Homophobia and the Rhetoric of Numbers

By Sybille Ngo Nyeck

The election and consecration of V. Gene Robinson as the new Bishop of New Hampshire is having effects around the church. The reactions within the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) have been mixed, and within the worldwide Anglican Communion threats of schism are being considered. Some parts of the Communion are deeply disappointed at ECUSA for appointing a non-celibate but faithful homosexual as a bishop. Church spokespersons in Africa, although not alone in their defensive opposition, are somehow being portrayed as the most homophobic of the protesters.

I don’t believe there will be a day where everyone will agree on the issue of sexuality. And I’m really worried about how this disagreement is creating animosity within our spiritual community.

As a social framework, I’m delighted in the openness of the Anglican Communion and its freedom and respect for its members. Unlike other Christian spiritual communions, ours is less dictatorial… Thank God for this decentralized church that gives voice to bishops in Africa as no other church does.

The Anglican Communion is dear to me as a family, in both a spiritually challenging sense and a democratic context. The spirit of Anglicanism is not static but progressive. My understanding of Anglicanism is that it is a community of believers constantly challenged by the call of Christ to stand as a living body in the world with respect to the dynamic spirit of gospel. As a social framework, I’m delighted in the openness of the Anglican Communion and its freedom and respect for its members. Unlike other Christian spiritual communions, ours is less dictatorial, in the sense that each province is autonomous and only bound to the rest by love and prayers. Thank God for this decentralized church that gives voice to bishops in Africa as no other church does.

Decisions that are made within a province [a geographic region of the worldwide church, often a national boundary], in accordance with its own constitution, are expected to be respected by other provinces without interference. On this basis I think of any attempt to interfere with provincial sovereignty as inappropriate. I believe some people voted for Gene Robinson not merely as "pro-gay" or "pro-lesbian" but to defend the order within the Communion. They voted to honor the decision made by the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.

Gene Robinson has been consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire despite both opposition and support from different parts of the Communion. I do want to say that as an African, I "understand" the African bishops’ concerns and protestations, even though I disagree with their understanding of homosexuality, which has led to overreaction on this issue.

I admit that the consecration of Gene Robinson as a bishop is a source of embarrassment — especially for clergy and the populations in Africa who for decades were told by "civilizing missionaries" that homosexuality is one of the most devilish perversions. The new technologies of communication make it harder for anyone in the church to keep information to himself. Church members in Africa need some answers from their leaders; but their leaders have none, except selective quotations from the Bible.

The recent developments in the western world with regards to human sexuality and theology differ from African church history. The church is Africa is dealing with numerous problems, such as illiteracy, poverty, HIV/AIDS, wars, tribalism, etc… The AIDS pandemic is pushing the church to confront sexuality in a new way. Some argue that the church in Africa is much more involved in fighting poverty and that homosexual issues are not the priority.

I would like to argue that homophobia is not poverty-bound nor wealth-related but has more to do with cultural beliefs and arrangements. The hateful messages from some African church leaders are based, as they say, on "What they believe is the truth about God and his perfect will." The election and the consecration of an honest, openly gay man was, before November 2nd of this year, unprecedented, and the reactions that have come from Africa are proverbial.

Behind the Words

I believe that the Most Rev. Peter Akinola [the primate, or leader, of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, and a vociferous critic of homosexuality] is not a fool. He is fully aware of the independence of each diocese within the Anglican Communion. His virulent opposition to Gene Robinson’s consecration to me suggests two things.

Archbishop Akinola is speaking both to gays and lesbians within the U.S. Episcopal Church and to those living in his province and country… In sum, what I heard from Akinola is: "We don’t want gays and lesbians here, and we don’t want then anywhere."

First, I see an attempt to prevent an insurrection from inside the church. Archbishop Akinola is speaking both to gays and lesbians within the U.S. Episcopal Church and to those living in his province and country (as the elected chairperson of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN], an ecumenical organization based in Kaduna). As the chairman of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA), his statements are supposed to be condoned as the "African view on homosexuality." In sum, what I heard from Akinola is: "We don’t want gays and lesbians here, and we don’t want then anywhere."

Homosexuals: Less than Pigs and Dogs

At the same time, the victimization of gays and lesbians in Africa is already quite effective through the use of abusive language, such as calling them pigs and dogs.

A friend of mine visited Kenya in 1995. She saw a sign hanging that said "Chiens méchants" ("dangerous dogs"). She thought that all dogs in the country were called the same name until she was told that the signboard is not about their names but their character.

Dogs in the Kenya are only useful for security reasons. Bad dogs are kept inside to keep bad people outside. The same reality is found in Cameroon where the function of dogs has evolved from that of a protector of the food supply (a hunting companion in traditional societies) to protector of wealth (hunting for humans).

To call someone a "dog" in some African tribes is to compare his character to that of a dog. Among the Bassa people of Cameroon, those who are unfaithful to their marital or societal duties are usually called dogs… In the Gospel stories, the Gentiles are called dogs: those who are not invited to sit at the table but sometimes are given the crumbs.

To call somebody a "dog" in some African tribes is to compare his character to that of a dog. Among the Bassa people of Cameroon, those who are unfaithful to their marital or societal duties are usually called dogs. They believe the spirit of the dog is that of instability.

In the Gospel stories, the Gentiles are called dogs: those who are not invited to sit at the table but sometimes are given the crumbs.

In the French language, to call somebody "chien" (dog) is the equivalent of "enculé" (sexually passive).

The image of pigs in Africa is that of an animal that eats everything. Pigs are fat, usually dirty, and their snouts are never at rest. In the collective conscience, pigs are considered disease carriers. The image of pigs is that of everything aesthetically repugnant — something that does not fit into the social framework of accepted beauty or sanity.

Further, those who talk about unfaithfulness, insatiability; infection and diseases think of the Devil. "The Devil has entered the church‚" said the Most Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi, Archbishop of Kenya [in referring to Gene Robinson’s consecration].

In a social and political context of underground guerrillas and monstrous rebels who are as equally guilty as the powers and governments they’re denouncing, I’m afraid that the church in Africa may not be safe from spouting belligerent zeal.

Behind the Numbers

The U.S. Episcopal Church is being accused of unilateralism and arrogance. A statement signed by Archbishop Akinola on behalf of several primates of the global south is clear: "The overwhelming majority of the primates of the Global South cannot and will not recognize the office or ministry of Canon Gene Robinson as a bishop."

What does such a numerical headcount stand for? Might doesn’t always make right, nor do numbers. The Book of Numbers in the Bible is indeed important, but it is also appalling, in the sense that the great numbers of people were voiceless. They kept craving and murmuring because the power of the clergy was heavy over them.

How much are women, celibate people, youth, widows, the poor, and albinos represented in the church in Africa? Is not real greatness in the sharing of power? The greatness of the Gospel is in the belief that the Holy Spirit is willing to break through the "camps" of our "traditional procedures." This is the true meaning of Gene Robinson’s consecration.

Sybille Ngo Nyeck is a regular contributor to A Globe of Witnesses. Her online column is Colors of Conscience. Sybille can be emailed at sybeck77@yahoo.fr