The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has reiterated its stance on the non-acceptance of homosexuality.
The Primate of All Nigeria, Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, reaffirmed the position in a statement, yesterday.
His position was a reaction to a public communication by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
In a lengthy statement on Sexual and Identity, ACNA College of Bishops seemed to recognize same-sex bond.
The clerics said they were not seeking to win a debate, but desire to proceed cautiously and build the greatest degree of unity possible among biblically faithful Christians.
The bishops added that they have a responsibility to serve both the church of today and the generations to come.
“We are very aware of believers who experience profound same-sex attraction. We understand that our youth and adults need language to share their experience. We commend the usage of ‘Christians who experience same-sex attraction’.
“We want to communicate our love for the many within the church who live with same-sex attraction. We understand that not everyone will agree with our conclusions. We pray that many will recognize our commitment to biblical orthodoxy and our loving pastoral concern for the people of God.”
The bishops deferred to diocesan bishops to discern same-sex matters within their own diocesan communities and ministries.
The Anglican leader in Nigeria called for sanctions against the bishops, priests and laity in ACNA Province who signed the letter.
Ndukuba said the letter had brought the church to ridicule on biblical teachings about Christian marriage and human sexuality.
The bishop noted that the ACNA statement was similar to the action by The Episcopal Church (TEC) before if fully endorsed same-sex unions, including among ordained clergy.
Ndukuba thanked Archbishop Foley Beach’s intervention “by which the offensive gay Anglican letter was removed from the web”.
