House Of Rainbow MCC Nigeria To Mark Three Years of Inclusive Mission.

House Of Rainbow MCC Nigeria To Mark Three Years of Inclusive Mission.

August/September 2009

An Exclusive Interview with Openly Gay Nigerian Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay.

Introduction
House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church Lagos Nigeria is a church that welcomes Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people, an inclusive ministry that welcomes all people. This church opened its door to all persons on the 2nd September 2006 and has reached thousands of queer people both in Nigeria, in other African nations and also giving hope to people in other developing nations across the globe. This church is no stranger to controversy and never the less they are growing from strength to strength and with the age of Internet and new media Reverend Macaulay shows no sign of slowing down.

Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay the founding pastor speaks of his convictions as the servant of God in due season bringing hope to the queer people in Nigeria and elsewhere.

What do you plan to do this year in Nigeria?
We are continually obedient to the voice of God and the Holy Spirit. We plan to reach people where they are, as we know that the nation and many of the people seem to be ignorant of the existence of queer people.

This year we are asking people to pray with us, and if you are online and have access to the internet you can join Rev Jide in a circle of prayers from the 1st to 6th September 2009, many communities all over the world will be holding prayer service for the anniversary of House Of Rainbow that is being rolled out to ask God for favour and protection for queer people in Nigeria and other places where there is hostility towards them.

How about the physical presence of the people?
LGBT people in Nigeria and especially our members will be celebrating in the country, however this year we have decided to be completely tight lipped about any information that the people or the media can use against us to harm us. We learned from last year. But we believe that as we develop away from the media intrusion we are preparing a massive launch of our mission in the future. This is a time we identify as “exilic times”, we are travailing in the presence of God with our petitions and supplications, and when we get to the post exilic times we would celebrate.

What are we to expect for the 2009 celebration?
As we mark House Of Rainbow MCC, 3rd Anniversary in 2009, unlike last year, when we rolled out the red carpet and had a huge celebration under the scrutiny of the Nigeria media, this year House Of Rainbow has decided on a much more discreet celebration across the nation and the rest of the world. Our events will begin on the 1st to 6th September 2009 and we are tight lipped about the details of the event.

What are your thoughts on the intrusive events last year?
As the founding Pastor of the movement in Nigeria, we are delighted and continue to thank God almighty for the extra ordinary events last year, which no doubt placed our church in the centre of the struggle for equality for gays and lesbians and other marginalised groups of people in Nigeria and indeed any other place where legal hostilities are conducted against these communities.

It is sad that in the 21st century we are unable to celebrate openly a worship and praise to God for the marvellous creations of gays and lesbians, our families, relatives and allies.

People have said that you are law breakers.
We are law abiding and contributors to the world economy, have you not heard of the “Pink Currency” we are creative in our thinking and doing, we are a blessing according to events in the recorded ancient biblical writings. Our historical presence links us with Kings, Queens and their Kingdoms, we enjoy the favour of God in the service of royalty. However today we have to fight tooth and nail to even get a place to express our humanity let alone freely worship God.

What gives you so much strength and how do you cope with the criticism?
We as a community and personally as the leader of this great community of people, believe that God is in control and it is not over until God have spoken, we believe just like the community of the Jewish people under the leadership of Nehemiah, who God called to rebuild Jerusalem in the midst of hostility, he received exemplary criticism for his vision of the new Jerusalem. The Prophet becomes a model of servant leadership for the queer Christian community and for the queer community. Nehemiah rebuilt a community wounded from exile. That is what I believe my call is for the new age queer Christian community in Nigeria and the rest of the world, to be healed from their wounds. Let me explain this with a simple analogy, House Of Rainbow MCC Lagos Nigeria embodies a vision of hope, healing and reconciliation for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender community, what we do as a ministry is work in the spirit realm collecting discarded vessels from the rubbish bins of other religious communities and bringing them home, to a safe place where they can be ministered to and nourished to good health, if you can imagine mending a broken vessel, it will also appear broken on the outside, however the ministry of House Of Rainbow is to rebuild the vessels so that they are reusable, though they appear broken we believe that the inclusive love of Jesus and the grace of God will sustain us.

Many Churches will not accept homosexual behaviour, why are you different?
Many queer Christians have been excluded from their churches or have been forced into exile from their denominations because of their sexual orientation and primarily due to “Bad Theology”. House of Rainbow is a welcoming church to the unchurched and exiled queer Christians. As a modern day Nehemiah, I believe that my ministry is to embark on the inclusive work of the mission for the reconciliation of Sexuality, Spirituality and faith.

With this in mind we celebrate our third year anniversary, giving glory to God and we can count our blessings and achievements in the past 12 months.

Why did you close the church in Nigeria?
Last year we closed the physical presence of our church and developed a small group of people across the nations, our friends all over the world in different religious communities continue to hold us in prayers and communion. We did because the violence was extreme and our properties were attacked, vandalised, looted and a few of our security guards were wounded.

What is the latest development for the church?
Whilst my ministry takes me to many places all over the world, my core focus was centred on the development of the people in Nigeria and we have grown in numbers in our local meetings, local leaderships and also on our virtual mission in order to reach more people, we posted nearly 50 videos of inclusive messages, and activities, with nearly 30,000 hits, to encourage LGBT people in Nigeria and other developing nations. We have an online forum subscribed by nearly 500 members. So we ask people to pray with us, sign on to the internet and join our inclusive mission online.

Why do you think House Of Rainbow was being attacked?
In the story of Nehemiah and the Jewish people, and their desperation in Jerusalem, it was clear that they are in a very delicate situation as their city has no fortified walls to protect them and without walls around the city it was vulnerable to all types of marauders. It was constantly being attacked, impoverished and diminished. Like LGBT people in Nigeria and other hostile nations, people lived in fear daily and the city of Jerusalem was in disrepair and the people were disheartened, discouraged and afraid. The constant attacks of the Jews can be likened to the irrational attacks on House Of Rainbow people and LGBT people in general, these attacks poisoned and tore us from the inside.

Unfortunately the condition of Jerusalem and its people serves as an all too accurate analogy of what has happened spiritually to the lesbian and gay community. Too often we have had our place taken from us and we have been left vulnerable to the repeated attacks of radical fundamentalists.

How do you see the relevance of your call for the queer community?
We strongly claim God’s grace includes gays and lesbians, however the assaults from religious communities, Politicians and Civil society have a toxic effect on our souls. It is these terrible conditions of injustice that informs my call to ministry in the queer community, I sense the call of God to do something about it and in the third year of the mission I am clear that the call of God is profound and beyond a shadow of doubt a liberating mission to save lives and win souls. Like Nehemiah, I am not a Politician or Soldier, but I believe in the spiritual leadership of the queer people amongst us.

Who are those who inspire and encourage you?
Despite what may have been published in the media, My father, Professor Augustus Kunle Macaulay is not just my father, he is my friend, confidant, a mentor and more, his inspiration and love cannot be matched. Dorothy AkenOva of INCRESE is a champion and leader amongst leader, a sister and a friend. There are many people of God that inspire me, we have been blessed with prayers and support from the founder of MCC Rev Elder Troy D. Perry and the leaderships, we also have been blessed by the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire, Archbishop Gene Robinson in the USA, Rev Pressley Sutherland, a great friend and brother the Senior Pastor of GoodHope MCC Cape Town South Africa. Friends and members of House Of Rainbow, including people we have reached out to inspire me, William Rashidi, of Queer Alliance, Joseph Akoro, of The Independent Project for Equal Rights, Stephen Chukwumah, of Youth Together Network just to mention a few, there many more people that gives me strength and encouragement.

Web links
YahooID: revjide@yahoo.com
http://revrowlandjidemacaulay.blogspot.com/
http://spiritualityandsexuality.ning.com/
http://www.houseofrainbowmcc.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/HouseOfRainbow
http://www.mccchurch.org/

Michael Jackson for Nobel Peace Prize Award

Michael Jackson for Nobel Peace Prize Award.

There are amazing article on "michael-jacksons-good-deeds-vs-media...." which I found so great that I spread it on Twitter, on my blog etc.
A friend of mine who said he is nott a typical teenage MJ-fan, a 51-year-old German teacher who has been following his admirable charity work for decades. I don't know if you follow the news about that extraordinary man and if you have read that there are two petitions in favour of Michael Jackson: 1) http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/mjnobelpeaceprize and 2) http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/mjchangenobelrule/ our request to change one of the rules so that a dead person is allowed to be nominated. Petra Wullf did the German translation for this petition. As you may know, according to Michael Jackson's last will 20% of his estate (his existent and his future estate!) go to charity organizations. It is not only that he deserves the prize - the money involved will be given to people who need it! We don't need people who buy anything - we just need people who sign these two petitions! So please, if you see a way to find supporters within your communities or your organizations, we would be very, very thankful! Thank you for reading my e-mail and thank you in advance for your help! Best wishes and much love to all of you, Petra Wulff and Jide Macaulay <http://revrowlandjidemacaulay.blogspot.com/2009/07/michael-jacksons-good-deeds-vs-media.html>

UPDATE NIGERIA "The Bauchi Case"

Update on the Bauchi Case:
18 men are still awaiting trial for various charges relating to homosexuality in the Northern Bauchi State in Nigeria, Bauchi State is one of 13 States strictly under Sharia Islamic laws, the men continue to receive the support of a local church which considers its mission to be radically inclusive, affirming and welcoming to gay people, the case which began following their arrest on 5th August 2007, was again adjourned on the 28th July 2009 to the 8th October 2009, to avoid any seating during the Ramadan season. The court have failed to seat for many adjournments over the past two years, on the last occasion 17 out of the 18 men attended the hearing, however there was a riot in the city of Bauchi, not related to the trial but unfortunately the 18th person lost his uncle in the fight and was unable to attend court.

Nigeria: Homosexualization of the World

Nigeria: Homosexualization of the World by Sonnie Ekwowusi

http://allafrica.com/stories/200908190659.html

Lagos — The new British foreign office Minister, Chris Bryant, a publicly-professed gay, has decided to use opportunities offered him by his new office to promote gay rights and gay marriage across the Commonwealth countries Nigeria inclusive. To this effect, Bryant has been writing personal letters of congratulations to British diplomats who support gay rights.

At the Gay Pride March in London last month, Bryant was busy applauding British ambassadors for practicing homosexuality and spreading it across the world. Bryant is also tasking British Commissioners to promote gay and lesbian rights in Commonwealth countries including Nigeria even though the laws of those countries explicitly prohibit those so-called rights. At the Commonwealth Summit in Trinidad in November this year which the Queen and Prime Minster Gordon Brown are billed to attend, the homosexualization of commonwealth countries will top the agenda for discussion.

Bryant's homosexual campaigns in the British diplomatic circles and in commonwealth countries, no doubt, are part and parcel of the well-orchestrated campaigns to change nature and make the world a safe haven for homosexuals. Already the United Nations, founded on October 24, 1945 essentially to promote world peace and security, has become gay. Its language is now the language of gay people. Whereas the UN finds it difficult to promote peace in the world, it finds no difficulty in promoting homosexuality and abortion in the world.

Somehow the UN has been able to box 66 UN member States including the entire European Union, Japan, Australia into pledging their support for gay rights and gay marriage. In sporadic reversal of the policy of Bush's administration, the Obama administration on March 18, 2009 said that the United States was totally endorsing the United Nation's support for decimalization of homosexuality in the whole world. According to the Obama government: " The United States supports the UN statement on 'Human Rights, Sexual orientation, Gender Identity', and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member States who have declared their support of the statement that condemns human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity ".

With the staunch support of the United Nations and the Obama administration, the world association of lesbian, homosexual, Bisexual, Transgender, Beastgender, Transsexual, Beastsexual, animalsexual is now pushing vigorously in different countries for the legalization of what they perceived are their rights to misbehave even in public. Last March in Nigeria some Nigerian homosexuals stormed the National Assembly in protest against the executive bill seeking to outlaw gay marriage and gay associations in Nigeria.

It is obvious that the British foreign office, United Nations, Obama administration and all those drumming support for lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Beastgender, Transsexual, Beastsexual rights, all in the name of human rights, do not fully understand the real meaning of human or are just deliberately distorting its meaning to suit their fancy. A couple of months ago, the Californian Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Proposition 8-a voter-approved measure banning same-sex marriage in California.

You will recall that in November last year majority of the Californians voted against homosexuality, culminating in the passage of Proposition 8 slamming a ban on homosexual behaviour in California. Aggrieved by the Proposition 8, many gay and lesbian activists in California not only protested but eventually took their case to the Californian Supreme Court. At the Californian Supreme Court they argued, through their lawyer, that homosexual behaviour was their fundamental right and therefore the State of California had no right to violate what they conceived was their fundamental human right.

In their brief of argument, the State of California argued persuasively that homosexuality was a complete deviant, unnatural and abnormal behaviour which was manifestly against public policy and public interest as was demonstrated in the voter-approved Proposition 8. In its ruling, the Californian Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Ronald George, upheld the constitutionality of the said Proposition 8 and banned homosexuality in California. By implication, the Supreme Court acknowleleged the right of voters to define marriage in Californian Constitition.

The banning of homosexuality in California and in other places has shown that many people are opposed to homosexuality. It has further shown that in appropriate circumstances the people can stand up and affirm their faith in long-standing moral tradition. Coming on the heels of the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the American Supreme Court and at a time when the gay insurgency and coalition of debonair nihilism in America had reached their summit, the said Californian Supreme Court judgment should be hailed as one of the best things that has come out of the United States in recent times.

In the beginning the gay right movement was never accorded legal recognition. Under the common law, marriage was, and is still recognized as a contract between a man and a woman. At the dawn of American Revolution this common law concept was adopted and became part of American laws. Suffice it to say that several States in the United States later passed laws prohibiting sodomy in the United States. Penalty for indulging in sodomy included long sentence and long fines.

At the dawn of the 19th century and even early 20th century, several States in the United States imposed law against sexual deviant behaviour like homosexuality. For example, in 1970 the Connecticut authority denied driver's licence to one man who professed to be homosexual. But the first organized homosexual rights movement in the United States emerged in the 50s.
It sought to change the criminal law in United States in favour of homosexuals. But it was the sexual revolution of the 60s that eventually propelled thee American gay right movement to attain take its present position. Spurred by the campaigns of the American Law Institute Penal Code in 196os, some homosexual started advocating for what they perceived as their right to privacy and to practice their homosexual acts.

The first Supreme Court decision to recognize the so-called right to privacy was Grisworld V Connecticut (1965). Later in Lawrence V Texas (2003), the Supreme Court (with Justice Antonini Scalia, Chief Justice William H. Relinquish and Justice Clarence Thomas heavily dissenting) overruled Bowers V Hardwick and held that consensual sexual conduct which including right to homosexuality was part of the liberty protected by substantial due process under the fourth amendment of the American Constitition. But subsequent Federal Laws and State laws have differed from Lawrence's case (supra) and endorsed the traditional marriage between a man and a woman.

A couple of months ago Nigeria's foreign affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, was quoted as saying that there were no homosexuals in Nigeria. If the Minister was quoted correctly, then he was wrong. Homosexuality has gained grounds in some parts of Nigeria. During the military rule it was commonly practiced among some top military officers. It is also very common among some members of Northern elite. The National Theater, Orile Iganmu, Lagos has become the most popular meeting joint of Lagos homosexuals. Every Sunday evening young homosexuals are seen at the National Theatre open field holding hands and misbehaving.

But the average Nigerian in the street regards homosexuals as a taboo or abomination. In any case, homosexuality is illegal under the Nigerian law. Sodomy under the Criminal Code is completely outlawed. The anti-homosexual executive bill is still pending at the National assembly. If passed as law, it would go beyond the sodomy laws under the Criminal Code and would have the effect of specifically banning gay couples from adoption of children. It would prohibit registration of Gay Clubs, Societies and organizations; prohibition of Gay publicity, procession and public shows of same amorous relationship through the electronic media or print media etc.

Every society has its own values and should grow with those values. Let Britain, UN and the rest of the world be running riot with gay. But we must stick to our own values and tradition. Laws are made in consonant with the values of the people.

What Must I Do?

What Must I Do?
By Revd Rowland Jide Macaulay,
Pastor House Of Rainbow MCC Lagos Nigeria @ MCC East London 16th August 2009

Greetings to all the members and leaders of MCC East London from the congregation of House Of Rainbow MCC in Nigeria who continually send their love, also greetings from my friend Donald in Australia and Gift in Malawi. I seize this very special opportunity to welcome everyone worshipping here for the first time at Metropolitan Community Church East London, you are welcomed and if you already do not have a home church, you are welcomed to make this church your home. If your feel comfortable, please shake hands, or give someone next to you a warm hug and say to them welcome, welcome home. Let us Pray.

Also I invite us to hold Revd Caroline Redfearn in our prayers for speedy recovery to good health and also we pray for our Pastor Revd Margarita and her partner Frieda for a save journey as they enjoy their time away.

Yesterday like many other pride events in the UK and all over the world, it was the UK Black Pride, this events reminds me of the experiences and freedom to love that we take for granted in a few parts of the world and we become complacent, as I did a number of walkabout I was reminded on a giant map of many more parts of the world where celebrating Pride or sexuality is not just a challenge but considered a crime, a crime so harsh that in some of these nations people can be killed for being a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender person, the ability to express any form of same gender love is frowned upon.

Today we set aside this day to thank God for the events yesterday to offer a sacrifice of praise to God, to Jesus our saviour and redeemer, it is my hope and prayers that many will be fulfilled in their journey to reconcile their faith and sexuality with God, wherever we may find ourselves, in nations where LGBT people can have peace or where the laws are still harsh and discriminatory.

As a people we have so much expectation of people in certain professions or qualifications to lead us, to defend us, to guide us, such as lawmakers to make laws to protect us, lawyers to adequately mitigate and defend our cases, Activists to stand up and speak out, Pastors, Priests, Levites to pray, assist us on matters of spirituality and that is why we are here, in Metropolitan Community Churches and other inclusive ministries, our job is not done until we have worked with people that are marginalised and exhausted by the powers of wrongful interpretation of their lives and made weary by the tiredness of their thoughts.

The reading in Luke 10:25-37 was about a Lawyer who stood up to test Jesus, “Teacher, he said what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Many of us are being tested today, in our thinking, in our understanding of the love of God, many of us are going to stand against or before people like this lawyer and be interrogated, if we already have not had this experiences, what must we do? For same gender loving people, for people that identify as Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, heterosexual, Men who love men, and Women who love women, the same question I ask you today, What Must we do to Inherit eternal life? What must I do?

Jesus response to the lawyer was simple but not easy? Jesus asked, what was written in the law?

Can you imagine a lawyer came to test Jesus, this is someone who is no doubt familiar with the law, but yet showed a high level of ignorance, there are people in religion today who also exhibit a high level of ignorance on the matters of inclusion for LGBT people in the love of God, they have ignore the importance of the laws of God, and that is what Jesus has come to remind us through this story.

Jesus asked what is written in the law? The lawyer responded; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbour as yourself. Just like the lawyer there are greater debates today on who is our neighbour, whether or not LGBT people, or people of other faith traditions, can be our neighbour, this lawyer was so righteous, the bible said he wanted to Justify himself so he asked Jesus, And Who is my neighbour?

Jesus illustrated with the story of the Good Samaritan, which involved a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers who stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

It truly does not matter how many people encountered the wounded man or what professional affinity they have, it didn’t matter whether they where Priests, lawyers, Politicians, an ordinary person, who passed by and did nothing, what was important in this story is the compassion that we give to anyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, tribe, culture, language, sexual orientation or gender identity. As Christians and in our humanity we are called in to the liberty to love our neighbour as ourselves.

The level of response to love our neighbour is part of our determination to share with others what God has given to us, the freedom to love, the freedom so desperately needed in other parts of the world, for the freedom of LGBT people, who are unable to assemble to Praise and worship God, a freedom to pledge their cases of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, the freedom to come to God Just as we are, the freedom to celebrate our love and Stop living in fear daily, the freedom to reconcile sexuality and spirituality.

According to the bible reading The good Samaritan, 1) went out of his way, 2) He came near the wounded man when he saw him 3) He was moved with pity 4) He went to him and bandaged his wounds, 5) poured oil and wine on his wound, 6) He placed the wounded man on his animal 7) brought him to an inn and took care of him 8) The next day he took out two denarii gave them to the innkeeper, he paid for all the cost of caring for the wounded person.

Are you the Good Samaritan? What Must I do, Jesus asked the lawyer, Which of these people, do you think, who had an opportunity to be a good neighbour, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? I ask all of us brothers and sisters, how many of us are good neighbours to the people around us, at our place of work, people including LGBT people in distant countries, have we considered them neighbours? The question is what must we do? According to Mark 12:29-31, “Jesus answered, The first commandment is, Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, the second is this, you shall love your neighbour as yourself, there is no other commandment greater than these” Like The good Samaritan, 1) let us go out of our way to reach out to others in need, 2) Let us come near those that are wounded by religion or faith or culture 3) let us be moved with pity for people living under discriminatory laws 4) Let us go to them, so they know that we care, 5) poured oil and wine on their wound, 6) Lets make provision to protect and support them 7) distance is no excuse to show we care 8) Let us work together to pay and contribute to changes we take for granted.

This is what we must do. God bless you, God bless our universe. Amen.

What Must I Do?

What Must I Do?
By Revd Rowland Jide Macaulay,
Pastor House Of Rainbow MCC Lagos Nigeria @ MCC East London 16th August 2009

Greetings to all the members and leaders of MCC East London from the congregation of House Of Rainbow MCC in Nigeria who continually send their love, also greetings from my friend Donald in Australia and Gift in Malawi. I seize this very special opportunity to welcome everyone worshipping here for the first time at Metropolitan Community Church East London, you are welcomed and if you already do not have a home church, you are welcomed to make this church your home. If your feel comfortable, please shake hands, or give someone next to you a warm hug and say to them welcome, welcome home. Let us Pray.

Also I invite us to hold Revd Caroline Redfearn in our prayers for speedy recovery to good health and also we pray for our Pastor Revd Margarita and her partner Frieda for a save journey as they enjoy their time away.

Yesterday like many other pride events in the UK and all over the world, it was the UK Black Pride, this events reminds me of the experiences and freedom to love that we take for granted in a few parts of the world and we become complacent, as I did a number of walkabout I was reminded on a giant map of many more parts of the world where celebrating Pride or sexuality is not just a challenge but considered a crime, a crime so harsh that in some of these nations people can be killed for being a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender person, the ability to express any form of same gender love is frowned upon.

Today we set aside this day to thank God for the events yesterday to offer a sacrifice of praise to God, to Jesus our saviour and redeemer, it is my hope and prayers that many will be fulfilled in their journey to reconcile their faith and sexuality with God, wherever we may find ourselves, in nations where LGBT people can have peace or where the laws are still harsh and discriminatory.

As a people we have so much expectation of people in certain professions or qualifications to lead us, to defend us, to guide us, such as lawmakers to make laws to protect us, lawyers to adequately mitigate and defend our cases, Activists to stand up and speak out, Pastors, Priests, Levites to pray, assist us on matters of spirituality and that is why we are here, in Metropolitan Community Churches and other inclusive ministries, our job is not done until we have worked with people that are marginalised and exhausted by the powers of wrongful interpretation of their lives and made weary by the tiredness of their thoughts.

The reading in Luke 10:25-37 was about a Lawyer who stood up to test Jesus, “Teacher, he said what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Many of us are being tested today, in our thinking, in our understanding of the love of God, many of us are going to stand against or before people like this lawyer and be interrogated, if we already have not had this experiences, what must we do? For same gender loving people, for people that identify as Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, heterosexual, Men who love men, and Women who love women, the same question I ask you today, What Must we do to Inherit eternal life? What must I do?

Jesus response to the lawyer was simple but not easy? Jesus asked, what was written in the law?

Can you imagine a lawyer came to test Jesus, this is someone who is no doubt familiar with the law, but yet showed a high level of ignorance, there are people in religion today who also exhibit a high level of ignorance on the matters of inclusion for LGBT people in the love of God, they have ignore the importance of the laws of God, and that is what Jesus has come to remind us through this story.

Jesus asked what is written in the law? The lawyer responded; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbour as yourself. Just like the lawyer there are greater debates today on who is our neighbour, whether or not LGBT people, or people of other faith traditions, can be our neighbour, this lawyer was so righteous, the bible said he wanted to Justify himself so he asked Jesus, And Who is my neighbour?

Jesus illustrated with the story of the Good Samaritan, which involved a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers who stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

It truly does not matter how many people encountered the wounded man or what professional affinity they have, it didn’t matter whether they where Priests, lawyers, Politicians, an ordinary person, who passed by and did nothing, what was important in this story is the compassion that we give to anyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, tribe, culture, language, sexual orientation or gender identity. As Christians and in our humanity we are called in to the liberty to love our neighbour as ourselves.

The level of response to love our neighbour is part of our determination to share with others what God has given to us, the freedom to love, the freedom so desperately needed in other parts of the world, for the freedom of LGBT people, who are unable to assemble to Praise and worship God, a freedom to pledge their cases of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, the freedom to come to God Just as we are, the freedom to celebrate our love and Stop living in fear daily, the freedom to reconcile sexuality and spirituality.

According to the bible reading The good Samaritan, 1) went out of his way, 2) He came near the wounded man when he saw him 3) He was moved with pity 4) He went to him and bandaged his wounds, 5) poured oil and wine on his wound, 6) He placed the wounded man on his animal 7) brought him to an inn and took care of him 8) The next day he took out two denarii gave them to the innkeeper, he paid for all the cost of caring for the wounded person.

Are you the Good Samaritan? What Must I do, Jesus asked the lawyer, Which of these people, do you think, who had an opportunity to be a good neighbour, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? I ask all of us brothers and sisters, how many of us are good neighbours to the people around us, at our place of work, people including LGBT people in distant countries, have we considered them neighbours? The question is what must we do? According to Mark 12:29-31, “Jesus answered, The first commandment is, Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, the second is this, you shall love your neighbour as yourself, there is no other commandment greater than these” Like The good Samaritan, 1) let us go out of our way to reach out to others in need, 2) Let us come near those that are wounded by religion or faith or culture 3) let us be moved with pity for people living under discriminatory laws 4) Let us go to them, so they know that we care, 5) poured oil and wine on their wound, 6) Lets make provision to protect and support them 7) distance is no excuse to show we care 8) Let us work together to pay and contribute to changes we take for granted.

This is what we must do. God bless you, God bless our universe. Amen.

Don’t Give Up Just Yet

Don’t Give Up Just Yet
Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay @ MCC East London 9th August 2009

In the bible reading, 1 Kings 19, Elijah was at a place in his call to ministry that he was about to give up, he was administered food and water by the angel of God that made him strong enough to walk forty more days. Often we are afraid when we challenge the leaders of our society, our government or even other religious leaders, so we find ourselves running, just like Elijah from Ahab and Jezebel.

I say to you brothers and sisters Don’t give up just Yet. It is time that we lay claim to things around our sexuality and spirituality, we have left things for too long. Up till now we have just been surviving. Ephesians 4:31-32 says 31Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.

Churches need to learn, that it is why I said don’t give up just yet, the best is yet to come.

Heterosexual people have not had to deal with as much as we have, they have not lived totally in fear every day, they have not argued in parliament for their rights based on Sexual orientation and gender identity. We have learnt a lot along the way just to survive. In more than 80 countries in the world homosexuality is still severely punished and five will execute gay people, including Nigeria where we have a church

Many people inspire me so much, I want to mention a few (I apologise as this list consist of just men); Jesus Christ, because he is our saviour and redeemer, for his incomparable and undefined love. My father in Nigeria, an epitome of love I have recently encountered whilst scaling through troubled waters. Rev Elder Troy Perry, the founder of MCC, I adore and love so much, an obedient servant of God for the millennia
Bishop Gene Robinson, a fighter and saint amongst people. I mention these people because they thought me never to give up.

Don’t give up yet because we can now look into the communities of faith who identify with our issues and we can align with them, if they get it, lets us support them, don’t give up just yet.

We also have an opportunity to reach out to people at the Pride events, family circles, in our neighbourhoods, at the bars and clubs, if these places can have so many people so can our churches, tell them this is the place to party with Jesus, tell them we celebrate the inclusive love of God, when you go around this week, this month, the rest of the year, carry some information about the church, tell someone about the source of the living water. Ephesians 5:1-2 1Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2Let love be your guide. Christ loved us [a] and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.

Mission is a place where God is already at work and we can see that in the desperation of people seeking God, in our drag queens, leather men, lip stick lesbians and the beauty we appreciate when we go to events in our community, we often say why do people hate us so much, I am saying to you brothers, sisters and friends don’t give up on the accounts of the negativity we face the more we persevere the more results we get. Not only do we grow in favour and mercy but also in spirit and in numbers.

The LGBT community are doing God’s work, imagine providing a safe place for gay and lesbian teenagers, support for our elderly queer people, the health service and care for people living with HIV and AIDS, now let us do more with our spiritual service, tell people of the love of God and counsel them in the richness of the Holy Spirit.

Though we are largely a mission with a primary call to LGBT people, we know that all are welcome and we now need to include that language in our vocabulary and take the steps to dance to the tunes of all music, narrow and broad, gay and straight people can be found in all areas, we love the same things, country music, rock, classical, reggae, rnb, pop, hip pop, soul, blues, jazz, Mozart etc

Don’t give up yet, lets meet with those who are against us and begin a dialogue, let’s ask again and again, just as the Israelite asked Pharaoh to let them go, let’s say to them give us the chance to dialogue, and I believe when they begin to listen they will be moved to undo the harm that has been caused toward LGBT people.

We are never to give up our humanity nor allow the world to dictate for us, we are the Bride of Jesus, Jesus is the Bridegroom and always will be. We need to continue our great tradition of love towards one another and never to give up, the bible tells us what good is it to love those who love you, love your enemies, whilst I know this is very hard and a difficult thing to do, it is what the lord asks of us.

The hatred towards us has more to do with misogyny than anything else, gay men are seen as men and not women, the patriarch world don’t wish to see men in women’s role nor see men that are effeminate. The constant hatred for women lies at the root of this problem and I am not surprise even in my new quest to read the bible in 90 days found that most of the early chapters of the Old Testament spoke little about women. In Numbers 27:1-8, I recognised the voice of women and their power, perhaps we can learn something from this story. “Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward. Zelophehad was son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh son of Joseph, a member of the Manassite clans. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and they said, 3‘Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin; and he had no sons. 4Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.’ 5 Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 7The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying; you shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father’s brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them. 8You shall also say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall pass his inheritance on to his daughter.” This for me is like our community today, we need to speak up and stand up for what belongs to us.

There was a time when black people are not welcomed in the church, there was a time when people with physical challenges cannot serve at the altar, and there was a time when women are not visible. Now is the time to make sure that LGBTTTTIQQQ people are visible and their voices heard in the churches and religious communities.

Even though we are specialised in the LGBT piece, we also need to include other areas too, other cultural communities, all race, indigenes and migrants, social class and status, working class and the unemployed, we need to be the church alive and inclusive. We need to reach families, teens and the elderly, we want a church that will live up to its dreams and visions for all people. (Pause)

I am about to close my sermon, What we say about each other matters, what we say about women matters, we cannot fight for inclusion when we give up to be inclusive, it is time we welcome and respect women, it is time that we welcome transgender people, it is time that we welcome effeminate men and masculine women. It is time that we become totally inclusive. It is time that we all speak out against racism, injustice and discrimination, we don’t have to wait until it happens to us, we just need to use our privileges as a people, however when we fail to use our privileges to speak out against racism and work towards dismantling any system that promotes hatred or discrimination, we silently collude. Our voices and actions matters.

Don’t give up just yet, because the inclusive church, the metropolitan community church, the LGBT Queer movement, you and I that believe in the wasteful generosity of God’s love for all people, is about the end of patriarchy, the end of discrimination, the end of injustice, the end of hatred, the end of misogyny, the breaking down of the closet doors and the expanding of the communion table, the end to the reign of the dominating powers of ruthless and lawless people. Elijah almost gave up, but God sent an angel, the Lord will send an angel to feed us. I say one more time, Dont Give up, never give up, God Bless you, God bless our universe.

Hate mail received, with Nearly 25,000 hits House Of Rainbow You tube video grows

Hate mail received, with Nearly 25,000 hits House Of Rainbow You tube video grows

There has been an incredible response to the video blog at Houseofrainbow on youtube and there are no shortage of voices that pronounce so much hatred towards LGBT people and more so towards me, I stand my grounds and stay focus on the love of God for all people.

I responded to a few short messages to the this blogger (goldenismonica), however there was a need to send a longer reply. I now want to share more of what I had to say to this person. Here is a link to the origninal video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQNVn2Ssiks

The fact remains that you call yourself a Christian and not much of your comments signpost the credibility of your faith, did you speak for God or you echo Jesus or you speak on your on integrity? I would be disappointed if I were your parents, I am sure they didn’t bring you up to abuse other people or curse them, you have no place to take out your anger on anyone, I have responded with respect each time.

Many research have shown that closeted homosexuals are likely to be abusive towards gays and that is the information I base my response on, if you are not so angry with yourself as a gay person, why are you so obsessed with our work and gay lives, except that you recognise yourself but choose to be in denial. You have spent more time viewing our video blog and posting comments.

I must say that I reveal in my freedom (emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually) and so do many of the gay people you so much hate, at least for once, speak the language of love associated with God and Christ our redeemer.If there are gay people in your family, e.g. your father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter or any other relative, will you kill them, will you speak in such an unkind way towards them?

Homosexuality in NOT a sin, homophobia is a sin, same as slavery and hatred of women, why should anyone repent because they are gay, black or of African descent, we cannot repent for who we are, we can only repent of our evil ways, I will recommend that you repent of your unloving attitude, your unchristian focus, the hatred you abhor, the anger in your soul, the bible says love your neighbour as you are, if given a gun to shoot homosexuals you will not refrain from pulling the trigger in the name of God. This is the evil of the mind that requires repentance. Even Jesus knew of people like you when he said what good is it to love those who love you, love your enemies. Which part of these instructions do you not understand?

I am not a disgrace to Nigerians, I am a blessing to humanity, and one of the favorite child of Nigeria. The bible tells me “not to repay evil for evil, abuse for abuse but rather repay with a blessing for this is why I am called” and to the glory of God that we are able to bring visibility to the matters of homosexuality, means that we lend our voice to the voiceless and face for the faceless, we stand up in defiance and speak out in the face of injustice. Your ignorance and lack of knowledge is a disgrace to the entire human race, your callous attitude and selfishness creates the unimaginable blindness Jesus called Spiritual blindness in John9:35-41.

I speak for many and will continue to share the inclusive gospel of the Lord Jesus, reaching out to gay and lesbian people that need the living spring water for their thirst to know God in a most safe and loving place. I also hope you will drink of the water to cure your lack of knowledge. In all, please ask yourself loathed obnoxious Christian self, would Jesus Discriminate?

The community may only kill the flesh but the truth of God will remain forever and I feel sad that you are far from neither the truth nor the knowledge of God’s wasteful generosity of mercy and grace. You have just given me enough evidence of how illiterate you are, you have no idea of the arguments you raise yet you seek to defend your position. Be blessed and loved by your God, and in the day of judgement we must allow the true loving God to make the final decision on our fate. I leave you with 1 John 4:7-21.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world. 15God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love* because he first loved us. 20Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters,* are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister* whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters* also.

Post your response on any of the videos at http://www.youtube.com/HouseOfRainbow

Coming out early: the fight to help LGBT youth

Coming out early: the fight to help LGBT youth

Dr. Robert Reid-Pharr was in New York City walking his dog one morning when he was approached by a young black teenager. He appeared to be 15- or 16-years-old with slightly feminine mannerisms, Reid-Pharr said later. He propositioned the professor: sex in exchange for food. Like so many other homeless gay youth in New York City, the young man in front of Reid-Pharr has resorted to prostitution in order to survive.Reid-Pharr, a critical essayist and professor at the CUNY Graduate Center, turned him down.“I asked him what he was doing and he said his mom was addicted to crack. He had been out all night because there were people doing drugs at his home and he couldn’t stay there,” Reid-Pharr recalled. “He said, ‘usually when guys take me home they give me food first.’”

Like the young man who Reid-Pharr encountered, gay youth take to the streets for a variety of reasons, some resorting to hustling to survive. Whether they are kicked out by their families for being gay or are forced to leave to escape abuse, staying at home may not be an option for many gay youth.According to a 2007 study done by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 20 to 40 percent of homeless youth in the United States identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. The same study also found that there are between 15,000 and 20,000 homeless youth in New York City, of whom 3,000 to 8,000 are LGBT.Even when they are able to live at home, a gay kid’s life may not be easy. Bullying and a lack of support are pervasive problems in schools.

A 1997 Massachusetts Department of Education Survey found that gay students hear anti-gay slurs as often as 26 times each day. Faculty intervention occurs in only about 3 percent of those cases.Yet national attention for gay youth seems to be limited to only the most extreme stories, like the 2008 murder of Lawrence King, an openly gay 15-year-old student who was shot and killed by a fellow classmate.When gay children are being murdered by their classmates, why are the issues of gay youth not more widely covered?Carl Siciliano, the executive director of the Ali Forney Center, a housing center in New York City for homeless gay youth, explained why he believes gay youth are sometimes ignored or overlooked in the wide spectrum of gay rights.

Siciliano believes that a new generation of gay youth has risen up, different from past generations of gay men and women who were accustomed to coming out later in life.Kids are coming out earlier than in previous generations, Siciliano said, and gay organizations are only now paying attention.Older generations were accustomed to coming out later in life when they were out of their parent’s homes and able to support themselves. Today, kids who come out as young as 12 and are kicked out of their homes need the help of these gay organizations to survive.“Just the concept of a gay organization protecting gay youth is new,” said Siciliano. “We need to set standards because some of the [programs for gay youth] that have come around are lacking and grossly substandard.”

IGLHRC Job Opportunity: Program Director

IGLHRC Job Opportunity: Program Director

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is an international NGO dedicated to promoting the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through strategic partnerships with advocacy NGOs around the world. IGLHRC is headquartered in New York City, has offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Cape Town, South Africa, and project staff in the Philippines and Paraguay. Its current annual operating budget is $2.3 million.

The Program Director reports to the Executive Director, is based in New York, and is responsible for the overall management of the Program Department, which includes the development, implementation, and evaluation of the organization’s programmatic activities and budgets, management of the program human resources, and coordination with the development, communications, and administration departments. The Program Director manages the staff and activities in all four geographic regions of IGLHRC’s work (1) Asia (2) Latin America and the Caribbean (3) the Middle East and North Africa and (4) Sub-Saharan Africa. The Program Director also coordinates and implements IGLHRC’s ongoing work to promote LGBT rights at the United Nations.

The ideal candidate has solid management experience, excellent judgment, clear communication style, excellent writing skills, experience working or living in international contexts, and proven dedication to, and knowledge and experience in international human rights advocacy.Areas of supervision and responsibility include but are not limited to:

Management, organization, and planning:
Coordinates the development of the annual program plan and evaluation; assists regional coordinators in development of regional plans, ensuring consistency and compliance with organizational strategic plan
Facilitates inter-regional communication and projects (such as those related to the United Nations)
Coordinates the program planning of IGLHRC’s Felipa de Souza award
Manages program aspects of the staff retreats and other organization-wide program meetings
Facilitates program staff meetings
Assists the executive director in the development of program-related policies
Responsible for new program development

Budgeting:
Coordinates the development of a centralized annual program budget
Works with program staff to ensure that program activities can be accomplished within budget agreed fiscal parameters
Manages the General Program budget

Human Resources:
Manages regional coordinators for Africa, Asia, Middle East/North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and assists them in the management of their staff, interns, and volunteers
Coordinates the internship program, including budget, the identification of needs to be filled by interns in NY and the selection, training, and management of program interns
Assists regional coordinators with internship planning in other offices
Assists the executive director in the communication with IGLHRC’s International Advisors

Board relations:
Assists the executive director in the work with the Board Program Committee
Attends board meetings as requested by the Executive Director
Writes program reports for board meetings

Media:
In the executive director’s absence, responds to media requests in consultation with the communications director

Qualifications:
Minimum of seven years relevant management experience, including program, human resources, and finance
Experience in an advocacy, human rights organization required; knowledge and experience in advocating with the United Nations preferred
Minimum of a Masters Degree or equivalent in a relevant field
Proven experience with organizational planning, program management, and performance measurement
Established written, oral, and interpersonal skills
Proficiency with Mac OSX and Microsoft Office
Fluency in written and oral English and one other major international language required
Candidates with experience in grassroots organizations in the Global East or South are preferred.

Applications:
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, short relevant writing sample, and list of three recent professional references by e-mail to jobs@iglhrc.org. Please put “Program Director Position” in the subject line of the email. Applications should be submitted before August 20, but will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Consult our website for information on whether the position has been filled.Only applicants being considered will be contacted. This position offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. IGLHRC is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, multicultural work environment. People of color, women, people with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Gay Pastor Shares Inclusive Message

Gay Pastor Shares Inclusive Messages.

I am a Nigerian Pastor who is also gay, I love God with all my heart and I always want to reach out with love to other gays and lesbians, for pastoral care and counselling, you can chat with me at revjide@yahoo.com.

Invite and Join our online forum here, with over 400 members, let your curiosity and quest for knowledge lead you to a place where you can reconcile spirituality and sexuality. http://spiritualityandsexuality.ning.com/

I am determined to share inclusive messages and gospel of Jesus, view, share and comment on the messages, there are over 20,000 hits http://www.youtube.com/houseofrainbow

More grace more power

Rev Jide Macaulay

House Of Rainbow Nigeria