We the Diocesan Bishops of the Anglican Province of Rwanda, having read with great care the following documents on the question of Homosexuality:

The Kuala Lumpur Statement of 19/20 February 1997
The Dallas Statement of 20/24 September 1997
The correspondence between Bishop John Spong and the Archbishop of Canterbury between November 12th and 26th 1997, and other related documents, agreed the following Statement at a meeting of all the Bishops of the Province on 31st January 1998.

We agree with the Statements made at Kuala Lumpur on 19/20 February 1997 and the Dallas Statement of 20/24 September 1997.

We confess our commitment and faith in the Lordship of Our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour in His divine and human nature.

We believe in the Holy Bible as the active and authoritative Word of God

We believe and treasure our Anglican tradition which characterized the continuity of the Church life and its leadership.

We are convinced that homosexuality and lesbianism are clearly a deviation from the natural norm and divine order and those who practice homosexuality and lesbianism are in sin (Romans 1:24-27).

We will strive to use all our gifts, as a caring church, to carry out our pastoral role to all our people. For all who have deviated from God's laws, there is free and full forgiveness and freedom from their old captivity because of the Resurrection power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

We know that some Westerners have introduced homosexual practices in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, but we, as Africans, repudiate the practice and do not wish it to be seen in our Province. We want to promote stable, monogamous marriage between a man and a woman within the love of God, "for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health until death us do part".

Signed 31st January 1998

The Most Revd Emmanuel Mbona Kolini
The Right Revd Onesphore Rwaje
The Right Revd Venuste Mutiganda
The Right Revd Alexis Bilindabagabo
The Right Revd Kenneth L. Barham
The Right Revd John Rucyahana
The Right Revd Jared Kalimba
The Right Revd Prudence Ngarambe

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