Kenyan Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu reaches out to LGBT people with affirmation and hope

Anglican Bishop Kalu of Mombasa, Kenya: "Homosexuality is not a choice but homophobia is."

by Rev. Steve Parelli - an abridgement of an article by Rev. Kimindu and Joyshee Gideon

August 13, 2012

Gros Islet, St. Lucia

Rev. Michael Kimindu, President of Other Sheep Africa, in a news flash released on August 13, 2012, by email, reported that Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu of Mombasa, Kenya, upon openly meeting with Rev. Kimindu, LGBT persons and others, publicly stated that "from what I'm gathering from you, I say homosexuality is not a choice but homophobia is." 

The Bishop said this was his first time ever to see or meet with LGBTI people from Kenya or anywhere. He said it is indeed a shame for him that he has been shepherding LGBTI people in the Anglican Church without even knowing it.

The Bishop, reminiscent of Peter's words to the Jerusalem Council when he spoke on the early church's potential discrimination against Samaritans, said that wherever homosexuals manifest the fruit of the Spirit of Galatians 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control), "where is the difference then" between them and us.

The Bishop strongly condemned the brutal killing of Mjomba, a Kenyan living and working in Tanzania where he was murdered, as a "heinous and cowardice" act and expressed the wish that someday soon LGBTI people will live in a free world without "violence and discrimination."

Kimindu called upon the Bishop to instruct his clergy to pastor and shepherd homosexuals without discrimination. 

The Bishop agreed that his meeting and comments with Rev. Kimindu and the LGBT community were to have "wide circulation."

For the full original report, as given by Rev. Kimindu and Joyshee Gideon, click here (Changing Attitude).