THE chair of a conservative group of Anglican church leaders has accused the head of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, Justin Welby, of perpetuating colonialism with his criticism of Uganda’s recently introduced anti-LGBTQ law. The law, which imposes severe punishments including the death penalty and lengthy prison sentences, has faced widespread condemnation from Western nations.
Last week, Welby expressed ‘grief and
dismay’ in a letter to Ugandan Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba,
criticising his support for the harsh legislation. However, Laurent Mbanda, chair of the conservative Anglican coalition known as GAFCON, responded to Welby’s letter by suggesting that the history of colonisation and patronising behaviour by northern hemisphere provinces toward Africa was still ongoing.
In his statement, Mbanda, who is also the head of Rwanda’s Anglican Church, highlighted the historical context but did not explicitly endorse the Ugandan law. The issue of LGBTQ rights has been a divisive topic within the Anglican community, with GAFCON representing the conservative wing and being highly critical of certain Western churches.
Welby had previously emphasised that his remarks were not about imposing Western values but rather a reminder of the commitment to treating every person with care and respect as children of God. However, GAFCON and other splinter groups have challenged Welby’s leadership due to disagreements over issues such as same-sex blessings.
Amid the controversy, Archbishop Kaziimba defended Welby’s right to form opinions while highlighting that the British leader may lack firsthand knowledge of Uganda’s circumstances. The Church of Uganda claims that approximately 36 percent of the country’s population, totalling around 45 million people, are Anglicans.
The clash over LGBTQ rights within the Anglican Communion reflects broader divisions and tensions between conservative and progressive factions, impacting the global discourse on human rights and the church’s stance on social issues.
