A former African archbishop on Wednesday described the potential exclusion of gays in the Anglican Communion as a ”heresy” comparable to apartheid, as a summit of Anglican leaders got under way.
The Most Reverend Walter Makhulu, the South African-born former archbishop of Central Africa, preached at a service in central London run by Inclusive Church. The pro-gay British group organised three services on Wednesday in churches near Lambeth Palace, where leaders of 37 of the world’s Anglican churches met.
”The notion of an exclusive church is utterly abhorrent to me. It denies the very character and nature of God, it is a heresy in the same way as apartheid was described as heresy,” Makhulu said.
Dressed in full archepiscopal regalia and standing amid a fog of incense in St Matthew’s church, Makhulu described living under apartheid and feeling he had become one of the ”damned of the Earth”.
”I have resisted tyranny all my life,” Makhulu said. ”The cross must never be used as a whip to whip those regarded by others as sinners. You cannot confine a human being to the scrap heap of life.”
The liberal position of South African Anglican leaders contrasts sharply with that of the most outspoken African archbishop, Peter Akinola of Nigeria. He has called the Episcopal Church’s decision to confirm the Reverend Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire a ”satanic attack” on the church.
Members of the congregation hailed Makhulu’s sermon.
”It doesn’t get much better than that,” said Reverend Dan Webster, communications director of the Episcopal diocese of Utah, who wore a badge saying ”Stop Hate”.
Those who came to hear Makhulu were mixed in their hopes for a positive outcome of the two-day meeting of 37 Anglican leaders.
”These are worrying times,” said Reverend Giles Fraser, chair of Inclusive Church. ”The contemporary Church of England is currently in danger of losing its open and inclusive approach.”
The Reverend Colin Coward, director of the pro-gay Anglican group Changing Attitudes, said he felt pessimistic.
”There are some very extreme and disparate views at the meeting, and it is appalling that it is many of the voices being raised against gay inclusion into the church are black voices. It is deep cultural stuff and I am disturbed by it,” Coward said.
Jim Naughton, director of communications for the Episcopal diocese of Washington DC, said he could not imagine his church conceding to pressure to change its policies on homosexuality.
”The full inclusion of gay people in the ministries of the church is good news. It is not just an event that precipitated this crisis, it is a reason to celebrate,” Naughton said, ”but I don’t think much good can happen here — we and the Canadians who bless same-sex marriage are here in a defensive posture, we have precipitated this, but we didn’t ask for it.” — Sapa-AP