UGANDA TO ROSKAM – THANKS BUT NO THANKS

Special Report

By David W. Virtue

The Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Orombi, has written a letter to the Suffragan Bishop of New York, the Rt. Rev. Cathy S. Roskam, telling her that the money she is raising for clergy wives’ training in Uganda is not welcome. The Church of Uganda will not receive it because of the Episcopal Church’s stand on same-sex blessings.

“I am writing to make it very clear to you that the Church of Uganda (Anglican) has not changed her stand on the recent events in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA) and all those who support them,” wrote Rev. Canon Stanley Ntagali, Provincial Secretary for the Ugandan archbishop.

Roskam had written to all the clergy wives in her diocese asking them to contribute financially to The Global Women’s Fund of the Diocese of New York to educate clergy wives in Uganda. “The total cost of the project is $40,000, but with just $5,000 we can start the first phase, while we look to broaden the base of our support. Your donation can help make this possible.”

She added, “Educate a priest’s wife in Uganda and you educate a community. That’s an awfully good return on our dollars!”

But the archbishop wrote back, saying that in light of The Episcopal Church’s stance on homosexuality—specifically same-sex blessings—he would not accept the money.

“I am sure that Bishop Roskam, you are motivated by genuine concern for the difficult circumstances that pastors’ wives experience in Uganda. That is not a bad thing, but the situation is overshadowed by your support for the same-sex agenda of ECUSA. That agenda is so wrong, so very wrong, that it is endangering people’s souls and separating them from Christ,” said the archbishop.

“As the Church of Uganda, we cannot overlook such a crisis for the passing comfort that money can bring. As we have made it clear and loud to the international community on many occasions, we are dealing with eternity here, and souls of innocent people are at great risk.”

“Therefore, I want to say it with sadness and deep regret that we cannot receive any financial support from you and your diocese. To do so would not only contradict the stand of our Province but it would also imply that we are willing to accept what you have come to believe and accept to be brought into the Church of Christ. The Bible is very clear that same-sex behavior separates people from Jesus Christ. The Church of Uganda can never participate in that, no matter how costly it is.”