Nairobi — Retired Kenyan Anglican Archbishop, Rt Rev Dr. David Gitari, has advised Anglican faithful to desist from preoccupying themselves "too much" with the raging homosexuality debate "as there are many things to tackle, including evangelism and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

In an exclusive interview with AANA, Gitari expressed support to the stance taken by the Kenyan clergy over the issue, stating that "appointing gay priests, deacons or allowing same sex marriages cannot be condoned in Africa, since the Bible does not encourage such".

He, however, expressed the opinion that there was no need to sever links with the Episcopal Church of United States of America (ECUSA) for having appointed a gay bishop, as some Provinces have already done, unless it was clear that "assistance from them had attached strings of homosexuality".

He regretted the decision taken by ECUSA to ordain Rev Canon Gene Robinson, a homosexual, as bishop, but pointed out that the action was not a Communion decision, but one done at Province level.

Gitari explained: "The Lambeth Conference resolutions are not binding to the provinces, for it is up to the provinces to discuss further and implement what they deem fit for them. Probably, the American church (ECUSA) had discussed this for many years, and had decided that gay bishops are better for them."

Rt. Rev Gitari was among the bishops present at the 1998 Lambeth Conference that proscribed ordination of gay priests.

Asked about his views on the scheduled October meeting of bishops called by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to discuss the ongoing homosexuality conflict, the retired archbishop said the intended meeting will have no impact on the African Church.

According to him, homosexual priests "had been rejected a long time ago and should not resurface again".