African-American pastors’ Africa tour seeks end to anti-gay bias

Excerpt from the Equal Eyes recap of worldwide LGBTI-related news:

US: Black pastors launch African tour to counteract Rick Warren’s anti-gay movement
Spearheaded by The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Bishop Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder and Bishop-Elect Pastor Joseph Tolton, the organization’s international outreach ministry has launched a month-long tour of key African nations where LGBTI communities continue to experience extreme discrimination and persecution. These countries include: Uganda, Rwanda, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya.

Until April 30, 2015, Pastor Tolton will be on the ground working to provide an uplifting alternate Christian narrative. The message advocates for inclusion, economic justice and the reconciliation of all people of African descent globally.

“As black gay Christians who identify with Pentecostal worship and as people of social justice, we are countering the work of conservative, mostly white American evangelicals who are doubling down on their attempt of spiritual colonization of Africa,” said Pastor Joseph Tolton.

Excerpt from the Nathan Hale Williams blog and the tour’s press release:

The mission of the tour is to:

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• Bring global attention to these human rights issues in Africa;
• Support affirming African organizations and local movements; and
• Promote governmental policies and the policies of organized religious structures that support LGBTI dignity, inclusion, and justice.

A variety of certified academic trainings, worship events and economic development opportunities will be made available.

One of the tour’s primary goals is to clearly articulate the inextricable link between the global agenda of US conservative Christians like Rick Warren, the future of Christianity, and the fate of LGBTI people in Africa. “The future of Christianity is not Europe or North America, but Africa, Asia, and Latin America,” said Pastor Rick Warren. Africa is ground zero for the Christian evangelical right-wing movement. Under the veil of economic development, Rick Warren is also planning a conference in Rwanda that sells a dangerous theology. This anti-gay propaganda has spawned the passage of anti-gay legislation across Africa and notably in Nigeria, Uganda and Gambia.

For more information, read the full article/press release in the Nathan Hale Williams blog: “Black pastors launch African tour to counteract Rick Warren’s anti-gay movement.”

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