January 2003

Dear Archbishop Akinola,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My name is Mario Bergner and I am an Anglican Priest serving under the leadership of Bishop Keith Ackerman of the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy in Illinois.

Nearly twenty years ago, Jesus delivered me from a life of homosexual immorality through the Good News of Jesus Christ. It was a long and hard road, but eventually by His grace and mercy He changed me. Then, the Lord brought to me a wonderful wife, Nancy. Today, I devote my time to being a father to our four children and proclaiming the message of sexual redemption in Jesus Christ.

There has been much debate in our beloved Anglican Communion about homosexuality in the last thirty years. In the midst of this debate, the redemptive message of the Gospel to deliver people from homosexual attraction has been largely ignored. Much of the current debate assumes that "homosexual orientation" is a predetermined internal map that dictates same-sex attraction. But there has been absolutely no evidence that proves this.

There is plenty of evidence that homosexual attraction can be changed. To better equip you in understanding this, I have included in this package two resources: Dr. Jeffrey Satinover's book, "Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth." This book is perhaps the definitive resource that addresses homosexuality from a scientific viewpoint and provides the scientific evidence that shows homosexuality can be changed. I would draw your attention to pages 186-187.

My book, "Setting Love In Order," shows how the Gospel of Jesus Christ and effective pastoral care can deliver someone from homosexuality. Most importantly, the Holy Scriptures tells us there were people in the early Church who were redeemed from homosexuality. This is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. There, St. Paul lists various expressions of sexual immorality and concludes with the redemption exclamation, "...and such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Thank you for reading this letter and for your godly leadership in the Anglican Communion.

Respectfully Submitted,

Rev. Mario Bergner

February 2003

Dear Rev. Bergner,

I can never thank you enough for the precious gifts of your most timely letter and books. The message is as revealing as it is liberating. I shall endeavor not only to read the books but also pass them on to my colleagues.

The position of the Church of Nigeria on the sexuality agenda of the "West" is well known. Your message to us at this time has further reinforced our position that the society does not have to pull the Church by the nose. We have a duty to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all.

The most interesting phenomenon of the Gospel is that it has power to liberate any situation and any condition. It has indeed transformed cultures, it has transformed governments; it has certainly transformed millions and billions of people in God's world.

So once again, please accept my grateful thanks for your invaluable gifts to us and to humanity.

The Lord be with you.

Sincerely,

The Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola DD