wfn.org | Statement from the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda

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

ACNS 3873     |     UGANDA     |     23 AUGUST 2004

Statement from the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Uganda

The Rt Revd Evans Kisekka, the Bishop of Luweero Diocese, has my full
blessing and support in receiving the clergy from St James Church,
Newport Beach, and All Saints' Church, Long Beach, California, USA.
These clergy are canonically resident in the Luweero Diocese and are
priests and deacons in good standing of the Church of Uganda.

On 20 November 2003, the House of Bishops of the Church of the Province
of Uganda (Anglican) made the following resolutions:

"The Church of the Province of Uganda (Anglican) cuts her relationship
and Communion with the Episcopal Church of the United States of America
(ECUSA) on their resolution and consequent action of consecrating and
enthroning an openly confessed homosexual Gene Robinson as the Bishop of
New Hampshire Diocese in the Anglican Communion; and with any other
Province that shall follow suit."

"Mindful of the fact that there are a number of dioceses, parishes and
congregations in the ECUSA, which are opposed to the resolution and
action taken by their convention and are determined to remain faithful
to the teaching of scripture on human sexuality, to those dear brothers
and sisters, we extend our solidarity with them and assure them of our
continued prayers."

We have recently concluded the 17th Provincial Assembly of the Province
of the Church of Uganda. During that meeting, the assembly affirmed the
House of Bishops' stance of broken communion with the ECUSA, and at the
same time declared its commitment to, support for, and communion with
clergy and parishes of the Anglican Communion Network who seek to uphold
biblical orthodoxy and the faith once delivered to the saints.

We condemn any attempt on the part of the ECUSA Bishop of Los Angeles to
depose our clergy serving at St James Church, Newport Beach, and All
Saints' Church, Long Beach. He has no jurisdiction over them, and we
will not recognise his actions. Furthermore, we appeal to other
provinces within the Anglican Communion to recognise our clergy as
priests and deacons in good standing.

We are grieved by the continued unbiblical actions of the leadership of
ECUSA that has led to its separation from the majority of the Anglican
Communion. We especially note that the Bishop of Los Angeles recently
presided at the blessing of a same-sex union of one of his priests. We
pray for his repentance - and the repentance of all the ECUSA leadership
who voted for the consecration of a man in an active homosexual
relationship as bishop of New Hampshire - and their return to the
historic faith and communion of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic
church.

The Most Revd Henry Luke Orombi
Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Uganda

More information on the Church of the Province of Uganda click here:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/province.cfm?ID=U1

___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is
distributed to more than 7,500 journalists and other readers around
the world.

For subscription INFORMATION please go to:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/acnslist.html