Rev. Michael Kimindu, an Anglican priest, MCC minister and Other Sheep Coordinator for East Africa, said, "we should not cherish ignorance, you can't thrive on ignorance. Anglicans who are conservatives are losing. They should learn to listen to others and should be open to education."   He highlighted the fact that there is a wide gap between what Africans know and what Western society has learned in the area of the bible and sexual orientation.
 
Kimindu called upon denominational leaders to be willing to listen and learn.  He said clergy should not be quick to judge other clergy who are considering inclusion and affirmation of LGBTI people within their respective faiths.   "Gays and lesbians are our children, brothers and sisters and they live in our society."
 
He said that the mission of Other Sheep is the recognition and inclusion of LGBT people in society and the church. "We want the churches to understand that sexual orientation isn't a choice.   We are supportive of an inclusive and affirming church."
 
He said that homosexuals are ignored by society and the church and therefore they suffer and must be heard.  They need to rise and argue for their rights.
 

Steve Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, in his workshop on the Bible and homosexuality, said, "You have to look at the bible in the context of its culture and social background.  The letters of Paul were not written to us but to a different people in a different time and setting.  We are reading someone else's mail when we read the New Testament epistles."

 

Parelli said Other Sheep does not start churches per se, but is rather a facilitator between already existing LGBT religious organizations, including LGBT church planting organizations like MCC (Metropolitan Community Churches), and individual LGBT people of faith who are looking to be connected.  He said the gay community needs to support clergy who are supportive of the gay community. Specifically he called upon the participants of the seminar to support Rev. Kimindu and Rev. Makokha, who are both openly pro-LGBT clergy.

In another session, Parelli spoke on government and law making and the place of religion in a democracy.  He said government is the government of all the people, that government must not make laws based on any one religious teaching.  The bible's supposed teachings against homosexuality cannot be grounds for civil laws.  It is the government's mandate to guard the liberties of all its citizens, religious and irreligious, and not to legislate into law the teachings of any one faith or any one religious institution.  Otherwise, government has limited the liberty of the individual in matters of faith and practice.  Parelli said homosexuality is primarily a religious question.  Parelli said the question is not is homosexuality right or wrong; the question is who gets to decide if homosexuality is right or wrong: the government, the church, or the individual?  Parelli said the individual gets to decide; not the church, not the government -- that's religious liberty.

In his workshop on spirituality, Jose Ortiz, an Other Sheep Coordinator for Africa, said his experience in the twelve steps support group gave him a different view of spirituality.  He said spirituality is not a list of rules but rather "a process that starts by recognizing where you are right now."  He said to accept and love yourself right now as you are, both the positive and the negative, is the starting point from which you begin to progress towards where you want to be.  The rules of conduct given by the church are just another way for us to be harsh and unforgiving toward ourselves.  He said God showed him a new path that gave value to his experiences in life so that now he sees spirituality differently.

Rev. John Makokha, United Methodist minister and Other Sheep Kenya Coordinator, said the continent of Africa is on fire because of homophobia.  Clergy, poorly grounded in theology and sexuality, and homophobic evangelical curriculum taught in theological schools, have escalated the crisis.  "There should be some deliberate attempt to institute a training facility for clergy and laity on issues of the bible and sexuality.  There should be some serious discourse on this subject with open doors, open hearts and open minds."
 
He said Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist Church), Integrity USA (Episcopal), Changing Attitude UK (Anglican), More Light (Presbyterian), Dignity (Catholic), Soulforce and others should join hands and work together under the umbrella of Other Sheep in addressing homophobia in Africa. "We are not going to win this battle if we are divided on denominational lines.  Homophobia knows no boundaries of denominations. There is dire need in Africa for more partnership with other LGBT organizations locally and internationally."

Peter Wanyama, an active Anglican layperson, said that as children of God, gays need to benefit from spiritual growth just like heterosexuals.  "We pray that the stigma, due to homophobia, will be removed from our society; that gays will be seen as normal human beings who function normally, who have feelings, and need understanding.  We need to be loved as God's children.  God is love."
 
He said, speaking as a gay man, "We are not a lesser people in society."  He said there are many gay people in high offices, the church, and education.   They do not identify as gay people because they are afraid and do not want to be marked and marginalized.  He asked, "How long will gays and lesbians be in the closet?"
 

 

 

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