wfn.org | AANA BULLETIN No. 04/03 February 3, 2003 (b)

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

AANA BULLETIN No. 04/03 February 3, 2003 (b)

ALL AFRICA NEWS AGENCY
P. O Box, 66878, 00800 Westlands, NAIROBI, Kenya.  Tel: 254-2-4442215,
4440224
Fax: 254-2-4445847, 4443241; Email: aanaapta@insightkenya.com , 
aanaapta@hotmail.com

Let Us Minister Also To Homosexuals - Clergyman

JOHANNESBURG (AANA) February 3 - The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of 
the Province of Southern Africa (CPSA) has called on Anglicans in the 
region to seriously address the issue of homosexuality without dismissing 
the victims.

Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane urged the ten million Anglicans from the 
province to tackle the matter in a manner that will enhance mutual 
understanding and remove people from their "corners of conviction".

His call came following a resolution adopted at a recent Anglican Synod, 
which noted pastoral needs of homosexuals. The Synod was held last year.

The synod acknowledged the role played by gay and lesbian members within 
the Church and was of the opinion that they be affirmed and welcomed.

It is for this reason that Archbishop Ndungane last month distributed a 
discussion document on Human Sexuality to bishops, clergy, parishes, 
theological colleges and Anglican organisations in the southern Africa 
Anglican provinces of South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Swaziland 
and Namibia.

The eight-page document cautions that apart from threatening the unity of 
the Anglican Church worldwide, the issue of homosexuality is hurting both 
sides involved in the debate.

"It is no mere debate. People are hurting because they continue to feel 
rejected, despised, misunderstood, demonised and 'unchurched', because of 
their orientation and convictions," says the document in part.

"For reasons of compassion and care for each other in the Body of Christ, 
we have no option but to engage and continue to seek better understanding," 
the document further says.

The report notes that human sexuality is a gift of God, "but all forms of 
promiscuity, predatory sexual behaviour, paedophilia, pornography are
sinful."

It also addresses other various issues in regard to the scriptures. Among 
them are slavery, status of women, remarriage after divorce and the lending 
of money at interest.

The document underlines the need to acknowledge the existence of different 
perspectives on homosexuality. It adds that they should be held with 
integrity. "They should also be heard and listened to, and not simply 
rejected."

The report cites the last Lambeth Conference held in 1998 which underscored 
the need to embrace those practising homosexuality.

"This conference.. while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible 
with scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and 
sensitively to all, irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn 
irrational fear of homosexuals," it says.

The Lambeth Conference is held every ten years at Lambeth Palace, in 
London. It brings together all bishops in the Anglican Communion.

In the last conference in 1998, a resolution on sexuality failed primarily 
because of the African vote. "It wanted to allow same sex unions and the 
ordination of practising homosexuals," said Rev Lorraine Tulleken of CPSA.

The next Lambeth Conference will be held in 2008.

Reported By Joyce Mulama

Alliances Shift As Tension In Great Lakes Intensifies

BUNIA/KAMPALA (AANA) February 3 - Rebel groups in eastern Congo are 
re-aligning themselves, with several Ugandan-backed factions now opting to 
cooperate with Rwanda.	The move has intensified tension between Uganda and 
Rwanda.

The Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), led by Thomas Lubanga, who leads 
5,000 Hema militia, and controls Bunia, signed a cooperation treaty with 
Rwanda mid January.

The group had also voted overwhelmingly for the withdrawal of 1000 Ugandan 
troops from eastern Congo.

And the Rally for Congolese Democracy-Liberation Movement (RCD-ML), whose 
forces were thrown out of Bunia in a coup in May 2002 backed by Uganda, has 
switched to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side.

Early this year another warlord, Jean Bosco Barihima, shifted base from 
Kampala to Kigali.

The mistrust between Rwanda and Uganda has deepened since the defection of 
Barihima.

Barihima alleged an insidious anti-Rwanda programme to allow Ugandan 
controlled territories be used by Hutu dissidents to plan several frontal 
attacks on Rwanda.

Though Uganda has dismissed such claims, it has done little to unnerve 
Rwanda. The massive influx of Rwandan refugees into Uganda is also source 
of tension.

Minister of state for refugees, Christine Aporu said recently that Uganda 
would restrict entry of 3,000 Rwandese refugees from crossing into Uganda 
from Tanzania.	Among these are some who are armed.

Authorities in Rwanda know refugees have provided a pool from which rebels 
are recruited.

Rwanda is still concerned about a report issued by a joint military 
verification committee by both countries last year, which established that 
Hutu dissidents crossed into Uganda on their way to conducting subversive 
activities in Rwanda.

However, Ugandan minister for regional affairs, Col Kahinda Otafiire said 
Uganda is exercising maximum restraint on events in eastern Congo.

Apparently factions still aligned to Uganda are gearing themselves for 
anti-Rwanda propaganda war.

The power struggle has not only enhanced insecurity in the region, but has 
also threatened United Nations	(UN) trust on Uganda to pacify the region.

A letter dated November 22, 2002 from the then UN permanent representative 
in Uganda, Professor Semakula Kiwanuka, committed Uganda into working with 
UPC and RCD-ML to pacify Ituri region through establishment of Ituri 
Pacification Committee.  Uganda has instead fallen out with the two 
congolese rebel factions.

Reported by Crespo Sebunya

Lutherans Receive Grant To Bolster Fight On AIDS

GENEVA (AANA) February 3 - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has received 
a grant of US$ 485,000 from the Global Fund to finance its HIV/AIDS action 
plan for Third World countries.

This is the first time the Global Fund has signed an agreement with an 
ecumenical organisation since its inception in 2001.

In a statement after signing the agreement last week, LWF General 
Secretary, Rev Dr Ishmael Noko, recalled that launching of the LWF HIV/AIDS 
Campaign in May 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya, had committed church leaders of 27 
African churches into breaking silence on the pandemic.

The outcome of the Pan-African consultation determined LWF's agenda on 
HIV/AIDS in Africa for the years ahead.

"We shall do all we can to make a strong contribution to the global efforts 
to overcome this pandemic, especially in those areas where churches, 
together with other faith communities and culture-sustaining institutions, 
need to respond in an effective, appropriate and timely manner," Noko said.

The LWF already supports AIDS-related projects in Africa and Latin 
America.  These are financed by several other donor organisations. 
Professionals and volunteers engaged in these projects are seeking deeper 
commitment and support from church leaders.

Dr Noko said: "Resources have been pledged to overcome this life 
threatening illness, but they need to be renewed and increased.

"All nations are challenged now to revise and refresh constantly their 
methods of addressing this immense threat to their population," he added.

"The signing of this agreement sends an important message to the 
international community, declaring mutuality between us, working together 
as national and international organisations towards the eradication of this 
pandemic," he went on.

Executive Director of the Global Fund, Dr. Richard Feachem, said it was 
important that bridges were built between faith-based organisations and 
other partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS. "The Global Fund process 
enables this linkage," he noted.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is an independent, 
public-private partnership working to dramatically intensify the fight 
against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria particularly in countries with 
the greatest need.

Reported by Janet Bond-Nash,
Lutheran World Information