A peaceful demonstration will take place today at the United Methodist Church (UMC) Head Office in Milton Park, Harare.
Organized by concerned church members, the gathering aims to denounce the church’s recent acceptance of homosexuality.
“We are organizing this event to urge the church to return to its scriptural teachings,” said James Kawadza, Chairperson of Voice of the Laity Advocacy, a caucus within the UMC.
“We believe that accepting homosexuality goes against the Bible and compromises our faith”, he went on.
Participants will display placards and make a press statement expressing their views. They argue that the Bible explicitly condemns homosexuality, citing verses such as Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26-27. The group believes that this acceptance will lead to significant consequences for the denomination.
“This means that people will leave the denomination, and those that remain will do so for money or because they are liberal,” Kawadza added.
The demonstration also addresses broader concerns within Zimbabwe and the global Christian community about LGBTQ+ acceptance. Zimbabwean law currently prohibits same-sex marriages and relationships, aligning with the organizers’ stance.
“The country does not permit homosexuality,” noted Kawadza.
When asked if one can be both gay and religious and there is a chance for reconciliation, Kawadza responded,
“Only if they are seeking forgiveness and want to stop being gay.”
Kawadza expressed a bleak outlook for the future of the UMC amidst this controversy.
“The future is bleak. Some countries in Africa have already voted to leave. Just yesterday, Ivory Coast joined Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia in leaving. People will seek recourse in the courts because of country law violations, and others will leave the church.”
Kawadza also commented on the potential impact of the demonstration.
“If our objectives are not met, we will continue to advocate for scriptural adherence. We will not stop until the church realigns with traditional biblical teachings,” he said.
Authorities have noted the demonstration and emphasized the need for it to remain peaceful and lawful.
“We expect all participants to respect Zimbabwean laws and cooperate with police,” said a police representative.
The outcome of this demonstration could impact the UMC’s future direction and unity, as organizers hope to prompt church leaders to reconsider their stance. Stay tuned for further updates.
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