It was with shock and sadness that the leadership of MCC heard of the murder of David Kato, a human rights defender, a humanitarian and a man of tremendous heart and courage. David has been fighting for the rights of the LGBTI community in Uganda. Most recently David has been working with Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) and was the visible voice against the oppressive proposed legislation introduced by the Ugandan government, which would impose the death penalty for those found guilty of being gay. David was brutally beaten to death in his home on 26 January 2011.
We mourn with his friends and family in Uganda. We mourn with his colleagues at SMUG and Other Sheep. We mourn with all those still struggling for Human Rights in Uganda, all of Africa and around the world.
This Sunday, we ask that our churches worldwide join with Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson and the Senior Leadership Team of MCC to take a moment and lift up David Kato, his family, friends and the ongoing struggle in Uganda in prayer. We also ask you to lift up all of our people and congregations in Africa as they continue the struggle for human rights. Fredrick Douglas said in the mid 1800s, after escaping from slavery, "Until we are all free, we are none free."
Gracious Loving God,
We lift to you our brother David so brutally taken from the world.
We ask for your healing, loving Spirit of peace to surround his family and friends.
May his death inspire those who would do harm to become peacemakers and people of justice.
May our churches in Africa find renewed strength and hope in the knowledge of your love and promise.
We pray for all those living in fear, for those with the power to bring about life-giving change and for those who courageously risk it all to say "Enough!"
God, help us to never become complacent but to remember those words from so long ago, "Until we are all free, we are none free."
We ask this through your many names and through Christ,
Amen.
Rev. Elder Diane Fisher
