'Timid, mute and limping', can Anglican Church of Kenya fight social ills?

In this interactive series, we invite our readers to send in questions to selected public figures. Answers will be published in the next print and online editions. This week, Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit of the Anglican Church of Kenya answers your questions.

1. Even before the dust settles after the last divisive General Election, our political leaders are at it again, confusing Kenyans with 2022 succession debate. Worse still, some of these campaigns are carried out in churches, with the clergy according them standing ovations. Kenyans are currently bedevilled by myriad challenges, ranging from devastating floods, high cost of living, to university lecturers strike. How can the church, and especially the clergy like yourself, redirect Kenyans to the right path? Komen Moris, Eldoret

It is sad and unfortunate that in Kenya we don’t conclude elections. Soon after voting, the focus is on the next elections. This is because we do not have strong political parties based on ideologies that people can identify with. The rush is to form new outfits that should be popularised before the next elections. There is also mistrust among the political players, which makes them begin campaigns early enough to know who is with them. The church is the place to go to, because there is a gathered crowd. They come in as worshippers... and they are. The church cannot lock out anyone. What we need to control is who to speak. It normally begins in a simple way when one is given a chance to greet the church, just like any other visitor.

2. Comparing the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) under the leadership of fiery clerics like Alexander Muge, Henry Okullu, David Gitari and Benjamin Nzimbi — who fearlessly questioned the excesses of government, what do you say to the claims that the church leadership nowadays is timid and divided along political lines, making it difficult to question the excesses of government? Andrew Maranga Ratemo, Malindi

The church has not changed. We continue to provide leadership, but the operating context has changed. During former President Daniel arap Moi’s tenure, the only available voice was that of the church; it was all that you could hear then. But now, the democratic space has changed and there are many voices out there so people choose what they want to hear. The media also chooses who to give space.

3. What is the stand of the ACK on Kenya’s burgeoning national debt? Githuku Mungai, Nairobi

The Bible encourages work and advises people and nations to live within their means, avoiding debt where necessary. The public debt has gone very high in the name of syndicated loans for development. But the said development should increase productivity and economic growth to enable the country to repay the loans. ACK’s stand is: Let us not overshoot the allowable loan ceiling, otherwise we will not be developing but merely repaying loans. Let us not borrow for recurrent expenditure; let us borrow for building businesses and entrepreneurship.

4. Prior to your election as the leader of ACK, there were wide divisions within the ranks of bishops on who should take over the leadership. Eventually they elected you. What are you are doing to unite the various factions and avoid further divisions which threatened the unity of the church? Do you believe the system used by the Anglican Church in Kenya to elect its Archbishop is the best? Solomon Gatobu, Maua

ACK was not divided by the last Archbishop’s elections. We work closely will all those whom we competed with and I have visited every region of Kenya in my pastoral ministry.

5. You are on record advocating for social justice, political tolerance and political, social and economic inclusivity. What is your take on the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga? Kosiom ole Kibele

As regards the handshake, let it not be for personal political gain but an opportunity to unite the country and address socio-economic inequalities, as well as inclusivity in all aspects of public life.

6. Some members of the clergy from parts of Central region, who are under your jurisdiction, have been accused by the Kikuyu Council of Elders of preaching against some cultural aspects that the council stands for, terming them backward and unchristian. Where do you stand on this, considering that your come from a community that is culturally rooted? David M. Kigo, Nairobi

I am not aware of what is happening in those parts of Central Kenya involving the Kikuyu Council of Elders and what the clergy has preached against. Therefore, I cannot comment. But at all times the church has to be distinct from that which does not agree with the Bible.

7. The worldwide Anglican community has recently been divided on the issue of gay clerics. On this, Kenya and Nigeria have been vocal in opposing appointment of gay people to leadership positions within the church, or recognising homosexual unions. But homosexuality is a reality in society. Recalling Jesus’ teachings that he does not discriminate between Jews and Gentiles, or between the circumcised and the uncircumcised, but rather on the respective groups’ acceptance of His teachings, how, in your view, should the church in Kenya deal with those whose sexual orientation is towards same-sex unions, without discriminating them? J. Ombuor, Nakuru

It is true that the Anglican Communion has different positions on same-sex marriage. As for the ACK, marriage is a lifelong union between a male and a female, and not between people of the same sex. On discrimination, Jesus preached and reached out to everyone, but did not participate in sin or doing what people were doing. He was calling them out of it. When he forgave sin he told them to go and sin no more. The church has a mission to all but it will not participate in doing what it is telling people to leave. So, blessing or ordaining people who are practising same-sex unions in the church is making the church participate in what it is telling people to come out of.

8. For far too long, the church has been accused of being in bed with the government of the day. In fact, some claim that the voice of the church in so far as governance and offering direction was last heard before former President Moi left. Since then, they say, the voice drowned, with the church losing its influence and becoming reactionary. What do you have to say to this and what can the church do to reclaim its place in an ethnically divided society such as ours? Beatrice Nyarombo, Miwani

The church is not in bed with the government or the opposition. We are the church and we will continue to give guidance where needed. The church is active now, only that it is not the only voice. Also, it is not given as much attention as before.

9. Worldwide, statistics reveal that church attendance has been on the decline, especially among the youth, with people shifting from weekly to monthly, holiday or special occasion attendances. How has it been like for ACK and what are you doing about it? Japheth Murimi, Kabete

It is true that church attendance has declined, but the church is on a mission. We are increasing in evangelism and also exploring new ways of engaging in the mission, such as use of technology and social media because that is where people are today.

10. After the divisive elections of 2017, when young men and children in opposition zones were killed by State security agencies, the church, particularly ACK, was unusually quiet except when prompted by journalists. That was odd and disconcerting. Those of us who lived in the era of bishops Henry Okullu and Alexander Muge are asking: Where is the ACK of olden days? What has made you lose your voice and influence in society? Otieno Ojwang’, Ahero

We did raise our voice against excessive use of force in opposition zones and we now call upon those working on the “handshake” not to forget the people who suffered in the last elections for possible compensation and that justice be done to their families, especially those who lost their loved ones.

11. While it is commendable that ACK has a disability ministry, it is unfortunate that the church has very few people with disabilities as clergy or holding other leadership positions. Why is this, and what is the church doing about it? Stephen Oluoch, Kisumu

The job of clergy is a calling. There is nowhere one has expressed that calling and has been rejected because of disability. I urge all those who feel the call to come forward. Church ministry cannot happen by affirmative action because it is a calling.

12. The once-in-a-decade assembly of bishops of the Anglican Communion, the Lambeth Conference, will be held some time in 2020, two years after it would have taken place, amid internal divisions. What are your expectations from the conference? Do you see the conference healing the divisions within the global church, mainly on consecration of same-sex church leaders? Charles Waikwa, Kikuyu

Yes the conference will attempt to heal divisions but there is no guarantee that the issue of human sexuality will be resolved. However, the mission of the church is more than human sexuality. There are many other areas of mission awaiting the church’s attention. I hope we will arrive at a position that will move the church forward. 

13. You anchored your tenure on youth evangelism. As Christians and believers, the society lacks value systems, and that is why it is in decay. How successful is this endeavour? And how can we, mentors from our congregations, help in building the church on this foundation? Joseph Mungoma, Nairobi

It is true my focus is on children and the youth, for they form the majority of the population in Kenya today. In our focus on them, the real mission is to the adults: parents, teachers, clergy and leaders in whose hands the children are today. If we get it right — with parents raising their children rightly, the church programmes identifying good values for them, the schools and leaders passing on the right values — we shall have better children, youth and society.

14. The March 9 truce between President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga opened a new chapter on political engagement between the two sides of the political divide. The ceasefire has come with the clamour to amend the Constitution. What is the church’s stand on this clamour? Kamau Beka, Mumias

Discussions about changing the Constitution should not be a closed chapter. We need to continue improving on it to address our needs. However, it should not be driven by politicians to meet their political demands. It should be driven by what is not working. We passed the current Constitution saying some 20 per cent is wrong. If we have identified that and feel it is time to correct it, let us go ahead with it. If it is for socio-economic growth and addressing inequalities or exclusions, so be it. It should be driven solely by the needs of the majority.