- Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi of the Anglican Church of Uganda has announced that his church is returning aid grants made from American Anglican agencies after the 2003 "consecration as bishop of a man in an actively homosexual relationship" in the USA. "Please do not raise any more money on our behalf," adds the Ugandan Archbishop.
The Church of Uganda in November last year broke communion with the (Anglican) Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA) "until it repents of its actions in approving and consecrating as bishop a man in an actively homosexual relationship." Since that, Ugandan Archbishop Orombi has stepped up his war against pro-gay ECUSA by actively promoting the alignment of US opposition congregations with the Ugandan Diocese of Luweero - in what ECUSA calls a "border war".
In a bid to maintain spiritual independence, the Church of Uganda is also fighting to become economically independent from the richer Western Anglican churches. Since November 2003, for example, Ugandan Anglican congregations are not allowed to receive grants or donations from ECUSA.
The ambition of becoming economically independent from ECUSA and other pro-gay Anglican churches is termed the "East African Revival in the Church of Uganda" by Archbishop Orombi, who says he is now "walking in the light."
The Ugandan Church therefore is currently investigating if any grants have been received from pro-gay Anglican churches or agencies since November 2003. "In the spirit of walking in the light," all grants made from ECUSA or affiliated organisations after this date therefore now are being returned, the Ugandan Church leader has announced.
Investigations had for example uncovered that the United Thank Offering (UTA) and the Episcopal Church Women were part of the official ECUSA structure. Further, Archbishop Orombi had found, these agencies were supporting the "heretical and immoral actions" of ECUSA, regarding the blessing of a homosexual bishop.
Accordingly, the Bishop of West Buganda was now withdrawing his diocese's request for a UTO grant and had asked that UTO not send the wire transfer for the recent grant request from his diocese. Likewise, "in the spirit of walking in the light," the Bishop of Luweero had notified UTO that "he is returning the US$ 30,000 recently received from a 2004 UTO grant to his diocese," Archbishop Orombi announces.
At the same time, however, the Church of Uganda was "committed to carrying through" the projects where it was returning UTO grants. "We believe that God will honour our commitment to His Word and will provide more than we could ask or imagine for the people committed to our care, especially those who are most vulnerable," the Archbishop holds.
Furthermore, Archbishop Orombi "respectfully" requested the Episcopal Relief and Development agency to "not send any grants to any Church of Uganda diocese or institution, including remaining instalments on multi-year grants awarded prior to ECUSA's 2003 General Convention. Likewise, please do not raise any more money on our behalf."
The Church of Uganda had "gratefully" received the Anglican agency's grants in 2001, 2002, and 2003 - "prior to the consecration as bishop of a man in an actively homosexual relationship." According to the Ugandan Archbishop's, the Church of Uganda has "refused the remaining instalments of a four-year grant that was approved prior to the 2003 General Convention of ECUSA."
Finally, the statement by Archbishop Orombi repeated his support to the efforts by conservative ECUSA members to break ties with the "heretical" Church leadership. ECUSA has sent formal complaints to the Anglican Communion regarding the recruitment campaign made in the US in the name of the Church of Uganda, with Archbishop Orombi's blessing. Several US anti-gay congregations have aligned with the Ugandan Diocese of Luweero as a result of this campaign.
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