Anglican Communion News Service

[ACNS source: All Africa News Agency] The Anglican Church in Botswana has joined a growing list of African Anglican dioceses that have refused to recognise the consecration of the Rt Revd V Gene Robinson as Bishop-Coadjutor of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the United States, because of his sexual orientation. Bishop Robinson entered the history books last month when he was consecrated as the first openly gay bishop.

The Rt Revd Theophilus Naledi, Bishop of Botswana, has said that his diocese does not recognise the consecration of Gene Robinson. “The Anglicans in Botswana believe that the only valid marriage is between a man and a woman, and that is what the Bible teaches,” he said. “We do not condone any other sexual relationship or form of marriage that does not involve a man and a woman.”

He added that Anglicans in Botswana believe that sexual relationships between same sexes are “ungodly, unnatural, unbiblical and not in conformity with the Church’s teachings on the subject of marriages”.

“We do not accept the practise of homosexuality and that bishop [Robinson]. We do not recognise him as a bishop, and we would not allow him to minister in our church,” Bishop Naledi said.

The Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Central Africa, the Most Revd Bernard Malango, has also made it clear to the Diocese of New Hampshire that his province does not recognise Gene Robinson, and will have no ties with him or his diocese. Archbishop Malango presides over Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

From an article by Rodrick Mukumbira