Bishop Katharine: Anglican Communion not falling apart, Episcopal Church has charism to stand up for LGBT rights

charisma (also charism): divinely conferred power or talent

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori joined us for dinner on day 1 of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan's Diocesan Convention. As you know, she is the first female archbishop in the Anglican Communion. She has personally been supportive of the LGBT community. She is also a strong proponent of the Millennium Development Goals; you can find more information at the link, and I will speak on the goals at a later date. As a public health professional, I completely support the MDGs. As an Episcopalian, having my church start to work on the goals is an excellent way to witness to the rest of the world.


Victor Juliet Mukasa is Ugandan and Anglican. She visited my church at one time, because she was dating an American woman (and may still be doing so). Victor identifies as transgender.

HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN AFRICA

Human Rights Abuses and Violations
I can give specific examples :
• Raped to prove that you are really a woman
• At school: public assembly and humiliation: beaten
• Thrown out of family home
• Thrown out of subsequent homes by landlords
• Lose job because feel violated wearing a skirt
• Psychological Effects of Abuse: Depression, Anger, Drinking, Suicide
• Daily level: holding full bladder for 12-18 hours
• Being undressed and humiliated:
o By government: To get passport
o In church – I was once stripped naked as in naked!, in church, before a multitude of people. The pastor ‘saw’ a spirit of a young man inside me and they burnt my clothes and shoes in order to kill the male spirit.
o By Police: humiliation, mocking, mistreatment

I told Bishop Katharine that Victor had visited my church. I told her that I felt that during the recent Primates' Meeting, the Episcopal Church had been on the defensive, even as African countries persecuted their LGBT citizens, and their Anglican Primates either stood by or joined in. I told her that the Episcopal Church had to stand up for LGBT human rights.

And Bishop Katharine agreed. She feels the Episcopal Church's charism, or unique spiritual gift, may be to witness to the world on behalf of the LGBT community, and protecting their human rights is part of that. Many of my sisters and brothers have been hurt by the Episcopal Church's taking a pause or a step back from full inclusion of LGBT individuals. However, we are Anglicans. We are part of a global communion of churches. We must maintain our witness and move towards full inclusion ... and we must also be conscious of our voice as global citizens. Our actions can affect Christians across the globe. Perhaps we may have to lie to maintain our place. But Virginia Ramey Mollenkot, a feminist Baptist minister, once said that as Christians once lied to protect the Jews hiding in their basements from the Nazis, sometimes it's OK to lie.

I can only pray my LGBT brothers and sisters will forgive us, and that we will indeed work like hell for change, starting with the recognition of the human rights of the LGBT community round the world.