"Finally, I suspect that it is by entering that deep place inside us where our secrets are kept that we come perhaps closer than we do anywhere else to the One who, whether we realize it or not, is of all our secrets the most telling and the most precious we have to tell." Frederick Buechner
Monday, July 06, 2009
From Africa to General convention: One voice, one message
One of the things we have consistently heard from conservative, evangelical so-called 'orthodox' bishops and Primate in the Global South (and those who write for them) is that homosexuality is not indigenous to Africa, that it is a Western disease brought to their shores by "foreign corruption".
Some of the most powerful messages I've heard in a long time about the incarnation of the love of God come from LGBT people from the Global South who prove their bishops wrong.
Indeed, in the video Voices of Africa one woman, a barrister, says that homosexuality has been known in all African cultures "since before time" and has always been embraced by indigenous African spirituality.
What is a 'foreign corruption' she maintains, is Christianity.
Here is one voice.
She is a beloved child of God who happens to be a lesbian.
Please listen to her.
3 comments:
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(With thanks to Sojourners)
A lovely human being!
ReplyDeleteThese are the voices that we need to hear, Elizabeth. I am delighted to hear African voices speaking up so that we know who these sisters and brothers are so we can support them. They are brave souls like the brave souls that began the movement back in the 60's and 70's. Keep up the brave work, my sister. You are doing the tough work for us.
ReplyDeleteI have embedded this video in my own blog with a link to yours. http://theliberalspirit.com Thanks for the convention input, which I will follow and may post. I will be liveblogging from the ELCA assembly later this summer and working the hallways with Goodsoil.
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