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KENYA: Archbishop Nzimbi says hospitality does not mean agreement
FROM THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF KENYA
PRESS RELEASE
I have read Bishop Gladwin's statement on arrival to England from his visit from Kenya with 20 others last week. I would wish to make it clear that when we heard that Bishop Gladwin after only a day's stay in Kenya was a patron of Changing Attitude which advocates the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people at all levels in the church, we distanced ourselves from him and his group as this is where we differ. When we differ with people in Africa, we still give them hospitality but this does not mean that we agree with them. WE DO NOT.
In Kenya we have these gay and lesbian people in the community but we do not approve of what they are doing. We speak to them and give them pastoral care so that they may do the right thing. We do not however believe that men should marry men or women marry women. We believe in marriage between a man and a woman ... (Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10)
I did not go further when speaking with Bishop Gladwin. We do not share his views as a patron of Changing Attitude. I have made no statement about whether we are in communion with him. We will wait for that to be done collectively by the Provincial Synod. But I can say that anyone advocating for the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the leadership of the church cannot be in communion with the Province of Kenya because we have said categorically that we do not support that. They are not abiding with our stand so we cannot be in communion with them.
Signed
The Most Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi
ARCHBISHOP OF KENYA & BISHOP OF ALL SAINTS CATHEDRAL DIOCESE
