Statement from the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Uganda

ACNS 3889 | UGANDA | 27 SEPTEMBER 2004
23 September 2004

One of the hallmarks of the East African Revival in the Church of Uganda
is 'walking in the light.' On 20 November 2003 the Church of Uganda
broke communion with the Episcopal Church of the United States of
America (ECUSA) until it repents of its actions in approving and
consecrating as bishop a man in an actively homosexual relationship.
Furthermore, we have taken the position that, as a result of broken
communion, we will not take any financial gifts from ECUSA.

We want to thank ECUSA's Executive Council member, Louie Crew, PhD, DD,
DD, DHL, for helping us to walk in the light regarding our financial
accountability. Despite its condescending and imperialistic tone, his
two recent open letters to me and to our House of Bishops shed
considerable light on things we had not known.

For many of us, the internal workings of ECUSA are a mystery. Were it
not for the information revealed in these open letters, we would not
have known that the UTO (United Thank Offering) grants of the Episcopal
Church Women were part of the official ECUSA structure. Nor would we
have known that women in the Episcopal Church support the recent
heretical and immoral actions of the General Convention, which have
caused ECUSA to separate itself from the historic church and the vast
majority of the Anglican Communion and Christendom. We are grateful to
have this information, and respectfully request that UTO not send us any
more funds - even if grant requests have been submitted.

Accordingly, the Bishop of West Buganda is withdrawing his diocese's
request for a UTO grant and has 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 has notified UTO
that he is returning the US$30,000 recently received from a 2004 UTO
grant to his diocese. At the same time, the Church of Uganda is
committed to carrying through on these projects. 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.

Furthermore, we respectfully request Episcopal Relief and Development 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 did gratefully receive ERD
grants in 2001, 2002, and 2003 - prior to the consecration as bishop of
a man in an actively homosexual relationship. According to our records,
and confirmed by Don Hammond, Vice President of ERD, 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.

This state of broken communion saddens us because of the loss of
relationships and partners, and we believe it also grieves the heart of
God. We continue to pray that ECUSA will repent of its actions so
healing can begin, reconciliation be pursued, and communion be restored.
We continue to rejoice in the formation and growth of the Network of
Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes in the United States under the
leadership of Bishop Bob Duncan, and thank God that there is a faithful
remnant of Anglicans in America with whom we can remain in communion. We
look forward to deepening our ties and mission partnerships with those
parishes and dioceses that are part of this Anglican Communion Network.

The Most Revd Henry Luke Orombi
Archbishop of Uganda and Primate of the Church of the Province of Uganda

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Comment:

While I find this Statement concerning receiving money to be wholly in accord with sound Gospel principles, I do still worry because the Bishops in Uganda (as in most of Africa where the ECUSA is opposed) give the impression that the fact of the consecration of Gene Robinson (with the added blessing of homosexual unions) is all that is SERIOUSLY wrong with the ECUSA, and that if this particular SIN, is repented of, then ECUSA will be "orthodox" again.

Again I have to state -- cry out from the wilderness as it were - that the homosexual innovations of the ECUSA are ONE presenting problem amongst other very serious such problems, and that the disease or the root of these is a basic APOSTASY, a turning away from the LORD our God, His Revelation, His Will, His worship, His doctrine and His discipline. If there are to be calls to repentance then let it be for the real thing, the forsaking of the living and true God, the Blessed Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost and the embracing of a "Deity" which is more immanent than transcendent and more known by human experience in culture than holy, saving deeds and words through space and time, and recorded in a Holy Book.

The Bishops of Africa, some of whom I have taught and others I know, do not seem to understand what is the true situation in the ECUSA -- it is diseased in a major way and simply getting rid of the latest innovation, the homosexual initiative, will not cure that disease.

Kyrie eleison.

The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon.)