Kampala — PRO-GAY bishops must apologise and renounce their support for sexual perversion in order to reunite the Church. The Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Luke Orombi, made the appeal on Wednesday, while addressing journalists at the provincial headquarters in Namirembe, Kampala.

He was announcing the departure of a team of Church of Uganda bishops to the Anglican Communion scheduled for June 22-29 in Jerusalem.

According to Orombi, conservative Christians worldwide, who believe in the Bible, will meet in Jerusalem to "prepare for an Anglican future in which the gospel is uncompromised and a Christ-centred mission is a top priority."

There was need to understand the identity of Christians and create opportunity for fellowship and networking, Orombi added.

"The rift in the Church can only be bridged if the liberal bishops, espousing sexual perversion, repent and return to Christ's teachings."

Over 1,000 bishops are boycotting the Lambeth conference, the highest doctrine and policy setting assembly of the Anglican Church, in protest over the invitation of pro-gay bishops. The meeting is slated for August in Westminster, the UK.

"We do not want to pretend over very serious issues. Our not going to Lambeth is a statement. If we went there, we would be doing much more damage to the Church," Orombi observed.

The archbishop added that the two sides had been in dialogue, but as long as the issues that split them were not resolved, the meeting would be a waste of time.

"For us to come back together, it will take repentance and for them to abide by the Lambeth Resolution 10 of 1998 on sexuality," Orombi said.

"The resolution states that the Anglican Communion upholds the Biblical view on sexuality, but when these people went back to the US, they decided to disown it and do their own things."

Jesus, he pointed out, was very clear on divorce. "He says divorce is because of the hardness of your hearts. The Bible completely forbids same- sex unions."

The sharp rift started when an American bishop, Gene Robinson, divorced his wife and took on a male partner. The Episcopal Church consecrated him in 2003.

The Church in Uganda was not shutting out gays, but believes that they can change, the archbishop explained. "We believe in the transforming power of Jesus and that homosexuals can change."

Besides, there were other issues dividing the Church, Orombi stated, citing the assertion that Jesus was not the only way to God and His birth was not of a virgin nature.