buttress his argument on the above issue, he volunteered a copy of the resolution reached at the Lambert Conference of Bishops, to Daily Sun.

The resolution reads in parts: "In response to the request of the bishops attending the Lambert Conference in 1998 in Resolution 1.10, to establish 'a means of monitoring the work done on the subject of human sexuality in the communion, and to honour the process of mutual listening, including 'listening to the experience of homosexual persons' and the experience of local churches around the world in reflecting on these matters in the light of scripture, tradition and reason, the Anglican Consultative Council encourages such listening in each province and requests the secretary-general to collate relevant research studies, statements, resolutions and other materials on these matters from the various provinces and other interested bodies within those provinces.

"And to make such material available for study, discussion and reflection within each member church of the communion, and to identify and allocate adequate resources for this work and report progress on it to the Archbishop of Canterbury."

Mark's concern is that the Archbishop and Primate of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Akinola should have explored the above avenue, before taking the decision he broadcast to nation on Friday, September 30, 2005.

He was however quick to add that his group will not in anyway be deterred by the Archbishop's pronouncement, saying "they would continue to be stable." They meet once every month.