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Gay and Christian in
KENYA, UGANDA,
TANZANIA, RWANDA
AND BURUNDI
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All Saints Cathedral Nairobi
Anglican Church of Kenya
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St. Andrew's Church, Nairobi
Presbyterian Church of
East Africa
Pictured Below:
Nairobi Baptist Church

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The following article is in its orginal format as written by
David Kato of Integrity Uganda and Steve Parelli of Other
Sheep, at Red Chile HIdeaway cottages, Kampala,
Uganda, Sunday, August 19, 2007.

News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact Person:  David; mobile 0773 10 49 71; email:  
davidkisule@gmail.com


INTEGRITY CALLS UPON THE CHURCHES OF
UGANDA
TO ENDORSE GAY RIGHTS

Certain views from different religious leaders against the
fundamental rights of homosexuals have been brought up
in reaction to the LGBTI press release of Friday, August
17, 2007.  A spokesperson of Integrity Uganda, a faith
based Christian organization that maintains that the Bible
does not condemn same-sex relationships, says the
question of gay rights in Uganda is a fundamental human
rights question and not a theological question.  

Integrity Uganda calls upon the Christian churches of
Uganda to reexamine the scriptures in light of the stories
of gay Christians of Uganda, the social sciences and
psychology.  But, says Integrity, though the churches of
Uganda may not reexamine its theological position on
homosexuals, they must be clear on its teaching of
fundamental human rights and the liberty of conscience
when it comes to its official policy on gay rights.

The Christian doctrine of the liberty of conscience
teaches that no mere human authority – civil government
or religious institutions – has power to grant or to withhold
from men the exercise of freedom in matters of religion.
Homosexuality is a private religious matter between God
and the individual. Liberty of conscience teaches that it is
the individual's inalienable right to exercise his judgment
without restraint in religious matters and to give
expression, freely and fully to his religious convictions,
without human dictation or interference. Not all religious
people believe homosexuality is irreligious, ungodly or
sinful. More and more, Christians in South Africa, Nigeria,
the Americas, Europe and other parts of the world are
changing their views on the Bible and homosexuality.

For example, evangelical theologian Roy Clements, one-
time senior pastor of Nairobi Baptist Church, and known
world wide for his evangelical writings, came out as an
evangelical gay man in 1999 and now teaches that the
Bible does not condemn same-sex relationships.

[Add quote from Bishop Desmond Tutu]

[Add quote from Bishop Christopher Ssenyonj]

[Add quote from Rev. Michael Kimundi, mnk240@yahoo.
com; Modile 0720 08 16 44]

Protestants have historically taught that government is the
government of all the people and that government must
not put into law the doctrines of any one religion.

For government, the question of gay rights is a
fundamental human rights question only and can never
become a theological question.  For the church, because
of the Christian doctrine of liberty of conscience, the
church is not to impose upon others its teachings on
homosexuality through government legislation.

Homosexuality, in Uganda as in other parts of the world, is
an affront to the religious community because of the
church's official position on homosexuality.  Therefore, it
must be said again and again in any society where
religious teachings on homosexuality dominate, that the
view of the religious majority are not to be legislated onto
the views and practices of the  sexual minority.   As long
as a gay man or woman does not infringe upon the rights
of other individuals, the homosexual (who is often
Christian) has the same right as his heterosexual
counterpart, to interpret the Bible according to his or her
understanding and to answer only before God (and not to
the government or to the church).  It is the responsibility
of the government to guarantee the fundamental human
right of the free exercise of religion to the homosexual
who wishes to live according to his sexual orientation, his
conscious being clear before God.  While a government
official may have his personal beliefs, he must seek the
fundamental rights of all individuals, including
homosexuals.  That is his moral duty as a civil servant.  

Integrity Uganda seeks to help the LGBTI Christian
community in matters of faith and fundamental rights.

END

The above article is in its orginal format as written by
David Kato of Integrity Uganda  and Steve Parelli of Other
Sheep, at Red Chile HIdeaway cottages, Kampala,
Uganda, Sunday, August 19, 2007.
The following two
articles are
recommended for
further reading on
Liberty of Conscience:



The following two books
are recommended for
reading:
Above Photo:   David Kato of Integrity
Uganda (left) and Steve Parelli of
Other Sheep crafting the final draft of
the article "Integrity Calls upon the
Churches of Uganda to Endorse Gay
Rights."  Below: The cottage at Red
Chile Hidaway, Kampala, Uganda
where the final draft of the article was
written.  Sunday, August 19, 2007.
The cottage at Red Chile
Hidaway, Kampala, Uganda