The Zimbabwe United Methodist Church (UMC) described as “a betrayal of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” a decision by its mother body to recognise homosexuality.
This comes after General Conference delegates of the UMC
early this week, in the United States, voted overwhelmingly in favour of
homosexual practices in the church that has a footprint globally.
By a vote of 523 to 161 after about an hour-and-a-half of
debate, General Conference delegates eliminated the 52-year-old assertion in
the denomination’s Social Principles that “the practice of homosexuality . . .
is incompatible with Christian teaching”.
In the same vote, delegates affirmed “marriage as a sacred,
lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith (adult man and adult woman of
consenting age or two adult persons of consenting age) into a union of one
another and deeper relationship with God and the religious community.”
Randall Miller, who chaired the Social Principles Task
Force that led the development of the revisions approved over the past week,
said this was a historic moment.
“It’s been 40 years of work for me and others to remove the
incompatibility clause from our Social Principles and really live in through
our belief that all people are sacred,” said Miller, who is gay and long
advocated for the full inclusion of LGBTQ people in church life.
“Just deeply grateful and it’s wonderful to have come to
this moment.”
However, the Zimbabwean delegation, which was in the
minority, said Western culture was eroding traditional church values and posed
a risk to younger generations.
Speaking from the US, one of the delegates Reverend Forbes
Matonga said the decision passed was a betrayal to all Africans and the church
at large.
“Indeed, the Church has decided to change the historic
teaching of the Church of over 2000 years that homosexuality is a sin and the
definition of marriage as between a man and a woman to between two consenting
adults,” he said.
“This is for us a betrayal of The Gospel of Jesus Christ in
favour of Western secular culture. The United Methodist Church is a
Connectional Church, meaning one Church found on four Continents.
“So, what happens to one part of the body affects all. Our
children are at risk of being introduced and being dragged into this heathen
culture as they go and get educated in United Methodist Universities and
Colleges in the USA,” said Rev Matonga.
Furthermore, he said, in the long-term most children will
be indoctrinated into believing that this “sin” is a human right.
Anesu Kapanga, one of the congregates, who was also
arrested last year for demonstrating against homosexuality, said with such
policies, the church was now exposed.
“It was now obvious that the legalisation of homosexuality
in the United Methodist Church was fast approaching and there was nothing the
members of the church would do. We as the church cannot wait for the nation to
denounce such evil deeds but rather the church must be in the forefront
denouncing it.”
Administration assistant to the Bishop, Mr Allen Gurupira
responded to the congregates of his church stating that Zimbabwe’s position
regarding the issue of homosexuality remained clear and was a complete
abhorrence to the practice.
“Regarding the acceptance of homosexuality, whatever will
be done at the General Conference is subject to ratification by annual
conferences, of which the Zimbabwe position is very clear,” he said.
The decision of the UMC also sparked debate on social media
platforms with many denouncing it as “unholy” and a “sin”.
Zimbabwe Council of Churches president, Bishop Ignatius
Makumbe, who is from the Anglican Church, said churches should align their
policies with Government statutes.
“There is a need for churches to align themselves with the
country’s statutes, and as of now the country’s (statutes) state that marriage
is only between a man and a woman,” he said.
“UMC in Zimbabwe and in Africa at large needs to draw
lessons from what the Anglican and the Roman Catholic Churches did, by refusing
to go against the idea of God to allow homosexuality in their churches and
defend their dignities as Africans.”
Bishop Makumbe said ZCC will never condone homosexuality.
“ZCC has agreed from the time of its birth that we will not
allow homosexuality in any form as the Bible has clearly spelt out that it is a
sin,” he said.
“We will follow the issue with the UMC administration in
Zimbabwe and see how will can help as an organisation.” Herald
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