 SHUNNED Prominent African church leader offended by PCUSA By Parker T. Williamson The Layman Volume 37, Number 3 Posted July 2004
Githii ran his fingers across a tombstone beside Richmond’s historic St. John’s church. Scanning the heavily weathered facade, he delicately traced an almost obliterated etching, as if to touch the spirit of a brother long departed. Githii does not worship ancestors like some of his fellow Kenyans, but he has a special feel for those who preceded him. Like the prophet Isaiah, he knows the stone from which he was hewn. The African leader paused before the St. John’s Church pulpit where Patrick Henry declared, “Give me liberty or give me death!” “You and I have something in common,” he said to an American companion. “Our countries were once British colonies.” A colonial heritage Githii remembers his nation’s struggle for independence. Accused of being a Mau Mau terrorist, his father was imprisoned by British colonial rulers for seven years. That incarceration forced a delay in young Githii’s education. But when his father’s shackles were removed, the boy made up for lost time. With a growing sense that God was preparing him for some great destiny, he ripped through Kirangari High School, Thogoto Teachers College and St. Paul’s United Theological College where he obtained a bachelor of divinity degree. Then on to the United States where he earned a masters’ degree in religion from the University of Dubuque and a doctorate in Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Since 1983, Githii, an author and scholar, has served various branches of the burgeoning Presbyterian Church of East Africa. He has been a parish minister, university lecturer and now is in his second year as moderator of a church that is nearly twice the size of the Presbyterian Church (USA). No fanfares So when this prominent African leader arrived in Richmond, why were there no fanfares? Speaking for the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Githii has declared in no uncertain terms that his church’s relationship with Presbyterian Church (USA) leaders who bless homosexual behavior is precarious. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa severed its mission partnership with National Capital Presbytery this spring when it learned that National Capital was promoting the ordination of persons who engage in sexual relations outside of marriage. “How can they bless what God has called sin?” he asks. “The Bible does not allow this. My people will not accept it.” Githii says that Presbyterians in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are utterly baffled that Presbyterians in the United States are even discussing same gender sex. “It is unnatural. We don’t even have a word for that in our language,” he said. “When your missionaries came to our land, they brought us God’s Word and told us it is true. Have you forgotten God’s Word? Do you no longer believe it?” Confronted by colonialism Particularly egregious for Dr. Githii and his people were the remarks of Susan Andrews, moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), when she learned that the East Africans had broken ties with National Capital Presbytery. “They are kind of in their adolescence/young-adult stage of moving out into their own independence, yet still figuring out how to be in relationship with us as their parent church,” she said. Andrews’ statement was reminiscent of comments made by Bishop John Spong after African Anglicans overwhelmingly condemned homosexual behavior in Spong’s Episcopal Church (USA). Spong told the press that the African bishops were “limited to their experience,” “susceptible to superstition,” and had only recently “moved out of animism.” “The statement that the Kenyan Presbyterian Church is not mature and is in the ‘adolescent stage’ in its growth is a big insult to us from the African perspective,” Githii told The Layman. “It just reminds us of the colonial mentality that enslaved us for 70 years. Under colonial rule, even in the church, we Africans were not given a chance to take leadership positions because we were regarded as ‘not yet mature Christians.’” “Surprisingly,” Githii continued, “it is when the Africans got the leadership positions that the church gained a momentum of rapid growth which today doubles the membership of the Presbyterian Church (USA). If we judge church maturity by the numbers of persons [that we are reaching with the Gospel] and the rate of growth, then how do we judge which [group of] church leaders is more mature in the faith?”
In a question and answer period preceding the stated clerk election, candidate Rus Howard noted the shun that had been imposed on Githii. From the podium, Howard turned to the African leader and offered apologies on behalf of many Presbyterians who have been moved by the East African witness. Howard then asked Githii to stand and be welcomed. A wave of applause rolled across the room. During a recess following the stated clerk election, former moderator Susan Andrews approached Githii to offer her personal apology, but Githii would have none of it. “You have not only offended me; you have offended my people. Write a letter of repentance to the church of East Africa,” he said. Githii told The Layman that he understands the difference between apologies and repentance. Commenting on the nuances of statements like “I’m sorry you feel offended,” Githii stood firm: “We are saying that we cannot be in partnership unless there is true repentance.” Only an admission of guilt and promise to amend one’s life will suffice for this man who has been schooled in the Word of God and knows the difference between politics and piety. Part of Githii’s difficulty in accepting Andrews’ ‘apology’ arose from the fact that he had just heard her preach a sermon to the General Assembly in which she promoted homosexual relations. In the outgoing moderator’s sermon, she spoke of a ‘family’ consisting of two homosexuals who were rearing children. The fact that she drew an equivalence between a same-sex relationship and a heterosexual family infuriated Githii. “That was not a sermon,” he said. “A sermon comes from Scripture. She did not preach God’s Word.” Exit strategy On Sunday evening, Githii was so discouraged by the shuns and sermon he had experienced during the first weekend of the assembly that he considered leaving the meeting. He called his airline to change plane reservations, only to be told that because he had purchased his tickets in Kenya, they could not be changed. So he settled down for a long week in his Richmond hotel, feeling utterly estranged. It was then that he was befriended by Presbyterians who love God’s Word. On Monday evening, connections were forged that led him to more than 100 Presbyterians who share his sense of estrangement from the Presbyterian Church (USA) infrastructure. Their common commitment to the Lord and their allegiance to his Word had created a powerful bond, and Githii was instantly enveloped into their fellowship. On Tuesday, he attended a worship service sponsored by Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International. As songs of the Spirit rose heavenward, Githii instinctively rotated his hands, palm up, and lifted them. He was invited forward for prayer. As he knelt, scores of Christians laid hands upon him and offered petitions on his behalf. Returning the favor, he prayed that the Presbyterian Church (USA) would return to the faith that its missionaries had once so generously shared with his people. Bribery and benevolence After the General Assembly’s treatment of Githii was made known, Presbyterian bureaucrats fell all over themselves to heal the breach. Jon Chapman, coordinator for Southern and East Africa in the Division of Worldwide Ministries, called together a group of presbytery representatives to “dialogue” with the African leader. But Githii was no more intimidated by their numbers than he has been with the dollars his church might lose for its unwillingness to play games with Louisville. When representatives from National Capital Presbytery arrived for the meeting, he spoke forcefully to them, charging that they had attempted to divide his people. Githii said his executive council is furious with National Capital. Apparently, a delegation from East Africa to National Capital was in the planning stage when the Presbyterian Church of East Africa severed relations with National Capital. The East Africa Council declared that because of the partnership termination, the trip was canceled as well. “We said we will not allow a trip planned by gay Presbyterians that exposes our people to gay couples and deviant living,” Githii told The Layman. But National Capital already had the names of persons who were to have been members of the delegation. So, according to Githii, National Capital contacted the individuals directly and offered them an expense paid trip to the United States. Some accepted the invitation and returned to face the rage of their people for having defied the will of their church. As a disciplinary measure, they were removed from positions of leadership and their membership in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa was suspended. Githii said that when those who made the trip were asked why they did, “They told us that when the Americans offered them an expense-paid trip, they thought it might be their last chance to visit the United States, so they accepted it.” Although his people have been disciplined for violating their church policy, Githii says National Capital Presbytery has the greater guilt. “They went around our [legitimate] governing body,” he said. “They tempted our people with money.” Money matters According to the Presbyterian News Service, almost $300,000 flows from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. That’s a substantial amount of cash for the Africans to forfeit, but Githii says his people are willing to pay that price if their integrity is at stake. “We will not deal with the devil,” he said. As news of this matter spread among evangelical commissioners who gathered in Richmond, several church representatives began to discuss ways to counter-attack pressure that Louisville might apply to their African brothers and sisters. Noting that sessions in the Presbyterian Church (USA) are free to distribute the contributions of their people wherever the Lord leads them, some suggested that they might wish to reopen the discussion of redirecting their General Assembly per-capita contributions toward mission projects in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. One Confessing Church leader told The Layman, “This may be exactly what the Confessing Churches have been seeking. We’re Presbyterians, and we don’t want to withhold money from Presbyterian causes, but we must know that the ministries we support are faithful to the Gospel. Redirecting our contributions to Presbyterian missions in East Africa would meet both criteria. That’s a positive thing that Confessing Churches can do.” Confessing Church Presbyterians in Richmond took up a collection to help Githii with expenses that Louisville would not reimburse, but they seemed eager to do a great deal more. Increasingly, Presbyterians are realizing that overseas partnerships need not depend on denominational headquarters. Now that the Louisville bureaucracy has decided to levy a five percent tax for its handling of restricted gifts, congregations are increasingly likely to establish direct partnerships with churches in faraway lands. In déjà vu reflection of their colonial past – while attending an assembly only minutes away from Richmond’s historic church hill – African and American Presbyterians are again issuing declarations of independence. Partnerships forged in this place will send the Gospel from this land, as well as ensure that it returns to us. |
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