African Lutherans threaten schism over gay row

afrol News
9 April 2010

As the Catholics struggle with paedophilia scandals, and the Anglicans have an open north-south conflict over homosexuality, African Lutheran churches now threaten divorce with their European partners if the latter continue to perform same-sex weddings.

African member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) met in Abuja, Nigeria, this week to discuss theological and policy issues. While they neared their northern liberal sister churches on gender issues - now defining "gender equity" as an "urgent priority" for Africa - the African Lutherans spoke up against liberal tendencies in Europe and North America concerning homosexuality.

On gender justice, African Lutherans expressed concern that some member churches in Africa "still do not heed the voices of women in the region crying for inclusivity within the church structures, leadership and in the ordained ministry." They urged churches to fulfil their commitment to gender justice by putting in place concrete steps to address these issues. the rest