IDAHO day event and a lesbian blessing in Kenya contrast the 14 year sentence given in Malawi

Revd Michael Kimindu, Changing Attitude’s contact in Kenya, took part in a gathering of sexual minorities at the National Museum, Nairobi where they assembled to mark the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17. He was given the opportunity to talk about what Other Sheep Ministries and the Metropolitan Community Church are doing to check religious-based homophobia and transphobia. On his left in the photo above is activist musician Kate Kamunde from Afra Kenya and Audrie Mbugua (right) from Transgender Kenya.

Michael based his talk on the contrast between John.3:16 and 17, love and not condemnation. He said that we advocate for acceptance and the full inclusion of LGBTI people of faith, and of their parents and friends in their respective faiths. He invited those present to MCC which is an inclusive church. At one point someone contributed in the manner of an African American Pentecostal enthusiast saying: preach, preacher, preach!

Scores of Kenya homosexuals celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia on Monday and demanded more recognition. They sung and danced and for the first time allowed media coverage of their function to fight stigma and victimisation.

“Ten years ago there was no public place that could have hosted such a function,” said Kenya Human Rights Commission director Muthoni Wanyeki, whose lobby organised the event. “Although the Committee of Experts did not allow same sex marriage in Kenya the Proposed Constitution would enable all Kenyans access health and are free from discrimination and violence. The basic rights are for all Kenyans including people from the gay community.” Ms Wanyeki, however, said despite the government allowing the gay community to meet, the battle against harassment of and violence against sexual minorities is still on.

Kate Kamunde said: ”Spaces are opening up to accommodate us which was not possible two years ago.” She regretted that government officials gave the function a wide birth despite being invited.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) commissioner Lawrence Mute condemned prejudice on grounds of their sexual orientation. “Let us ensure nobody is discriminated either in school, at work or even in the society especially because of who they are,” he told participants.

Dr Ben Sihanya, the dean of the School of Law at the University of Nairobi emphasised the need to focus on issues of sexual minorities in the country. “We are quick at criminalising issues that we do not understand,” he challenged homophobes, who harbour negative attitudes and feelings towards homosexuality.

Galck official David Kuria termed both religious homophobia and transphobia as ‘senseless violence,’ and called for a society that was more tolerant to the welfare and needs of LGBIT persons in the country.

I’ve just connected online with Dennis Nzioka, the religious relationship assistant at Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (Galck). He urged religious leaders to tolerate gay people. “We are born this way. We are created this way. We want to feel comfortable when we come to church. They should stop preaching discrimination against gay people. Just as I am proud to be African I am proud of being gay. There’s nothing wrong with what we are doing,” he said.

Mr Nzioka was happy that homosexuals could now be allowed to meet in the open and that his family also understands him. “If we had a family meeting, I usually went with my boyfriend but I am currently not dating,” he said, adding that there were already many gay marriages in Kenya “although we don’t expect licensing in near future".

Lesbians ask to be blessed

After Michael’s speech a member of the audience approached him and asked if he could bless her union with her partner there and then. He asked her to call the partner and they moved to a corner where Michael gave them some pre-marital counselling. They agreed to do bless the relationship the following evening at their house giving them time to compose themselves, buy rings and invite some friends.

Michael conducted the service on the 18th May at 8:30pm. It was attended by nine other women friends and one gay man. The couple are 20 and 25 years old. This was the first blessing he had conducted for lesbians and the second for a same sex couple having done one for two gay men last year.

Michael received a phone call while he was sending this e-mail. A woman called asking the location of his church so that she could come on Sunday. Michael comments that knowing how to respond to such calls is always tricky because you never the caller is genuine. He asks for prayers, hoping that God is in control.

Michael shows that it is possible to create safe spaces in African culture for a message of full inclusion to be preached and for lesbian and gay couples to affirm and bless their relationships. Reading Michael’s account, the scenario didn’t feel that different from the UK, where the blessing of relationships in church still has a certain clandestine quality and preaching and teaching about inclusivity in churches is still a minority activity.

The difference between Michael’s account of his activity in Kenya and the sentence of 14 years with hard labour given to Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi is outrageous and shocking. I’ve been pondering all week what Changing Attitude might be able to contribute to the campaign to free them which Peter Tatchell is pursuing. We have only one recently made gay contact in Malawi.

One avenue which we can explore is the friendship I have with Bishop James Tengatenga of Southern Malawi who was elected last year in Jamaica as chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, and I will be drafting a letter to him.

Colin Coward

News of the new Kenya constitution from Michael Kimindu, Changing Attitude’s Kenya contact

Changing Attitude supporters in England have responded with great generosity to the request for money to enable the gay Kenyan Anglican who was attacked and driven from his home with his partner four weeks ago. We have sent them nearly £200 to enable them to recover their belongings and begin to create a new life elsewhere. With Michael, they thank everyone who responded so quickly and generously.

Less positively, Michael Kimindu reports that the Bishop of Nairobi seems to have grown cold feet. The Bishop had offered Michael an appointment to meet him last week, but when Michael arrived at his office on the agreed day he was told the Bishop was away on a pastoral visit. Michael was asked to return last Monday. He called the bishop’s secretary before leaving home. She talked to the bishop who said Michael should wait for an appointment on another day, which will be communicated to him later. Michael is still waiting to hear.

In the same vein, a reporter from The Nation newspaper who interviewed Michael has withheld from publishing the article until, as Michael says, ‘God knows when’. The media in Kenya supports the evangelical stand against homosexuality.

New Kenyan constitution rejects gay marriage

Michael directed my attention to the draft of the new constitution which is now being discussed in Kenya and which has so far failed to respond to the needs of LGBTI Kenyans.

Same sex marriages will not be allowed if proposals in the harmonised Kenyan draft constitution become law. Only marriages between opposite sex will be recognised despite attempts by the gay community to have their relationships legalised. Those wishing to marry partners of the same sex still have to seek countries where such marriages are allowed.

The proposal by the committee of experts comes a month after two men became the first Kenyan gay couple to openly wed in London, sparking a huge debate on morality issues in the country. It elicited sharp responses from religious organisations, who described the union between Chege Ngengi and Daniel Chege Gichia as “unacceptable and unnatural.

During the drafting of the proposed law, Otiende Amollo, a member of the committee had revealed that they had rejected suggestions by British MPs to recognise and protect the rights of homosexuals in the draft. “We told them that such a thing cannot happen because if we did so, a majority of Kenyans would reject the draft during the forthcoming referendum,” Otiende Amollo told journalists last month.

Michael told me that he called the General Manager of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition this morning to find out what they are doing. He told Michael they are going to have a meeting with a constitutional expert to decide on the way forward. Pray for us, says Michael.

Gay Anglican attacked and beaten in Kenya

The Revd Michael Kimindu, the contact person for Changing Attitude in Kenya, told me on the ‘phone yesterday that he gave shelter to a gay man who was attacked on Saturday evening, 3 October and has now arranged for him to be housed safely in a nearby location.

The man who was attacked is a long standing member of a prominent Anglican church where he takes an active role in the services. He grew up in the parsonage of the church where his father, now deceased, was the priest.

In a telephone conversation, the gay man described the events that led up to the attack.

“Not long ago, a certain neighbour of mine, a fellow Kenyan, came to my home and introduced himself. He was very friendly and so we had talks together about life in general. With time, he told me he had a job working for an organization (which he named) that has health programmes for the gay community. He said he wanted to understand "what is this thing about gays, and how does it work, and if there are any gays in Kenya." He told me that he was just beginning to hear about gay people and needed to understand more about it. I decided to open up to him and tell him I was gay. When I did, we had a long conversation. He asked me questions in a very nice manner.

“Then things changed. He said he was trying to gather information to confirm that I was gay because there should not be any gays in society. He said he was going to take action. Then he started asking me if I had any money. He said he would tell someone in the neighbourhood that I am gay - someone who would not take the information very kindly. If I wanted him to keep quiet about my orientation then I was to give him money. I thought, at first, he was joking. He said he studied criminology and could do what he said he would do.

“On the night of the beating, this same neighbour who had blackmailed me, came to my home and grabbed me and told me to come with him. He said he was taking me to see a certain friend of mine which he also knew. He named the friend and he was, indeed, a very good friend of mine. He said if I would not go with him he would start screaming to everyone nearby that I am gay and that I had tried to molest him. I said, "OK, if you want my friend to know, let's go." I didn't know if they had planned this together, but I decided it would make things easier for me if I were to go. I felt that my good friend would take the time needed to understand me and accept me still as his friend. However, I was shocked by his reaction. He didn't want to listen to anything I had to say. He just said, "I knew he was gay. He should be killed. He should be destroyed. Don't let him say another word. Let's just hit him and let's make sure he is destroyed."

“The neighbour who had grabbed me and forced me to my good friend's home said, "You accept that you are gay and that you should not be gay?" I tried to explain to them both that there is nothing wrong in being gay; that gay people are normal human beings; that gay people do no wrong to any one; that they need to be given the opportunity to explain what they go through, that is, the kind of stigmatization they experience in society. But they would not listen to any of this.

“There, at his home, my very good friend said, "I have a gun. We have to destroy him. I don't care if he is my best friend. He isn't anymore."

“I think my very good friend was homophobic all along, but he had no evidence that I was gay until this night when I admittedly told him I was gay. I told them they needed to understand. I told them that I have accepted myself as a gay man and that if I have done anything criminal then, instead of hitting me, they needed to call the police and write up a report against me. But they said, "No, we just have to hit you."

“It was my very good friend that started to excite to action the others who were there. They started hitting me and saying they should call the brother who plays rugby - that he would deal with me properly; that he would hit me at the end of each day until I become normal. And that I should no longer live in the neighbourhood.

“As they hit me they shouted, "You can change, you can change." They were hitting me so I would change and would understand that I needed to be heterosexual. A crowd was being drawn in by the commotion and my good friend was telling them to hit me and beat me and not to listen to anyone who said otherwise.

“The beating resulted in swelling to the head and chest with bleeding. My mouth and lips are swollen because they stepped on me and jumped on me. They actually did call the rugby guy and a second guy in town. They lifted me up and threw me on the ground and then stepped on my head.

“Ladies near by started screaming, "They are going to kill this man." Some people starting saying, "Let him live." These people saved my life. Two men held back the guys who were attacking me, saying, "You have to stop this!" At that point I had a chance to get away and went to my home, locked the door, and went to my room. But they still came after me. They attempted to break the door in. Instead, they broke all the windows in the house. They told me they would return in the morning to destroy me.”

The man went to the hospital. At some point he was able to contact Michael Kimindu, At the hospital the victim was given a medical report which was presented to the police. The man expressed willingness to go public on any level at some time in the future in order to prevent further bashings of gays. "I won't fear coming out," he said, "because I don't want someone else to go through what I have gone through." For safety, he is staying with his partner in a secret location.

Michael Kimindu says: "The church will not speak up for the gay person - not even in the face of something like this. The attackers were people that know the man. They were from his home area. The attackers were not armed; they used their bare hands. He cannot open his mouth to take in food. He has to drinks with a straw.

Commenting on the need for change Kenya, Michael said, "I'm telling you, the Kenyan church in general will not do anything for the safety of gay people. They will only bash them. According to the churches in Kenya, when you are gay and getting beaten you are getting your reward - what you deserve. They look at gays and those who support gay rights as sinners and when something goes wrong with us, they conclude that God must be punishing us. The church is against the gay person, so it will not speak up for them. Kenya must change so that there is safety and security for everyone."

The Bondo Gathering - a further update

Henry Mayor has now added to his report of the Bondo Gathering, the six-day Retreat/workshop for the clergy of the Diocese of Bondo and a few others.

He is now known to virtually all of the 45 plus clergy in the Bondo diocese. He won’t remember all of them, he says, but some were particularly keen to talk with him and to express their appreciation for what they had heard. It was good to see Bishop Johannes Angela engaging with his clergy, in a way which struck Henry as approachable and good-humoured. He was present in all sessions but said very little, letting the discussion take its course and make its own impact independently of his views.

Now Henry is in Nairobi and has linked up with Michael Kimindu and Anna Booth, an Anglican who is also a member of the Metropolitan Community Church in Manchester. Together they are working out an itinerary which should enable them to meet a lot more lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Kenyans, and talk with other Christians who are either already engaged in discussing the topic, or may be so in the future.
Henry would be glad to be put in contact with anyone in the media, especially Christian media, who might publish the details, and he’s open for invitations to talk, discuss, broadcast etc. when he returns to the UK.

Gratitude
Last but by no means least, he would like to thank all who helped the Bondo Fund committee to raise around seven thousand pounds, which seemed to him an unreachable figure when they started, and all who have supported him and the Kenya programme in prayer.

Changing attitudes in Kenya – The Bondo Project

The Revd Henry Mayor, a retired priest and supporter of Changing Attitude England living in Manchester is at present visiting Kenya to participate in a number of events, some Anglican, others involving wider Christian and gay communities. Henry was born and brought up in Kenya this visit follows two previous visits undertaken on his own initiative.

Henry has raised funds in the UK for the Bondo Project, which in part has helped to fund a six-day Retreat/Workshop for the clergy of the Diocese of Bondo and a few others, from August 31st to September 5th 2009. It was on the theme of same-gender sexual relations and the Bible. Henry gave four presentations: my personal experience of the Bible; a discussion of terms used in discussing homosexuality; my personal experience of LGBTI people; and a discussion of Bible texts which condemn and support same-gender relationships.

There were also two presentations by Professor Dr. David Kodia about the Lambeth Conference and the Global Anglican Futures Conference, several inputs by local Christians, time for group discussion and plenary sessions, and a daily Bible Study (led by Henry) on Jesus’s and the Church's response to marginalised people.

Henry reports that the response was generally favourable: people were glad that for the first time they were able to discuss same-gender sexuality (or indeed sexuality in general), and happy to receive new information and perspectives. Some people asked for more literature. The pastoral care of LGBTI people was discussed and there was a concern to follow it up. The Retreat will be followed by a report and another day of meeting to decide on future courses of action.

Henry notes that the attitude of clergy and others towards LGBTI people is unlikely to change overnight, but he is confident that in the hands of capable Kenyans who are supportive of, or sympathetic to, LGBTI people, the process of change in Kenya will continue. He has already been invited to address a one-day meeting of clergy of Maseno South diocese on the same topic.

Other Sheep Kenya Seminar in Nairobi

Henry also took part in a seminar on “Religion and Sexuality in African Cultural Context” organised by Other Sheep Kenya held on 22 August 2009 in Nairobi. Twenty five people drawn from the LGBTI community and PFLAG attended the seminar. They came from diverse religious backgrounds and organizations including United Methodist Church, Baptist, Anglican, Kenya Assemblies of God, Catholic Church, Metropolitan Community Church, Nairobi Pentecostal Church, Apostolic Church, Redeemed Gospel Church, Islam, Changing Attitude, Reconciling Ministries Network, Ishtar MSM, Daystar University and United States International University (USIU).

Henry described how he had come to Kenya to help the Anglican Church discuss homosexuality and told them about the Bondo Project. Henry said that there are people who say being gay is not African but a western import. He believes his calling is from God. He said, “there is no human being who is normal except Jesus Christ”. He said that homosexuality has become a great sin in the way it is dividing Christianity. Christians should love all people without discrimination based on sexual orientation Christian communities must change their attitude and be positive about LGBTI people.

Rev Michael Kimindu, Changing Attitude’s contact in Kenya, said that there are people whom the clergy and laity do not accept in the church such as divorces, homosexuals, people living with AIDS, polygamists and alcoholics. “These are the other sheep”.

Michael said that sexual orientation is not an issue that is to be fought but to be accepted. Religious leaders should serve God by serving the vulnerable such as gays and lesbians. The gospel is not about hate but about repentance, reconciliation and renewal. Jesus did not die so that our sexual orientation can change but our hearts. He said there are thousands of LGBTI persons who think God hates them. The message from Other Sheep is that God loves you.

Other people who contributed to the seminar were Rev John Makokha, a United Methodist minister and Other Sheep Kenya Coordinator, Anne Baraza, Other Sheep Advisory Counsellor and Riruta United Methodist Women President and Peter Wanyama, an Anglican and Other Sheep Kenya treasurer.

An extended report on the Seminar can be found on the Changing Attitude web site

Revd Michael Kimindu, Changing Attitude contact in Kenya, meets the new Archbishop

The Revd. Michael N. Kimindu is the Changing Attitude contact person in Kenya and Coordinator for Other Sheep East Africa. Michael is an Anglican priest and was a member of our team at the Lambeth Conference in 2008.

Yesterday, Tuesday 8 September, Michael formally met the new Archbishop of Kenya, the Most Rev. Dr. Eliud Wabukhala.

In May 2009 Michael wrote a congratulatory letter to the Archbishop-elect and requested a meeting with him at the earliest convenient time. He waited until this Monday before calling to remind the Archbishop and was invited to meet him at 10.00 yesterday at the Anglican Church of Kenya Headquarters.

The Archbishop stood to receive Michael and enquired how he has been doing. The last time they met Michael was a military chaplain. Michael felt relaxed as he narrated how he left the military on reaching the retirement age of 55. He showed Archbishop Wabukhala the letter that had then posted him to St. Luke's Parish in December 2007.

The conversation moved on to the scholarship Michael was awarded in 1993 by the World Council of Churches to study Pastoral Care and Counselling in the USA. Michael specifically studied pastoral counselling to LGBT people. He described his USA experience, his struggles with human sexuality issues and his eventual decision to take the subject seriously as a church minister.

He told the Archbishop how he encountered gay clients in his counselling ministry on returning to Kenya both outside and in the military and about his discussions with the two retired Archbishops, Dr David Gitari and his successor Benjamin Nzimbi.

In 2004 Michael founded of Other Sheep ministry in Kenya and in 2007 met the Rev Steve Parelli (founder of Other Sheep internationally) through Canon Samuel Tei. Michael explained how he moved to St. Luke's and how, while there, his pro-gay debate sermons and connections with Steve Parelli became suspect, culminating in his suspension until he had talked with the Archbishop.

Michael narrated how he met Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi in March 2008. The Archbishop was convinced that Michael’s ministry was legitimate and promised to come back following a meeting to be arranged between him and the Archdeacons. That meeting took place in August 2008 after Michael had attended the Lambeth Conference. On hearing about the hostility Michael had experienced from the Archdeacons, the Archbishop’s words and body language showed real concern.

Michael talked about the work he is doing for Other Sheep in East Africa, his contact and involvement with Changing Attitude, his licensing as an MCC minister and the congregation of LGBT people which meets in his house. He described the seminars on the Bible and homosexuality, the concern for men who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV/AIDS.

Michael delivered a verbal message from the General Manager of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK). He wished the Archbishop to know that the hostile stand taken by religious leaders in Kenya was like supporting death for LGBT people. By ignoring them, the church leaders were effectively saying they do not care if people die as a result of HIV.

The Archbishop responded:

• He said was sorry that Michael is not in a paid job, but advised that he maintains his present work. The Archbishop has over 100 clergy to serve a diocese of 11 parishes.
• He promised to find an officer in his office who will relate with Michael on regular basis. If Michael initiated contact himself, the Archbishop thought they might not respond positively.
• The Arhcbishop is still listening and consulting with the Provincial Synod about the debate on human sexuality but indicated that there may not be immediate significant change .
• He suggested that if other collaborators (meaning people from outside the Province) could take a lead, then the people would respond more positively. This has been confirmed by the seminars being conducted at present by the Revd Henry Mayor, a priest and CA supporter from Manchester, UK.
• He is following developments in the Communion. Michael said he sounded like Archbishop Rowan Williams, not so far yet not so near, which he thought was a wise position to take.
• The Archbishop promised to meet the Archdeacons to hear their side of the story from 2008.

Michael’s evaluation of the meeting is positive. He believes there is light at the end of the tunnel. He asks for prayers for the Archbishop and that his own ministry may be more active in Kenya.

After his meeting in the Archbishop's Office he visited the Directorate of Social Services (ACK-DOSS) HIV-AIDS Project Officer, the Rev Rhodal Dzombo. He asked her what they were doing for gays and HIV. She said they had done nothing at all due to the stance of the previous Archbishop. She said the Anglican Church of Kenya is on a journey on the issue of homosexuality and many people, ordained and lay are afraid to speak openly about it.

Changing Attitude’s contact in Kenya reports on his ministry

The Revd Michael Kimindu, contact person for Changing Attitude in Kenya, has emailed today updating about the ministry he is developing amongst Anglicans. Michael is an Anglican priest and was part of our team at the Lambeth Conference last year. He was an army chaplain and has children but is now distanced from the Church in Kenya because of his support for lesbian and gay people.

A small group of LGBT Christians meets every Sunday in his house to worship and pray and Michael continues to offer his wisdom and training skills to Anglican groups.
He also offers ministry under the banner of Other Sheep Ministries, a US-based non-denominational international ministry to LGBT people. On July 18th Michael conducted a one day seminar about homosexuality in Kisumu attended by 12 people, two of them priests and ten lay people, all Anglicans from two different Dioceses. They all expressed satisfaction and asked for frequent similar seminars.

Michael preached in an Anglican Church on July 19th invited by the priest who had helped organise the seminar. In his sermon he preached about church growth and how inclusiveness is important for growth. The congregation have requested that he returns to preach again.

On July 21st Michael addressed an early morning meeting of the All Saints Cathedral Church Men's Committee. The six men included one priest. He talked about homosexuality and the need to be open to discussion and was well received. The Chairman of the HIV/AIDS committee invited him to talk to people living with HIV/AIDS soon.

In the afternoon, he talked to a meeting of a similar association representing four dioceses with 15 members attending. They expressed the need for future meetings with him. Michael says the day was very exciting day for him.

A number of Anglican clergy in Kenya have told Michael they would like to have a forum where they can express their opinions about homosexuality without fear and talk honestly and openly. It is, of course, very difficult for priests to find anyone with whom they can explore their feelings and thoughts about homosexuality. In a very small but significant way, Michael is contributing to the Listening Process and is helping some clergy in Kenya to a better understanding of human sexuality.

Michael says the clergy are looking for leadership and hopes Changing Attitude will not shy away from supporting him. Changing Attitude is committed to support people from around the Communion who share Michael’s bravery in risking his livelihood for the sake of teaching an inclusive Gospel.

He has asked for an appointment with the new Archbishop and promises to report following the meeting. Donations to be sent to Michael to enable him to develop his ministry among Anglican congregations in Kenya can be made on the CA web site.