Sierra Leone Bishop Calls for Unity with LGBT United Methodists
The United Methodist Church General Conference in Tampa, Fla.
A bishop from Sierra Leone preached that the love of God binds us together much stronger than divisions of race, sexual orientation, or even family affiliation. Bishop John Yambasu, Resident United Methodist Bishop to Sierra Leone, spoke at the Africana Dinner at The United Methodist Church General Conference on Sunday evening. The dinner was sponsored by Black Methodists for Church Renewal, a coalition partner with the Love Your Neighbor Campaign.
Bishop Yambasu spoke of sexual orientation as one of many identities that tie people together. He stated that people relate better to those who share the same sexual orientation. He also stressed the difficulty to talk about sexuality, both in Africa and in the United States. “I’m reminded here that in Africa, sex is a very delicate issue that you don’t openly talk about,” Yambasu stated. “And I also understand that here in American it is also just as sensitive.”
However, Bishop Yambasu then lifted up the diverse United Methodists who offer support for Africa University, the premiere United Methodist-supported University in Africa. He offered thanks for the support of the young students who were present in the room, and noted that their education was due to support that came across lines of division.
Bishop Yambasu ended his preaching with a vision of heaven. “When we all get to heaven, there will only be one question asked of us,” stated Yambasu. “It will be, ‘Did spend your time on earth making it a better place?’” He said that our lives will be judged, not by the affiliations we have, but by how we spent the life that God gave us.
“I heard a clear message that gay and lesbian people are a vital part of the church,” said the Rev. Dr. Derrick Spiva, a member of the board of Directors of Reconciling Ministries Network. “It is a significant step that an African Bishop acknowledged the reality and personhood of gay and lesbian people, and that they are an important part of the church. Clearly, Bishop Yambasu was preaching ‘All means all.’”
The General Conference is meeting in Tampa, Fla. until May 4 and will consider nearly 100 resolutions concerning the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the life of the United Methodist Church. The Love Your Neighbor campaign is a common witness for the moral equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists.
Read more about the Conference on The Seattle Lesbian here: United Methodists Meet in Tampa: May End 40-Year Ban on Gays.
One comment on “Sierra Leone Bishop Calls for Unity with LGBT United Methodists”
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My endless chttaer on this topic has led me to believe we are talking about two completely separate topics.1. Is the contract couples purchase from their state government that grant over 1,000 civil and legal rights to couples in long term relationships. The people need not even know each others names as long as they’re opposite gender. Churches relaxed their stance a number of years ago and now allow brown people to enter this contract with white people, but again only if they’re opposite gender.2. Is the ceremony performed in a religious institution that celebrates the purchase of this contract combined with some words to sanctify’ the event. To my knowledge, not all churches require the purchase of the document, but most do.A number of churches do not support allowing same gender couples to purchase this government document that provides legal and civil rights, blissfully unaware the separation of church and state law sword can and just might begin to cut both ways.For the record, as soon as Measure Three passes, I’m opening a church that requires same gender members to purchase a marriage license from the state of ND. Then the state will be required to present clear and compelling evidence on why they would have the right to interfere in our church’s beliefs.