Bishops and Elders Council Condemns Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Part of the vision of Lutherans Concerned/North America is to work for wholeness in the lives of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. To that end, LC/NA leaders gather with faith-based groups who share our mission in working for the acceptance and full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities among our global and ecumenical partners.

One such group is the Bishops and Elders Council, which is convened by the Institute for Welcoming Resources, a program of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The Bishops and Elders Council, including our own Ross Murray, gathered in Washington D.C. today and yesterday to meet with White House representatives and to hold a press conference decrying the upcoming Anti-Homosexuality Bill making its way through the Ugandan legislature. (See YouTube video of the event here.)

If passed, this bill would make same-gender relationships a capital crime in Uganda. It would even make mere failure to report known homosexuals a crime punishable by seven years in prison. (See our previous reports related to this draconian bill here, here, and here.)

Because certain leaders of the Religious Right in the United States have been linked to the Ugandan legislation (see here), the Bishops and Elders Council feel it’s particularly important that U.S. Christians send the message that bigotry, discrimination, hatred, violence and prejudice find no home in any religion worthy of the name. The Council believes that continued oppression of LGBT persons cannot be supported by any who hold sacred the central tenets of Christianity, calling on them in calling on all followers of Christ Risen to oppose the false use of scripture and doctrine against LGBT persons. Our national exports should be respect and understanding, not judgmentalism and fear.