Changing the narrative of sexuality in African Christianity: Bishop Christopher Senyonjo’s LGBT advocacy

ABSTRACT

This introduction to the special section dedicated to Bishop Christopher Senyonjo puts his ministry in the wider context of contemporary African Christianity, in particular African Christian politics of homosexuality and LGBT rights.

KEYWORDS:

• LGBT rights
• homosexuality
• Christianity
• Africa
• Bishop Senyonjo

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Adriaan van Klinken is Professor of Religion and African Studies at the University of Leeds.

Notes

1 For a broader discussion of this development, see van Klinken, “Christianity and Same-sex Relationships in Africa”.

2 See Hoad, “Neoliberalism, Homosexuality, Africa”; Rubenstein, “An Anglican Crisis of Comparison”; Vanderbeck et al, “Sexuality, Activism, and Witness”; Ward, “Same-sex Relations in Africa”. For accounts on the wider crisis over homosexuality in the Anglican Communion, and the role of African churches, see Hassett, Anglican Communion in Crisis; Sachs, Homosexuality and the Crisis of Anglicanism.

3 See, for instance, the various case studies in Chitando and van Klinken, Christianity and Controversies over Homosexuality; Bompani and Valois, Christian Citizens and the Moral Regeneration of the African State.

4 Ward, “Religious Institutions and Actors”.

5 Awondo, “Religious Leadership and the Re-Politicisation of Gender and Sexuality”. Also see Alava, “Homosexuality, the Holy Family and a Failed Mass Wedding”.

6 Kaoma, Christianity, Globalization, and Protective Homophobia.

7 See van Klinken and Chitando, Public Religion and the Politics of Homosexuality in Africa.

8 Walls, The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History, 119.

9 Reid, Above the Skyline; van Klinken and Phiri: “In the Image of God”.

10 Macaulay, “Just as I Am, without One Plea”; van Klinken, “Culture Wars, Race and Sexuality”.

11 van Klinken, Kenyan, Christian, Queer.

12 Bongmba, “Homosexuality, Ubuntu, and Otherness”; Mombo, “Kenya Reflections”.

13 Chitando and Mapuranga, “Unlikely Allies?”

14 Mills, The World's Worst Place to Be Gay?

15 Senyonjo, In Defense of All God’s Children.

16 Jones, “Foreword,” v–vi.

17 For instance, see Hinga, African, Christian, Feminist; Katongole, A Future for Africa; Orobator, From Crisis to Kairos.