The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) has announced on Saturday that it doesn’t support the Church of England’s recent resolution to offer blessings to same-sex marriages. This followed the historic vote by the General Synod of the Church of England on Thursday to permit same sex marriage in the church.
In a statement to newsrooms, Archbishop Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, faulted the ACK parent church terming the move hypocritical and sinful, saying that the ACK would not condone homosexuality as it is against the teachings of Christianity.
The move by the Kenyan church joins other conservative Anglican churches in developing countries which are scheduled to meet next week to consider radical action over the Church of England’s decision to bless same-sex couples in civil marriages. They are questioning the archbishop of Canterbury’s “fitness to lead” the global church. The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), said the Church of England’s new stance “goes against the overwhelming mind of the Anglican Communion”.
” The reality of the Church of England’s decision was a rejection of the doctrine that marriage is the lifelong union of a man and a woman” said GSFA which represents churches in 24 countries and provinces including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
On Monday a dozen key church leaders from the global south are expected to consider moves to take a dominant position in the Anglican Communion, relegating Justin Welby who as archbishop of Canterbury heads up the global church of 85 million people, to a marginal role. Welby has however said that he personally will not bless same sex marriages despite the controversial vote.
The Church of England, or Anglican Church, is the primary state church in England, where the concepts of church and state are linked. The Church of England is considered the original church of the Anglican Communion, which represents over 85 million people in more than 165 countries.
While the Church upholds many of the customs of Roman Catholicism, it also embraces fundamental ideas adopted during the Protestant Reformation. In recent years, the Church of England has been viewed as one of the more progressive sects of Christianity and is known for its relatively liberal policies, such as allowing the ordination of women and gay priests.
