ANGLICAN BISHOPS ENGAGE ON NEW STRATEGIES TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS

Ken Were (BTM Correspondent)

KENYA – 08 September 2009: More than thirty Anglican Church leaders have met in Nairobi to deliberate on new strategies to fight HIV AIDS epidemic, a tragedy currently ravaging the African continent.

The Arc-bishops converged at a three days conference also touched issue of AIDS facing the LGBTI community in the Anglican Union in Africa.

According to Rev. Ian Ernest of the Council of Anglican provinces of Africa (CAPA) who is also the Arc-bishop of Indian Ocean, the spiritual leader’s influence on the continent cannot be denied.

“We are aware that good pastoral care is being offered but it is also important to offer any help that would prevent the spread of Aids”, said Rev. Ernest.

He further highlighted that “preventive measures have to be courageously presented and this should be accompanied by appropriate teachings on human sexuality and reproductive health.”

Kenyan’s coalition of Gays and Lesbians (GALCK) has faulted the church leaders for failing to face the reality when fighting Aids in Africa under their new umbrella, CAPA.

The coalition’s manager Mr. David Kuria said the leaders must accept that they lead a huge population comprising of LGBTI community that are in grave danger of the source.

“The church in Africa must help us fight out this epidemic and respect fundamental human rights. We thank and appreciate parallel Anglican communions that have been formed and are being formed across the world to champion the rights and welfare on the marginalized in society”, said Kuria.

Bishops who attended the conference include Nicholus Okoh of Nigeria, Rev. Canon Dr, Akiri Mwaita of Tanzania, Dr Joseph Nyanzi of Uganda, Bishop Francia Loyo of Sudan, Bishop John Otoo from West Africa among others.

Bishop Benea Salala who heads an Anglican Church diocese in Western region of Kenya said who was not present at the conference, “our stand is clear, we do not support homosexuality and it’s on record, I don’t want to commend on this again because that is our stand here in Kenya.”

“We want to improve health care, have minimal stigma and role our strategies for social support for the infected and affected. Yes we  can provide  patronage care to the LGBTI in  the church but   our stand remains that  we do not support same sex marriage or relationship because it is unbiblical, un African and   immoral. It’s against the doctrine”, he reiterated.

The big questions remains, will the Anglican Communion help end stigma and discriminations against LGBTI. Almost all bishops who attended the conference were reluctant to give an answer.