Other Sheep Reports On Davis' Visit to NYC

by Steve Parelli, Bronx, NY
Other Sheep

After meeting Davis Mac-Iyalla of Nigeria for the first time at the 2006 ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) World Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, I had the privilege, as a party of one, of welcoming him at the New York City JFK airport upon his first visit to the United States, Wednesday, May 14, 2007.

He was here by invitation of the Episcopal Church for a speaking tour in the States on the topic of gay rights in Nigeria.

Mac-Iyalla's USA tour-host had asked that I keep the conversation light and not talk business: "Let him relax after his long flight." I agreed.

After Mac-Iyalla and I had gotten a bite to eat and were on the road cutting across Brooklyn towards Manhattan, to my delight he asked about getting the books to Africa, the topic I had introduced more than a year ago at Geneva.

Jesus MCC of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Other Sheep are in the process of getting copies of The Children Are Free to LGBT groups in Africa.

"Gay Nigerians know what we believe," he said. "We need to know how to defend it. Send us the books."

Go to http://www.othersheep.org/ and scroll down to "New Web Pages and Current Notes of Interest at Other Sheep" for a full coverage of Davis Mac-Iyalla's visit to The Church of the Holy Apostles and related articles of Nigeria and Changing Attitude, the Anglican ministry to LGBTs.

Photo caption: Davis Mac-Iyalla (left) and Bishop Gene Robinson. The Church of the Holy Apostles, June 19, 2007

The 2007 Spring Report of the Other Sheep News

Contents:

• Ishtar MSM Invites Other Sheep to Nairobi, Kenya, for Summer 2007
• Other Sheep Requests Books for Marriage Equality NY
• Other Sheep Theologian (Tom Hanks) Speaks in Brazil
• Queer Bible Commentary reviewed by the London Times
• Father Doherty, after 20 years of ministry in East Africa, receives Kenyan visitor in his Bronx home
• Kathryn Griess, former missionary to Chile, shares her coming-our journey
• Emmanuel Kamau distributes The Children Are Free and Other Sheep material at conference in Cambodia
• Jesus MCC and Other Sheep to Publish Book in Spanish
• Thomas Hanks to Present paper on Romans 1 at SBL in November

Click here to read the full newsletter.

Other Sheep Seeks Donors to Sponsor LGBT Summer Discussion Groups in Nairobi, Kenya

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Today's Date: April 11, 2007

Ishtar MSM Invites Other Sheep to Nairobi, Kenya, for Summer 2007.

Emmanuel Kamau (known as "Aunty Ivy" throughout Africa) has invited Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz of Other Sheep to come to Nairobi, Kenya, this summer (July and August 2007) to conduct "safe space" groups that will focus on instruction and discussion on issues and interests pertaining to homosexuality.

Weekly Meetings Planned for Three Different Locations in Nairobi, Kenya.

Steve Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, and Jose Ortiz his partner of nine years and Other Sheep Coordinator for Africa, will use a curriculum that addresses homosexuality as it relates to religion, society, family members, the social sciences and psychology, and human rights. Targeted participants will be the LGBT community, their parents and friends, and any interested party. Three different locations will be chosen in Nairobi for weekly meeting places in order to reach a wider range of people within the city. Each "safe space" class will run for four weeks. Kamau, Parelli and Ortiz will use the time between classes to meet and connect with individuals. It is hoped that a permanent pro-active group will grow out of these meetings and will continue to meet on a regular basis creating fellowship and addressing the areas of need particular to the group and the region...

Click here for more information and to contribute.