A Statement of Clarification
In a recent Washington Post article, Archbishop Peter J. Akinola was characterized as “an advocate of jailing gays.” That is not true.
Archbishop Akinola believes that all people—whatever their manner of life or sexual orientation—are made in the image of God and deserve to be treated with respect. “We are all broken and need the transforming love of God,” Archbishop Akinola said to me during a recent conversation.
Archbishop Akinola also said, “Jesus Christ is our example for this. He refused to condemn the woman caught in adultery instead he said. ‘Go now and sin no more.’ That is an essential part of the message of the Gospel and the teaching of our congregations.”
Your brother in Christ,
Martyn
13 comments:
But, but, but ... Martyn did even say anything that niether parish is in Fairfax County ...
Oooops ... my dyslexia again!
But, but, but ... Martyn didn't even say anything that niether parish is in Fairfax County ...
"Two of the country's largest and most historic Episcopal congregations -- both in Fairfax County -- will vote next week on whether to leave the U.S. church on ideological grounds and affiliate instead with a controversial Nigerian archbishop."
TFC is in the City of Falls Church, Truro in the City of Fairfax. That great Post research again.
It might also be helpful to remember the entire resolution of Lambeth 1.10. which Archbishop Akinola fully endorses:
Resolution I.10
Human Sexuality
This Conference:
commends to the Church the subsection report on human sexuality;
in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;
recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;
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, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex;
cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions;
requests the Primates and the ACC to establish a means of monitoring the work done on the subject of human sexuality in the Communion and to share statements and resources among us;
notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality and asks the Primates and the ACC to include them in their monitoring process.
It might also be helpful to see the bill which Archbishop Akinola has endorsed--twice--and please read it very carefully:
A BILL FOR AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE PROHIBITION OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONS OF THE SAME SEX, CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE BY THEM AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH
BE IT ENACTED by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as follows-
1. Short Title
This Act may be cited as Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2006.
2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Marriage” means a legally binding union between a man and a woman be it performed under the authority of the State, Islamic Law or Customary Law;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for Internal Affairs”
“Same Sex Marriage” means the coming together of two persons of the same gender or sex in a civil union, marriage, domestic partnership or other form of same sex relationship for the purposes of cohabitation as husband and wife.
3. Validity and Recognition of Marriage.
For the avoidance of doubt only marriage entered into between a man and a woman under the marriage Act or under the Islamic and Customary Laws are valid and recognized in Nigeria.
4. Prohibition of Same Sex Marriage, etc.
(1) Marriage between persons of the same sex and adoption of children by them in or out of a same sex marriage or relationship is prohibited in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(2) Any marriage entered into by persons of same sex pursuant to a license issued by another state, country, foreign jurisdiction or otherwise shall be void in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
(3) Marriages between persons of the same sex are invalid and shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.
(4) Any contractual or other rights granted to persons involved in same sex marriage or accruing to such persons by virtue of a license shall be unenforceable in any Court of law in Nigeria.
(5) The Courts in Nigeria shall have no jurisdiction to grant a divorce, separation and maintenance orders with regard to such same sex marriage, consider or rule on any of their rights arising from or in connection with such marriage.
5. Non-Recognition of Same Sex Marriage
(1) Marriage between persons of same sex entered into in any jurisdiction whether within or outside Nigeria, any other state or country or otherwise or any other location or relationships between persons of the same sex which are treated as marriage in any jurisdiction, whether within or out side Nigeria are not recognized in Nigeria.
(2) All arms of government and agencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not give effect to any public act, record or judicial proceeding within or outside Nigeria, with regard to same sex marriage or relationship or a claim arising from such marriage or relationship.
6. Prohibition of celebration of same sex marriage in a place of worship
(1) Same sex marriage shall not be celebrated in any place of worship by any recognized cleric of a Mosque, Church, denomination or body to which such place of worship belongs.
(2) No marriage license shall be issued to parties of the same sex in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
7. Prohibition of Registration of Gay Clubs and Societies and Publicity of same sex sexual relationship.
(1) Registration of Gay Clubs, Societies and organizations by whatever name they are called in institutions from Secondary to the tertiary level or other institutions in particular and, in Nigeria generally, by government agencies is hereby prohibited.
(2) Publicity, procession and public show of same sex amorous relationship through the electronic or print media physically, directly, indirectly or otherwise are prohibited in Nigeria.
(3) Any person who is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment.
8. Offences and Penalties.
(1) Any person goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment.
(2) Any person performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment.
9. Jurisdiction
The High Court in the States and the Federal Capital Territory shall have jurisdiction to entertain all matters, causes and proceedings arising from same sex marriages and relationships.
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
This Act shall prohibit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria the relationship between persons of the same sex, celebration of marriage by them and other matters connected therewith.
As we can see from the previous post, Akinola has enthusiastically supported a law that DOES JAIL GAYS.
And Mr. Minns can find himself an English teacher. Or maybe Logic will do.
Well, finish connecting the dots. Anon wrote that Akinola endorsed it twice. Show us that Akinola had anything to do with a civil law of Nigeria.
oooooh no, my friend. ALL the other anglican blogs already went through THAT. And there's plenty of evidence, mind you. Go take a look!
Especially take a look at 1) Context theme 2) These 'twice' are Standing Commitee reports which it a line item in amoungst many, 3) Does it really matter anyways, 4) Odd Bible next to Quran (feeling pressure?).
Then there the what does +Chane know about Nigeria. There One thread which goes off on Founding Fathers, really odd.
Yes, take a looksy.
What part of "Does not support jailing gays" do we not understand? Archbishop Akinola supports ALL of Lambeth 1.10 - all of it, which is more than we can say about the current Presiding BIshop of The Episcopal Church.
bb
I believe that Section 7 above is what leads people to think that the ++ Abuja supports jailing gays. It is a resonable conclusion to make, given the evidence we have to date. babyblue, how does this section of the law support the listening provision of 1.10? Mims opaque statement is worthy of Frank Griswold
origen's ghost:
++Akinola has not said anything, meaning out on his own accord, much to the chagrin of Mike on T1:9
http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=16584
Now Fr. Jake is using two standing committee reports and jumping up & down pointing - in some sense like a melodramatic over a paper cut.
Basically, the context of the politics is probably much like the handling of hot issues in congress that no one wants to touch.
+Minn's statement is in response to very sloppy reporting from Michelle Boorstien who lacking one simple word created an article she would not be able to backup by journalistic standards.
The Nicholas F. Benton article is ethically inside the lines. Od for Mr. Benton is NO friend of The Falls Church, but proves he follows the guide line for his profession.
So what has ++Akinola said he supports? Buried in a Committee documnent is one sentence of encouragement to the legislator about the law in vague (nothing noting punitive). He has said nothing publically on his personal position. +Minn's statement is responding specifically to the absolutist statement in the Post.
These blogs have been all over the map in speculation (everyone claiming everything, no pattern on either side - probably like many things in this town).
I guess I might ask why The Episcopal Church supports the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights? From a prolife point of view, one could wonder when TEC got into the Death Business.
You see how it's done - activism politics produces all kinds of rhetoric. I am sure that KJS would say she doesn't support the slaughter of innocent babies (though her church supports this organization - I'll give her the benefit of the doubt). Let's show the same charity to others - my guess is that the very same people who are projecting all their political crap onto Akionla also support abortion - so what keeps prolifers from saying TEC is Pro-Death?
I will repeat it again - Archbishop Akionla does not support jailing gays. And I am sure the KJS would like to say she doesn't support slaughtering babies either. Let us hope so, at least.
bb
So the Nigerian Church can't issue a denial disavowing their support for this legislation? I mean its been in lots of papers in the USA and UK and even been mentioned on FOX News.
I'm sure Akinola/Minns/CANA/Truro/Falls Church/The Anglican Church in Nigeria can read a newspaper and know that a simple press release or public statement would put this to bed. Especially if it is in a forum widely dissimated in Nigeria. They appear to be a bit more media savvy than that. It looks to me that Akinola is content to let the world believe that he supports the bill.
From a public relations standpoint, this isn't good for CANA. The bill will pass and this is going to be thrown into just about every news article about your organization as you go forward.
And God forbid anyone actually gets charged under this law. Could you imagine the press issues with that.
A simple press release by Akinola, in his authority as the leader of CANA and the Nigerian Anglican Church disavowing support for this bill prior to its' passage would put this to bed. Once the bill is passed (and it will pass), that wont be enough to make it go away.
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