UGANDA : Bishop ex-communicated over support to gays

UGANDA : Bishop ex-communicated over support to gays @ African News Dimension, South Africa

THE Church of Uganda has expelled Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo who supports homosexuals.

Ssenyonjo, the former overseer of West Buganda Diocese, was yesterday excommunicated from the Church of Uganda after he had abandoned his ministry to form his own church called Charismatic Church of Uganda.

Church of Uganda Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi made the announcement at a press conference yesterday.

Orombi said Ssenyonjo had accepted to leave the Church of Uganda.

"Pursuant to Canon 3:24.2 (a) (i) of the Provincial Canons of the Church of the Province of Uganda (1997), we presume that you have abandoned the exercise of the ministry to which you were ordained in the Church of Uganda by this formal admission to another religious body not in communion with the Church of Uganda," the press statement, signed by Orombi, said.

"By your action, we accept your decision to formally leave and disaffiliate from the Church of Uganda. I have appealed to all bishops in the Church of Uganda, active and retired, and all clergy and lay leaders in the Church of Uganda, active and retired, and all Heads of Laity and Wardens of sub-parishes, parishes, Archdeaconries, and Dioceses to uphold and enforce this decision," Orombi added.

Last week the press reported that Ssenyonjo had inaugurated his new church at Wamala in Wakiso district and consecrated Christopher Lwanga Tusubira as Bishop. It was also reported that he had opened branches in different parts of the country.

Former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, was the first to say Ssenyonjo was free to form his own church. Since the 1998 Lambeth Conference of world Anglican bishops, where some clerics openly demanded that homosexuals be recognised, Ssenyonjo's views on gay rights have always bothered the local clergy.

Recruited reverends

"The information we are getting is that he has turned all the reverends whom the church fired because of misbehaving, into his followers but we are watching him," Nkoyooyo said last week.

Homosexuality is abominable in the Church of Uganda and also illegal under the Ugandan laws.

At yesterday's press conference, Orombi said Ssenyonjo is now acting on his own.

"You are hereby denied the right to exercise the office of a bishop or retired bishop in the Church of Uganda, including the spiritual authority as a minister of the word and sacraments conferred in your various ordinations," Orombi said.

No robe

Ssenyonjo will not be required to wear the robe of a bishop and neither will he be allowed to speak to congregations in the Church of Uganda, among other prohibitions.

"Furthermore, we have advised all civil authorities in Uganda that any licence held by you for which your ordination and/or consecration in the Church of the Province of Uganda was an indispensable qualification shall now be null and void," the press statement said.

"You have the right to appeal this decision within six months of the date of this letter."