The Church in Uganda has officially announced that they are breaking away from the Church of England, following the latter’s decision earlier this year to allow Clergy to preside over and bless same sex unions.
The Church of Uganda on Friday introduced the proposal to break away from Canterbury, during the fourth gathering of the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) in the Rwandan Capital Kigali.
The idea was supported by the Anglican Church leaders, mostly from Africa and the Caribbean, who are opposed to the new path of the Church of England.
“As the Christian Fellowship gathered here today, we have decided stop moving along with the Church of England in Canterbury,” announced Church of Uganda Archbishop Steven Kaziimba Mugalu after the conference.
“Following the Cairo Covenant, we have decided to start a new leadership structure which shall bring together all these churches.”
Earlier at the opening of the conference on Monday, the chairman of Gafcon, Dr Foley Beach, said that “with broken hearts, we must say that until the Archbishop of Canterbury repents, we can no longer recognize him as the first among equals. It’s time for the whole Anglican establishment to be reformed anyway.”
The Church of Engaland through its governing body, the General Synod, passed a resolution in February this year, to allow the clergy to preside at blessings of same sex unions.
Although the Church of England still holds that marriage is a union of one man with one woman, it took a decision to approve blessings for same-sex couples following a civil marriage or civil partnership.
The church teaches that “Same-sex relationships often embody genuine mutuality and fidelity.”
Kaziimba described this decision as “suicidal” and a “significant departure not just from the Biblical Scripture, but also from the Church’s core doctrine of marriage.”
Addressing Press today, Kaziimba called upon Christians to pray for the Gafcon members as they embark on this independence journey.
“We have organized prayers and intercession to see how the new Church will be formed and operated. We need your prayers,” he said