 Other Sheep eNews
The Inclusive Shepherd says: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also." John 10:16
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March 3, 2009
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Below left photo by Steve Parelli: Sunrise, coast of Malindi, Kenya, 2007
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Other Sheep & GAA Nairobi Meeting
Other Sheep to visit Southeast Asia
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In This Issue |
Dear Other Sheep Reader, Our feature article: A recent meeting took place in Nairobi, Kenya, between the Gay Activist Alliance and Other Sheep. Ken Were of GAA said faith-based organizations like Other Sheep are vital to the cause of LGBT human rights in Africa. Also, Mary Hunt, Bob Goss and Centro Christiano de la Comunidad GLTTB of Buenos Aires, Argentina, each write a tribute in memory of queer theologian Marcella Althaus-Reid. May God grant to all "Justice and Joy"(which is the theme of the Reconciling Ministries Network [United Methodist] 2009 Convocation in September; Rev. John and Anne Makokha are featured speakers). Sincerely, Steve Parelli, MDiv Executive Director, Other Sheepsparelli2002@yahoo.com
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John and Anne Makokha of Kenya to visit the States
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Rev. John Makokha and Anne Khadudu Baraza Makokha are featured speakers at the 2009 Convocation of the Reconciling Ministries Netword ((United Methodist - RMN's 25th Anniversary), Estes Park, Colorado, September 4-7, 2009. For more details and registration, click here. RMN - Reconciling Ministries Network - is the unofficial LGBT ministry of the United Methodist Church. Plans are being made for the Makokhas to be in New York City with Other Sheep following the Convocation. If your church or group is interested in hearing the Makokhas speak on LGBT religious concerns in Kenya and Africa, please contact Steve Parelli at sparelli2002@yhaoo.com or Jose Ortiz at bronzeprjo@hotmail.com.
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Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz announce Other Sheep ministry to Southeast Asia this July and August 2009 |
For Immediate
Release: Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz of Other Sheep seek
opportunities for ministry on behalf of LGBT people of faith in Nepal,
Malaysia and Thailand, this July and August, 2009. For more details click here.
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Links to Other News Items and Resources
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Go to Other Sheep eNews Archive for past Newsletters
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Other Sheep and Gay Activists Alliance Meet in Nairobi to Strategize for East Africa and Africa
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NAIROBI, KENYA. By Rev. John Makokha, United Methodist Church minister and Other Sheep Coordinator for Kenya (become a Facebook Fan of Rev. Makokha)
There was a meeting of Other Sheep leadership in Kenya and East Africa with Gay Activists Alliance International (GAAI) at a Nairobi
hotel on February 21, 2009. The meeting focused
on the partnering, networking and resource mobilization to endeavor to help
form alliances between LGBTI groups, individuals and other minority groups for the
common objective of equality and human rights.
Getting Youth Involved through Music
It was noted that campaigns against homophobia need to
address the youth through music. Since
you cannot separate youth and music, it was proposed that young people be
sponsored to compose music on the theme of "kick out homophobia." This is important
since young people are very influential, youthful, energetic and ready to change.
Hambridge of GAA sees Kenya as Key to Africa
Den Hambridge, from Gay Activists Alliance International (GAAI - UK) said that GAAI,
through its discussion forums, aims to bring LGBTI persons closer together and
give a base to openly discuss issues regarding their sexuality, oppression and discrimination. He said that the mission of GAAI was to
campaign for equality and human rights of LGBTI community worldwide. "GAAI is a
peaceful but demonstrative group."
He said that it was now the objective of GAAI to have human
rights activism across Africa, and Kenya is key to this mission as a
starting point. He appealed to LGBTI organizations, both LGBTI and allies to
work in unity in order to succeed. "The war against homophobia and transphobia
is not going to be won without LGBTI persons having allies on their side. You
cannot succeed when you are divided."
Hambridge said that GAAI is also interested in other human
rights issues concerning HIV/AIDS, environment, women, youth and children.
Faith-Based Organizations, like Other Sheep, Are Vital
Ken Were, GAAI-Africa Coordinator said that faith-based
organizations like Other Sheep are very vital in addressing both religious and
cultural homophobia and homohatred. "If a pastor preaches in the pulpit without
addressing human rights issues, this is unacceptable."
He promised to network and partner with Other Sheep in their
activism programs in Kenya
and the rest of East Africa.
Stigma, Rejection and Discrimination in Africa while the West has done years of Research: "We are entering this debate late."
Rev. Michael Kimindu, Other Sheep Coordinator for East Africa, said that there are many gay and lesbian
persons in Africa but they are living in the closet. They fear stigma, rejection and
discrimination from their families, denominations and the society. These are
brothers and sisters who need counseling, acceptance, love and compassion.
He said that African people are thinking about traditionally
having children and inheritance. This is why they are opposing any issue
related to LGBTI. The West has been fighting for the rights of LGBTI and
researching for about 40 years. "We are
entering this debate late."
Rev. Kimindu is an Anglican priest of Nairobi and a recently ordained MCC minister. He attended Lambeth 2008 with the help of IntegrityUSA and Changing Attitude.
The Need to Retrain Clergy in Africa on What the Bible Really Says
Rev. John Makokha, Other Sheep Coordinator for Kenya, said
since Kenya's population is about 80%
Christians, we need to urgently address religious homophobia through capacity
building programs of both the clergy and laity.
They need to be trained on "What the Bible is saying - and not saying -
about homosexuality, and what science is saying - and not saying - about
homosexuality." He blamed the professional psychological counselors in Africa of failing to inform society about the truth concerning
sexual orientation.
He blamed the early missionaries, evangelical schools
curricula and some Biblical authors who are known to propagate homophobia and
homohatred through their commentaries and teachings (for example see Zondervan's landmark Africa Bible Commentary feature article on homosexuality by Yusufu Turaki). He said we urgently and seriously
need a training facility in Africa that can
address the issue of the Bible and human sexuality so that we retrain our
clergy.
Rev. Makokha is a minister United Minister Church in the greater Nairobi area. He and his wife, Anne, will be featured speakers at the 10th RMN National Reconciling Convocation, September 4-7, 2009, Estes Park, Colorado. RMN - Reconciling Ministries Network - is the unofficial LGBT ministry of the United Methodist Church.
Lay leaders participate in the meeting: The need for financial resources; the church's loss of talented LGBT people; teaching from the bottom up - even LGBTI people need teaching
Peter Wanyama, an Anglican lay person and Other Sheep participant, said we need more friendly strategies in order to win the battle on human rights for LGBTI, both in the church and society. He
said some LGBTI individuals and organizations are in the closet themselves due
to fear of reprisals. "We need more financial resources for us to handle our
programs effectively".
A Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology Master of
Divinity student said that society does not want to hear about LGBTI. "We
should not condemn people based on their sexual orientation." He gave an
example where church elders stopped a gifted worship leader and instrumentalist
in a prominent Nairobi
main line church on the basis that she was a lesbian. "They killed that gift
for the work of the Lord. I am sure Jesus wept on this action."
Denise Gitonga, a Christian from Methodist
University and University of Nairobi,
said that we need to change the worldview of our community from bottom to top
on matters of sexual orientation since people are lacking information. "We need
education even for LGBTI since most of them are also ignorant on matters of
human sexuality, HIV/AIDS, substance and drug abuse etc."
Looking for a non-discriminatory church: Thankful for Other Sheep clergy
Sospeter Makatini from GAA said that he was surprised that
there were clergy from Other Sheep who could fight for the full inclusion and
affirmation of LGBTI in their respective religious groups. Most LGBTI were looking for an LGBTI non-discriminatory
church in Kenya
so that they can worship their God without any homophobic sermons and
teachings.
The GAAI mission in Africa is
to see that all human beings will be accepted equally as their right as a human being, regardless
of color, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation.
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Professor Marcella Althaus-Reid Remembered
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SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, USA. By Mary Hunt, Ph.D, Co-director, WATER (Woman's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual)
February 24, 2009
Theology lost an original voice Friday, February 20, 2009, when Professor Marcella Althaus-Reid died at Marie
Curie Hospice in Edinburgh,
Scotland. WATER
offers sympathy to her husband, family members, and friends. Those who
appreciate creative, bold theology are in her debt.
Marcella was Argentine by birth with
a deep commitment to liberation theology. She studied at ISEDET, the Protestant
theological faculty in Buenos Aires, and
received her doctorate at the University
of St. Andrews. She
insisted that issues of body and sexuality need to be interwoven with other
liberation concerns. Feminist and queer commitments informed her unique and
important work.
She held the Chair of Contextual
Theology in the School of Divinity, at the University of Edinburgh.
See Click here
for a biographical sketch and bibliography. She was the author of the widely
acclaimed Indecent Theology, among many other books.
Marcella Althaus-Reid's work will
echo for generations to come.__________________________________ See Former Other Sheep board member Rev. Dr. Bob Goss' tribute: " Some Reflections in Memory of Dr. Marcella Althaus-Reid: Out of the Closet Queer Theologian and Dear Friend." See En Memoria de Marcella Althaus-Reid (in Spanish), a tribute sent by Centro Cristiano de la Comunidad GLTTB.
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Other Sheep is an ecumenical, multi-cultural, Christian ministry working worldwide for the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith within their respective faith traditions.
" . . . connecting people with people and people with resources . . . "
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