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As part of the Hivos/SANGONeT Citizen Journalism in Africa Project Behind the Mask, as a country focal point for Johannesburg has opened a space for its citizen journalists to write about issues that affect them in their communities on a daily basis. While Behind the Mask has already shared Citizen Journalism Skills with selected CSO’s The Form For Empowerment of Women FEW, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) and the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP), we also found it important to train individuals within our constituency on Citizen Journalism with a view to have them sharing stories as they happen in their respective townships and urban residences.

NEWS:

Kenya’s Anglican Bishop Calls For LGBTI Pastoral Care
By Ken Were

NAIROBI – 14 April 2010: A Kenyan Bishop has  called  on the Anglican leadership in the country to  make pastoral care for the LGBTI a reality.

Bishop Josiah  Were of Nambale diocese of Western Kenya  said continued discrimination  of the gay community will not help in addressing problems of homophobia facing the community inside and outside the church .

We appreciate the fact that  they    human beings but we do not want to promote their life styles. We want them to understand the teachings  of the bible and the gospel of Jesus.

“ It is  true that the church does not support this lifestyle, but we have  a moral obligation to  serve all members  of the church with dignity they deserve without secluding them or ridiculing their  way of  sexual orientation . After all they are also human beings .We are  calling for their inclusivity in our church programs,” Bishop Were noted.

The cleric called on the head of  Anglican church in Kenya , Arc-bishop Eliud  Wabukala to honour on his  pledge  of  starting the church pastoral programs  for the gay community saying this will ensure that the community is  not left out of the church’s doctrines   and  believe.

Late last year, Arc - bishop Wabukala while  responding   to a plan  by the government to conduct a national  survey on the gay population  in Kenya , said  there was  need for his church  to be steady fast in taking care  of the LGBTI community and  preach to them so that they feel they are part of the church .
“ I  don’t believe chasing  away  gay community  out of the church is the solution .

The way out  is,  us  talking to them  through pastoral care . They are part of the church  and we cannot afford to pass a verdict that they are  not worthy. Lets  reach out to them and share with them  our thoughts as the Anglican. They are my floack,” The Kenya’s  Anglican church leader explained then. However, he was quick to point out  that church doesn’t not advocacy for the existence of  gay lifestyle insisting that this is on record.
But  speaking  to  the Mask  last week, one  of his  diocesan bishops, Rev Were  said church has to fast track  gay pastoral and physiological  social programs as soon as possible.

 Bishop Were  confirmed  that   gay community  membership is  alive  and big in our congregations across  the country and this  cannot be washed  a way . 

“ In fact, we  have several cases of homosexuality in  schools, which are sponsored by our very  church. This  are areas where  pastoral care  have to reach. We need to talk with our young boys and girls  whose sexual orientation  is  different  from  the normal lifestyle. This  is how we shall help the society also understand all  about sexuality and emerging challenges associated  with it as we  promote each one’s  right to live,” Bishop  Were noted.
Four  years   ago  the Anglican  church  in  Kenya ex-communicated one of its  senior cleric’s who openly announced his  support for gay rights  within   the church . 

Rev Michel Kimindu was expelled by the then Arc-bishop Benjamin Nzimbi whose said  the church  cannot  embrace ‘unbiblical and unchristian culture among its  flock’
Rev. Kimundi is now  the coordinator of  the Other sheep East Africa , a  Christian  Gay Community  Coalition in the  region.