Doug Coe confirms Fellowship Foundation opposition to Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill

UPDATE – 5/13/10: Click here to read more about the interview with Doug Coe and new information regarding the National Prayer Breakfast work.

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Yesterday, I met with Doug Coe, considered by many to be the spiritual leader of the Fellowship Foundation. Organizers of the National Prayer Breakfast which convenes this morning at the Washington Hilton, the Fellowship Foundation has been accused of supporting Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill. All my contacts with the Foundation yesterday were uniform in opposing the specific tenets of the legislation as well as the spirit and intent of the bill.

Mr. Coe told me in the interview that he believes Jesus loves all people regardless of sexual orientation. He and other Fellowship leaders told me that imposing the death penalty and criminalization of homosexuality is contrary to the principles of love and compassion that Jesus taught and lived and upon whose life and teachings the Fellowship is based. Furthermore, the National Prayer Breakfast movement’s mission is to build bridges of understanding between all people, religions and beliefs.

Mr. Coe also confirmed to me that his good friend and associated Bob Hunter is authorized to speak for the Foundation on this issue. Hunter has been outspoken in opposition to the bill. Hunter has a long time relationship with Uganda and has publicly called on David Bahati to withdraw the bill. Yesterday, Hunter was quoted in the New York Times and confirmed to me that “about 30 Family members, all Americans, active in Africa recently conveyed their dismay about the legislation to Ugandan politicians, including Mr. Bahati.”

This opposition seems entirely consistent with the events I attended here yesterday. For instance, the welcome card for the African Breakfast described this “value of a small group”

With the Spirit of Jesus at the center, this ancient idea of gathering together meets a long-felt spiritual need of men and women at all levels of society in our modern world. People find acceptance, understanding, confidence, and hope for the future through a deepening relationship with God and in discovering the secret of true brotherhood with their fellow men and women. The primary goal of a small group is to build trust, fellowship, and closer bonds of friendship through the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

As noted repeatedly by all I talked to here yesterday, including Ugandans present, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is completely inconsistent with this statement.

Click here for all posts on Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

8 thoughts on “Doug Coe confirms Fellowship Foundation opposition to Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill”

  2. “Republican Senator James Inhofe in a rare GOP appearance on The Rachel Maddow Show, last night labeled as “hysterical” international concern over the Uganda “Kill The Gays” bill, while claiming he has never even heard of the three-year old bill and claiming he has never heard of the bill’s sponsor, MP David Bahati, one of the most powerful and the best-known Ugandan lawmakers. Senator Inhofe boasts that he has traveled to Africa, and primarily, to Uganda, almost two dozen times, and met with lawmakers and religious leaders there. A well-respected investigative journalist and popular author who has written two books on the topic says Inhofe is “lying.”

    http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/senator-inhofe-lied-to-rachel-maddow-about-his-knowledge-of-ugandas-kill-the-gays-bill-says-author/politics/2012/03/16/36584

  3. Of course, it seems that Bahati is now saying that members of the Fellowship were very keen on the Bill, or something like it. Of course, an organization can have an ‘official position’ on something, while individuals in that organization can go somewhat ‘off piste’.

    @ David Blakeselee : Yes, we are very much ‘back to Lively’ now, aren’t we!

  4. My previous comment was prompted by Rachel Maddow’s interview with a Senator from Oklahoma today where she brought up this issue with him. I wanted to email this link to her but I couldn’t seem to find an email address to send it to. Please forgive my non capital G in God above .

    Alan Moberg

  5. Some 52 years ago Doug Coe and i were towing some logs for fence rails to Malibu in Princess Louisa Inlet B.C. Canada. I was not quite eighteen years old. I was hired by the Young Life staff to help out in maintenance there for the camps that came in the summer. I was not a Christian, just a local boy with local knowledge. When I saw young first year college kids come on a work camp I was blown away by their freshness and enthusiasm. As might be said in a 12 Step group I wanted what they had and began to pray on my own. it was not long after that that god through Dan Mcbee put Doug in that little boat travelling down the Inlet. We got talking and I told him of my prayers. He said you prob’ly are a Christian. I always remembered he pronounced it that way not probably. This was very affirming to me. Life has not been without some deep valleys for me bit I have never forgotten that time when Doug was so kind to me and helped me in my acceptance of Christ into my life. Blessings to him and all of you. In the pictures I have pictures seen he hasn’t really change a lot from that time.

    Alan Moberg

  8. This more than anything recently heartens my spirit over this whole affair. I hope you have blogged this at Crosswalk and perhaps considered making this the subject of a report in the Christian Post. Perhaps even blog about it at the Independant.Ug as you did for your entry on sexual orientation?

    Thanks you, Warren

    Lynn

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