The Subject of Homosexuality - WCC

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Remarks Regarding in the Eighth Session of the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Zimbabwe

One of the biggest problems that the General Assembly faced in Harare, was the problem of homosexuality. Some leaders from the Council met with leaders of the government of Zimbabwe and agreed to guarantee the protection of homosexual representatives who attend. President Robert Mugaby himself signed the agreement. When he heard, however, that the Council would discuss the subject of homosexuality publicly, he criticized the Council, because it is known internationally that Zimbabwe is against homosexuality. The criticism of President Mugaby was due to what was written in the papers in Zimbabwe. Newspaper reports claimed that the World Council of Churches gave the right to homosexuals and lesbians to participate in the program of the Council. Moreover, they encouraged all the homosexual organizations and institutions, especially those in the USA, to join the Zimbabwean homosexuals in their protest marches during the Council.

The Zimbabwean homosexuals believed that no one except church people would be able to change the view of Africans towards homosexuality. That is why they relied on the attendance of homosexuals and lesbians from the USA at the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Harare. They thought that if some Christian homosexuals attend, then they could force the Christian Zimbabweans to reconsider their stand against the rights of homosexuals and lesbians. It is interesting that homosexuals do not use the word "homosexual" any more. They use the word "gay" instead to give themselves a better image.

It is worth mentioning that the penalty of practising homosexuality in Zimbabwe can be up to 5 years of imprisonment. Nevertheless, after what was heard about the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches and its attempts to discuss homosexuality, a group of homosexuals (in Lusaka in Zambia) was encouraged to set their first meeting in Zimbabwe in September 1998 with their fellows from Zimbabwe. As a result of the meeting, the vice-president Christon Timbo warned that leaders of homosexual groups would be arrested. He added that the government would not allow the homosexual group, which was formed recently in Zimbabwe, to be registered.

The Protestant Association in Zimbabwe, representing two and a half million Zimbabweans, condemned the World Council because it promotes offensive behavior which is against the Christian faith. Some African Christians wonder about the Christian liberal criticism of Protestants for presenting Christianity in a western way, then turning around now to insist that Africans accept homosexuality. This subject has a great impact on the churches in the West, including arguments regarding the ordination of "professing" homosexuals. It is sad that some are even defying their church constitutions.