S. African Anglicans Challenging Churches to Support Homosexuals

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Anglican priest Jo Mdhlela told his South African congregation that Jesus is "challenging churches" that are discriminating against homosexual people.

"Jesus is saying if you said apartheid was unjust then you must say laws discriminating against homosexual people are unjust," he said, according to Reuters.

Most Anglican leaders in Africa are known for their firm orthodox views and conservative stance especially on homosexuality. Mdhlela's congregation also consists of many conservatives. Despite the contrast, Mdhlela has been supporting equal rights for gays and lesbians.

His comments to the churches follow another South African bishop's remarks opposing the largely conservative Global South Anglican leaders. The Global South had released a communiqué last month that clearly affirmed their opposition to homosexuality showed support to orthodox Anglicans in the U.S.

Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town responded saying he was "deeply disturbed" by the approach taken in the document. Some of the suggestions made in the communiqué included the formation of a distinct orthodox Anglican body in the U.S., separate from the Episcopal Church, and another representative of the U.S. Anglican body at the next Primates meeting in February.

Former archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu also expressed shame in being Anglican because of the global communion's conservative position rejecting gay priests.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola, leading opponent of gay clergy, is taking steps to put the homosexuality issue to rest. One such step was the communiqué, which was said to have a representation of more than 70 percent of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

South African Anglicans are virtually the only liberal voice on the continent, which traces back to the country's first missionaries who had come from another branch of the Anglican church, reported Reuters. It also formed strong links with U.S. Anglicans who are currently divided over homosexual issues. But not all are liberal.