By Our Reporter
A controversial Church that does not view homosexuality as sin, and affirms the full inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons (LGBT) in ministry has been launched in Uganda.
Sexual Minorities Uganda, a non government organisation that advocates for the protection and promotion of human rights for LGBT Ugandans on 23 December confirmed the grand opening officiated by Bishop Joseph W. Tolton, the Executive Director of The Fellowship Global based in Oakland, California – USA.
The organisation is positioned to be a catalyst for a pan-African faith movement, connecting the radically inclusive Christian movement led by African Americans and their allies to communities in Africa and throughout the diaspora.
They claim to provide pastoral care for LGBTI people and support pioneering efforts to establish an open an affirming African Christian movement.
Additionally, The Fellowship Global supports the missions, ministries, and faith alliances of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries outside of the United States.
“It is possible to be LGBTIQ and religious,” Sexual Minorities Uganda wrote on their official social media platform, and shared a video of Bishop Joseph W. Tolton launching “T-FAM Church Uganda.”
The Fellowship Global has established partnerships and social justice groups in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Asia. At the time of publishing this report, UG Christian News was unable to confirm the ‘Church’ location.
Homosexuality in Uganda is illegal despite the 2016 Constitutional Court ruling that the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014 was invalid on procedural grounds. The Penal Code Act categorizes homosexuality as a crime against morality.
Earlier this year in June, Stanley Ntagali, the Archbishop of Church of Uganda reiterated Church stand against homosexuality in Uganda, saying it is unchristian.
Ntagali noted that many young people in the Western world have resorted to spreading the message of same sex marriages instead of emulating what the bible tells Christians to do.
In the same manner, Father Simon Lokodo, the minister of state for Ethics and Integrity, has often castigated homosexuality as an imposed form of immorality from the Western world.
