Fellowship Foundation leader, Doug Coe, expresses opposition to Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Yesterday, in a rare interview, I met with Doug Coe, considered by many to be the spiritual leader of the Fellowship Foundation. Coe is listed by Time Magazine as one of the top 25 most influential evangelicals. Coe's organization, the Fellowship Foundation also organizes the National Prayer Breakfast and related activities. I attended several of those related functions on Wednesday prior to the Thursday morning event. Normally, the event is inspiring but of low news interest. However, this year, the Fellowship Foundation has been accused of supporting Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill which would impose the death sentence on those who have homosexual intimacy, even just touching, on those who are HIV positive. Other homosexual acts would lead to life in prison and people who do not report knowledge of these acts could go to jail or be fined. 

Contrary to suggestions the group supports the Ugandan proposal, Mr. Coe told me in the interview that he believes Jesus loves all people regardless of sexual orientation. He and other Fellowship leaders asserted 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, according to Coe, 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 associate Bob Hunter is authorized to speak for the Foundation on this issue. Hunter has been outspoken in opposition to the bill, appearing MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show and other media outlets. Hunter has a long time relationship with Ugandan political leaders 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, including some Ugandans present, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is completely inconsistent with this statement above. Thursday, at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton denounced the bill.