tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76604166944685366192024-02-02T05:10:22.678-05:00Other Sheep Blog OTHER SHEEP BLOG: A blog on "faith and LGBT concerns" worldwideRev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-60155036375899597952014-03-08T18:19:00.000-05:002014-03-08T18:38:56.065-05:00Gay and Out on the Carnival Pride Cruise (Baltimore-Bahamas)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
BRONX, NEW YORK. STEPHEN PARELLI. MARCH 7, 2014<br />
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Today on his <a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/" target="_blank">Other Sheep Exec Site</a> website, Rev. Stephen Parelli posted an article on his recent cruise to the Bahamas with his husband Jose Ortiz.<br />
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Article Title: <strong><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/wp/2014/03/07/gay-and-out-on-the-carnival-pride-cruise-baltimore-bahamas/" target="_blank">Gay and Out on the Carnival Pride Cruise (Baltimore-Bahamas)</a></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jose & Steve, Nassau, Bahamas</td></tr>
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<em><strong>Excerpts:</strong></em><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">“We thought it was a gay cruise,” says Jose jokingly to another gay couple on board. “After all,” he points out, “the ship is called ‘Pride.’ “ <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">No, it wasn’t a gay cruise. But, there were gay couples on board – some couples were out, and some were decidedly not! </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The preacher, in his late twenties and currently going to school for his Master’s in Education, had recently come out to, and subsequently lost, his Pentecostal church in the Bronx. He told us, in general (not revealing any identities), about Pentecostal preachers and lay people who were secretly coming to him to discuss their own personal lives as gay and closeted.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apparently, Carnival is keeping pace with society’s sense of inclusiveness: the code phrase “Friends of Dorothy” has graduated to “GLBT” (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender). <span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apparently, there are stage hosts and performers enough who have no skill in changing their heteronormativity terms when addressing gay couples. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And to that, the comedian announced to the audience, “This is the Brokeback section where this man is sitting.” </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’m gay. We are both gay and we are legally married. You know, they marry gays in many other countries.” The angry male I had spied, quickly put distance between us, as if his rage was about to burst out of control.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> It was the waiter from India who had served us breakfast one morning in the dining room on board the ship. “How do you like the book,” Jose asked him. “I’ve read it and I really like it,” he said. The waiter is gay and Christian so we had given him a copy of the book <i><a href="https://lifejourneypress.cc/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships</span></a>.</i></span></li>
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Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-80309054122865742642013-10-20T16:28:00.001-04:002013-10-20T16:34:13.528-04:00Remembering Michael Allen and the Parelli/Ortiz Commissioning Service of 2006<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By Rev. Stephen Parelli<br />
Bronx, New York<br />
Sunday, October 20, 2013<br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><b>Written in Memory of <a href="http://www.othersheep.org/Board_Member_Rev_J_C_Michael_Allen_Memoriam.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #116ebf;">Rev. J. C. Michael Allen (1927-2013)</span></a><br /> Other Sheep board member, 2002 – 2011 </b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Allen<br />
1927-2013</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: black;">Our commissioning to the work of Other Sheep occurred about seven months after we had been called by the board to work as staff volunteers for Other Sheep as Executive Director (me, full time) and as Coordinator for Africa and Asia (Jose my significant other, part time). At what point in time the commissioning service had been planned, I don’t recall. What I do remember is my feeling a bit strange about the whole idea of a commissioning service, especially sense so much of my thoughts on God was still in flux.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
For the board, and for Michael Allen, this commissioning service was of great importance to each of them, so I observed. I could sense their faith in my call and their faith in the mission of Other Sheep.<br />
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I had told the board at my interview for the job that I was never more certain of God’s call on my life than I was in accepting the position of Executive Director of Other Sheep. That much I knew, but not much more. I felt certain I had been somehow fitted for this task at this time, and with Jose as my significant other who shared my excitement, calling and gifts – well, Jose and I were ready to go. If nothing else, we had each other. But this commissioning service . . . well . . . I had to somehow manage my doubtful feelings about its earth-while significance because of my own theological misgivings.<br />
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Those attending from the Other Sheep board and J. C. Michael Allen who gave the commissioning charge – there was something special about these folk from Missouri.<br />
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<a href="http://othersheep.org/web/2013/10/20/remembering-michael-allen-and-the-parelliortiz-commissioning-service-of-2006/" target="_blank">Read More, Click Here</a></span></div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-803504548212297592013-10-09T22:58:00.003-04:002013-10-09T23:00:15.730-04:00Parelli/Ortiz Report on their 5-Country Tour of Latin America 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Links to Reports and Photos – Peru, Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala & Colombia</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Rev. Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz:<br /><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Parelli_Ortiz_Summer_Ministry.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #116ebf;">Their 2013 Other Sheep Summer Ministry to Five Latin </span></a><br /><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Parelli_Ortiz_Summer_Ministry.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #116ebf;">American Countries</span></a><br /> June 25* – September 1, 2013</span><br />
<i>*Steve arrived in Peru on June 25th, Jose on June 28th<br />
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<i><i><span style="font-size: medium;">For a full Report (PDF) and Photos per country, click on<br /> the respective link below:<br /><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Peru.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Peru</span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Peru.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Venezuela.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Venezuela</span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Venezuela.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Honduras.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Honduras</span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Honduras.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Guatemala.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Guatemala</span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Guatemala.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Colombia.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Col</span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Colombia.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">o</span></a><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Latin_America_2013_Colombia.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">mbia</span></a></span></i></i></div>
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Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-72584032184075986572013-09-24T07:02:00.000-04:002013-09-24T07:12:18.720-04:00Soulforce Stands with H. Adam Ackley, Theology Professor at Azusa Pacific University Dismissed for Coming Out as Transgender <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em>Source: Soulforce; received by email - general mailing, Monday, September 23, 2013 at 6:15PM</em><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Last week, H. Adam Ackley, a theology professor at Azusa Pacific University, was encouraged to resign after 15 years of distinguished service to the school when he told administrators that he was transgender. The school is an evangelical Christian university outside of Los Angeles that Soulforce has visited on its Equality Ride, and has worked with students at the school attempting to improve campus conditions for LGBTQ students and faculty. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">Ackley was asked to resign despite not having broken any school policies. The reason the University cited was that his "privacy" should be protected as he transitions from female to male, and that this process might be confusing to students, parents, or donors of the University.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">_________________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Sign a </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001yZOG8nKaymbTBni4yxxignfcFAjGLtvitC9TktfgMRxijObwc_EmsdJa-l92ehSX8thFcfTuy6QRo7Uz7wB-5SohzdR0j8S8iUgc8yiG4CE_YJ8HUlmm2Kefz-Y4OmTIVCoEp8rb4YfMOfKJkpV8njlT4-jXU8GRzyvDBAylahztCx2Rn6NQFPMjkcN_HZGXNdxFNuZgHJWM3sBVfA2WGoharw76Oyqsj-8xHC-zWnI=" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Change.org</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #003399;"> <span style="color: blue;">petition started by Azusa Pacific students calling on the University to make its campus safe for transgender students, faculty, and staff</span></span></span><span style="color: blue;">!</span><span style="color: black;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>_________________________________________________________________</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Ackley has expressed that he feels free and ready to live his life openly, but has strong pastoral concern for how his students might be taking the University's decision.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">We stand with Adam Ackley in his requests to the school for the following: </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">1.) That Ackley be allowed to complete the semester instructing his students, helping them process and learn from his transition. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">2.) That the University honor its commitment to cover Ackley's medical benefits, including doctor-prescribed hormone treatment and the modest, outpatient "top surgery" procedure he requires for his gender transition.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">3.) That the University make clear by what policy they dismissed Ackley, and that his dismissal had nothing to do with any misconduct as a professor. </span><span style="color: black;"><br />
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1380019315864_3422" style="color: #003366; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Furthermore, Soulforce stands in support of students, faculty, and staff, who have received a toxic message that the broad diversity of gender expression is somehow shameful, wrong, or "against God's will." </span><br />
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1380019315864_3419" style="color: #003366; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Executive Director of Soulforce said, "We absolutely stand with Adam, this extraordinary teacher, pastor, and person of faith. But, like Adam, our deepest concern is for the students and faculty of this campus where the administration has now publicly sanctioned an anti-LGBT climate. The administrators say that students will be "confused" by the transitioning of a transgender person when, in truth, the students are not confused at all. It is the administrators that are confused, and intolerant, of the range of sexual and gender expression that we recognize as integral to the Creator's design for humankind and all nature."</span> </div>
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Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-39675453056967291572013-05-05T11:12:00.000-04:002013-05-07T16:49:18.717-04:00Gloucester Point, Virginia, Bethany United Methodist Church 'Church and Society Committee' calls seminar on the Bible and homosexuality a success<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>by Nancy Orth, Chairperson</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Church and Society Committee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bethany United Methodist Church</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gloucester Point, Virginia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">April 30, 2013</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Saturday, April 20, from 1 - 4 p.m., the Rev. Steve Parelli and Mr. Jose
Ortiz of Other Sheep (www.othersheep.org), invited by the Church and Society
Committee of Bethany United Methodist Church in Gloucester Point, Virginia presented a
seminar entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking Points – What
you need to know and say when they say: “But the Bible clearly condemns
homosexuality!”</i> On Sunday, April 21, during the Sunday School hour, the
Rev. Parelli and Mr. Ortiz spoke to a group about the fallacies of the “ex-gay”
movement.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/%7BDB6A45E4-C446-4248-82C8-E131B6424741%7D/umns12_096_1_home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="
Logo for the Board of Church and Society.
" border="0" height="199" src="http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/%7BDB6A45E4-C446-4248-82C8-E131B6424741%7D/umns12_096_1_home.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Approximately 50 people attended the 'Bible and homosexuality' talk on Saturday
including the minister of Bethany Church. Rev. Parelli, assisted by Mr. Ortiz, gave a scholarly,
and very interesting, PowerPoint lecture on what have come to be known as the
“Clobber Passages,” six references in the Bible commonly used to condemn
homosexuals (Gen. 19, Lev. 18:22 and 22:13, Romans 1, I Cor. 6:9 and I:10, Jude
7). In an attempt to create an informal atmosphere this event was held in the
church fellowship hall with refreshments provided. The attendees sat around
tables and were given paper and pencils to write down questions or comments to
ask at the end of the presentation. A ten-page handout of notes that followed
the PowerPoint material was provided each attendee.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The audience, for the most part, was engaged and positively
receptive. There were six people who negatively challenged Rev. Parelli and Mr.
Ortiz, by quoting scripture and condemning them as homosexual. This created
some awkward moments but did not de-rail the afternoon. Rev. Parelli and the
hosting committee did ask this group to allow him to stay on topic and offered
to discuss their concerns after the presentation was over. Three of these
attendees left before the end of the session and some of the others stayed
afterwards and talked with Rev. Parelli and Mr. Ortiz. There were also a number
of people who had very positive comments about the talk and relayed these to
Rev. Parelli, Mr. Ortiz, and members of the hosting committee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 'Bible and homosexuality' seminar was announced in the "Church News" section of the April 18 Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal. The general public was cordially invited. The larger amount of the attendees was from Bethany Church, a few were from the community at large.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Sunday, April 21 Rev. Parelli and Mr. Ortiz attended the
early morning worship service prior to speaking to a Sunday School class
about the fallacies of the “ex-gay” movement, including their own related
experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was well-received.
After Sunday School Rev. Parelli and Mr. Ortiz were taken to brunch at a nearby
restaurant. Twelve church members accompanied them and continued the
discussion.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Church and Society Committee deemed the visit a success
and has sent out a survey asking for input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course the survey is aimed at those who attended but also welcomes
comments from any member of the congregation. These results will help the
committee to answer the question “Where do we go from here?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was certainly a pleasure and privilege to have Rev. Parelli
and Mr. Ortiz visit Bethany. They were the perfect guests and very enjoyable to
be around. They are welcomed back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-20398534557178718192013-04-28T10:03:00.003-04:002013-04-28T10:03:55.690-04:00Introducing Verlin V. Byers, Other Sheep Coordinator for Latinas/os in the USA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>By Verlin V. Byers</em></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>Other Sheep Coordinator for Latinas/os in the USA</em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">(Editor's note: For Verlin's photo and the Other Sheep home page of </span></span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Latinas/os USA, <a href="http://www.othersheep.org/latinas/osUSA.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">click here</span></a>. Verlin became Coordinator in November </span></span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">of 2011.</span></span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">)</span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em></em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>My name is
Verlin Byers and I would describe myself as a follower of Christ who
happens to be gay.</em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Religious Heritage, Education and
Past Missions Work</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>My religious heritage comes from the
Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition, but I grew up in the Church of the
Nazarene and have a B.A. in Psychology from Northwest Nazarene
University (NNU). I served as a missionary with the Nazarene Youth In
Mission program for two summers during university in Brazil and
Portugal. After graduating from NNU, I returned to Brazil in 1992 to
volunteer as a Community Development Worker with the Mennonite Central
Committee (MCC). My time in Brazil abruptly ended after two years of service when I was forced to “come out.”</em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Current Residence, Work and
Church</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>I currently live in Portland, OR where I work in social services and am
an active member of the United Church of Christ.</em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Languages</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>I do speak Portuguese and Spanish,
with greater fluency in Portuguese due to my work in Brazil.</em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Vision
and Passion</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>My
hope and passion is to see lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered
individuals who have been oppressed by the Church restored to healing
and wholeness. <br /> <br />In John 21 Jesus asks Simon Peter if he loves him
more than the other disciples. He actually asks the same question
three times and Peter gives him the same answer each time. He responds
that <br soft="" />Jesus knows Peter loves him. And three times, in the course of
the conversation, Jesus tells Peter to take care of his sheep: "Feed
my lambs . . . Tend my sheep . . . Feed my sheep."<br /><br />I find this
image very meaningful and hope it guides the work I do, particularly
with Other Sheep.</em></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></i></span><br />
<span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></i><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Contact Me</span></b></span><br />
<span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">If you have any questions, concerns,
comments, or just need someone to talk to, please feel free to contact
me. For my contact </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">information, <a href="http://www.othersheep.org/latinas/osUSA.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">click here</span></a>. </span></i></span><br />
<i></i><br /></div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-74188352453227613762013-04-27T17:49:00.000-04:002013-04-27T18:53:27.453-04:00A Formal Public Apology by John Paulk, a Former "ex-gay" Leader<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em>Of related interest:<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">See Rev. Steve Parelli's paper <strong>Is There Really Such A Thing As 'Ex-gay'?</strong></span></em><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/USE_THIS_X_Gay__7_17_06.doc" target="_blank">In English</a></span></em></li>
<li><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/USE_THIS_X_Gay__7_17_06_FRENCH_08_Final_Draft_2012_June_18.doc" target="_blank">In French</a></span></em></li>
<li><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/Ex-Gay_Study_in_Spanish.doc" target="_blank">In Spanish</a></span></em></li>
<li><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/Is_There_Really_Such_A_Thing_As_Ex_Gay_in_Nepali_Word_2003_BEST_Word_2003.doc" target="_blank">In Nepalese</a></span></em></li>
<li><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/2011_06_25_Ex_Gay_Myth_by_Steve_Parelli_Chinese_version_translation_by_Felix_Liew.doc" target="_blank">In Chinese</a></span></em></li>
</ul>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
From: <a href="mailto:murray@glaad.org" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367096763489_2248" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:murray@glaad.org"><span style="color: #2862c5;">murray@glaad.org</span></a><br />
Date: Wed Apr 24 12:00:51 2013<br />
Subject: <strong>A Formal Public Apology by John Paulk</strong><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>I am passing along a statement by John Paulk, a former advocate of the </em><em>ex-gay movement and conversion therapy and author. He was the founder and former leader of the ministry Love Won Out which was launched by the
organization Focus on the Family.</em><br />
<em>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The purpose of his statement is to apologize and renounce his involvement </div>
<div>
in the 'ex-gay' movement. Full statement below my signature.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Any further media inquiries can be directed to </div>
</em><div>
<a href="mailto:paulkapology@yahoo.com." id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367096763489_2251" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:paulkapology@yahoo.com."><span style="color: #2862c5;"><em>paulkapology@yahoo.com.</em></span></a></div>
<br />
<em>Ross Murray</em><em></em><br />
<em><div>
Director of News and Faith Initiatives</div>
<div>
GLAAD</div>
</em><br />
<div>
</div>
<em></em><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="john paulk" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-97987" height="231" src="http://newnownext.mtvnimages.com/2013/04/John-Paulk-crop-500x642.jpg?width=608&height=310" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="454" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Paulk, onetime poster boy for ex-gays (<a href="http://www.newnownext.com/john-paulk-onetime-poster-boy-for-ex-gays-issues-formal-apology-to-lgbt-community/04/2013/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">photo source</span></a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><u>A Formal Public Apology</u></strong><br />
<em>by John Paulk</em><br />
<em></em><br />
For the better part of ten years, I was an advocate and spokesman for <br />
what's known as the ex-gay movement, where we declared that sexual <br />
orientation could be changed through a close-knit relationship with God, <br />
intensive therapy and strong determination. At the time, I truly believed <br />
that it would happen. And while many things in my life did change as a <br />
Christian, my sexual orientation did not.<br />
<br />
So in 2003, I left the public ministry and gave up my role as a spokesman <br />
for the "ex-gay movement." I began a new journey. In the decade since, my <br />
beliefs have changed. Today, I do not consider myself "ex-gay" and I no <br />
longer support or promote the movement. Please allow me to be clear: I do <br />
not believe that reparative therapy changes sexual orientation; in fact, <br />
it does great harm to many people.<br />
<br />
I know that countless people were harmed by things I said and did in the <br />
past. Parents, families, and their loved ones were negatively impacted by <br />
the notion of reparative therapy and the message of change. I am truly, <br />
truly sorry for the pain I have caused.<br />
<br />
From the bottom of my heart I wish I could take back my words and actions <br />
that caused anger, depression, guilt and hopelessness. In their place I <br />
want to extend love, hope, tenderness, joy and the truth that gay people <br />
are loved by God.<br />
<br />
Today, I see LGBT people for who they are--beloved, cherished children of <br />
God. I offer my most sincere and heartfelt apology to men, women, and <br />
especially children and teens who felt unlovable, unworthy, shamed or <br />
thrown away by God or the church.<br />
<br />
I want to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who encouraged me to take <br />
this initial step of transparency. Even while promoting "ex-gay" programs, <br />
there were those who called me on my own words and actions. I'm sure I <br />
didn't appreciate it at the time, but they have helped me to realize this <br />
truth about who I am.<br />
<br />
This is a life transition that has been and will continue to be, <br />
challenging. Sadly, my marriage of 20 years is in the process of ending. I <br />
want to take the time to make sure my next actions come from a place of <br />
truth and authenticity. Therefore, I'm drastically limiting my public <br />
engagement until my own personal life can be settled. After that I eagerly <br />
anticipate giving back to the community.<br />
<br />
Finally, I know there are still accounts of my "ex-gay" testimony out<br />
there being publicized by various groups, including two books that I wrote <br />
about my journey. I don't get any royalties from these publications, and <br />
haven't since I left the ministry nearly ten years ago. I discourage <br />
anyone from purchasing and selling these books or promoting my "ex-gay" <br />
story because they do not reflect who I am now or what I believe today.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>John Paulk</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em></strong> </div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-44093748595213299722013-04-03T23:08:00.000-04:002013-04-04T08:47:09.224-04:00"I'm here with my husband," says Jose on stage before hundreds at an Hawaiian luau on the island of Oahu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Jose "comes out" on stage during a live (in drag) performance before hundreds at a Luau, in Oahu, Hawaii. </h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>by Rev. Steve Parelli</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>April 3, 2013</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Bronx, NY</em> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziiqAJd_DjT4DupuhUyNHpkedsBy88HYu_HhfsO7bEvstmVXmZh4kHEFKU-KUyfBPewDLK8LXgCL8Rka5hHyJ56KyfMcKNIqM1ygCDOyLAVDJmx2VQPGl7KU9XQoDfGRyjiKtcnbZeMkA/s1600/Jose+being+congratulated+by+gay+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziiqAJd_DjT4DupuhUyNHpkedsBy88HYu_HhfsO7bEvstmVXmZh4kHEFKU-KUyfBPewDLK8LXgCL8Rka5hHyJ56KyfMcKNIqM1ygCDOyLAVDJmx2VQPGl7KU9XQoDfGRyjiKtcnbZeMkA/s320/Jose+being+congratulated+by+gay+friends.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kupono Kwong (right) with<br />
Pat Humphries and Sandy O of Emma's<br />
Revolution, having just congratulated<br />
Jose Ortiz (left) for his "coming out"<br />
before hundreds at a Hawaiian luau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At a Paradise Cove luau (Oahu, Hawaii), on the evening of April 1, 2013, Jose Ortiz, volunteering at the invitation of the emcee, performed a short hulu dance (in drag) with two regular performing dancers, the final show of the evening. When asked, before the hundreds in attendance, with whom he was traveling, Jose said, "I am here with my husband." Steve, Jose's husband, standing at the side of the stage (ground level) hoping to get a photo of Jose's performance, waved his hand to the audience in response to Jose's introduction of him as husband. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Immediately following the show, Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kupono Kwong the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, and a lesbian couple (Pat Humphries and Sany O of <a href="http://www.emmasrevolution.com/listen/album/revolutions-per-minute/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Emma's Revolution</span></a>) who were attending the luau with him, greeted Jose and Steve with cheers of gratitude. Their smiles in the accompanying photo (above, right) tell it all. They were immensely happy to have LGBT "representation" in the show, so they said, explaining how luaus here generally fail to give any support, in their shows, to gay couples. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHa8smWzwSatREck4MfFW5EcdHRrdbxf51vvO3YMurMu4VgVumKLgsM5Z2srdXutmyHpNnNVGHE1YMz6LGeeTJLjKec9WmMQGe3rHfdGDEZT1_7vREC2paeE5Yx-SxvLHhIloXFRUTYXm/s1600/Jose+in+drag+at+luau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHa8smWzwSatREck4MfFW5EcdHRrdbxf51vvO3YMurMu4VgVumKLgsM5Z2srdXutmyHpNnNVGHE1YMz6LGeeTJLjKec9WmMQGe3rHfdGDEZT1_7vREC2paeE5Yx-SxvLHhIloXFRUTYXm/s200/Jose+in+drag+at+luau.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jose Ortiz (center) in drag, <br />
following his on-stage<br />
performance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The luau show, so opposite-sex oriented in its story line and dance movements, gives no hint of today's reality that love is found and expressed by same-sex couples, too. Gay couples are silently ignored, especially noticeable in the words of the emcee who, asking for newly weds and marriage anniversaries to announce themselves, made no reference to diversity. Diversity, on this paradise island, is apparently lost in this Paradise Cove luau performance, as beautiful as it was in its portrayal of opposite-sex love.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-43880685032125753382013-04-03T22:49:00.001-04:002013-04-04T09:48:36.831-04:00Other Sheep presents on the Bible and homosexuality at a Big Island, Hawaii, PFLAG meeting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Big Island PFLAG hears Other Sheep Presentation: "Talking Points"</h3>
<em>for the "Talking Point" paper ("What you need to know and say when they say: 'But the Bible clearly condemns homosexuality!' "), <a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_on_the_Bible_and_Homosexuality_by_Rev_Stephen_Parelli_2012.doc" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">click here</span></a></em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>by Rev. Steve Parelli</em><br />
<em>April 3, 2013</em><br />
<em>Bronx, NY</em><br />
<br />
On Thursday evening of March 28, 2013, Rev. Steve Parelli, using PowerPoint, presented parts of his paper <em><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_on_the_Bible_and_Homosexuality_Introduction.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Talking Points (What you need to know and say when they say: 'But the Bible clearly condemns homosexuality!'</span></a><span style="color: blue;">)</span></em> to a group of 9 people, including two professors from the University of Hawaii (one, a professor of history who also speaks on occasion on the topic of the Bible and homosexuality, and the other a professor of feminism). <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVT_kLFE-alof1rPVKmrdiuCbaBnpBE4Vcz1i20d6KULYkE97Ky-Vsy1shV9gkqYnEth0udzL9O96ssVJ18Sjp1X9MyB5fQMBGu1q2V8CtVlHdR-yXzBHEevmJijjNtGn8RTg1J6pKekL/s1600/Jose+with+Lesbian+Couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVT_kLFE-alof1rPVKmrdiuCbaBnpBE4Vcz1i20d6KULYkE97Ky-Vsy1shV9gkqYnEth0udzL9O96ssVJ18Sjp1X9MyB5fQMBGu1q2V8CtVlHdR-yXzBHEevmJijjNtGn8RTg1J6pKekL/s320/Jose+with+Lesbian+Couple.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janno (<em>left</em>) and her partner Laurie who are <br />
the owners of Hairy Monkey Books and <br />
who hosted, as PFLAG leaders,<br />
the Other Sheep presentation.<br />
Jose Ortiz (<em>right</em>).<br />
<em>The Big Island, Hawaii.</em><br />
<em>March 28, 2013</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The group varied in their background from one self-declared atheist to a lesbian with an evangelical brother who pastors a church (on the main land of the United States) and whose approach with her on the issue of homosexuality is evangelistic.<br />
<br />
The meeting was hosted by the <a href="http://www.pflagbigisland.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Big Island PFLAG</span></a> (sse their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PFLAGBigIsland" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook page</span></a>) and was held in a meeting space at Hairy Monkey Books, 92 Kalanianaole Ave, Hilo, Hawaii. Janno, the PFLAG leader, and Laurie, her partner, are the owners of Hairy Monkey Books, home of the largest book signing in the history of Hilo ("Roseanne Barrs Roseannarchy"). Hairy Monkey Books carries retro, vintage, antique and collectible items from all over the planet and offers the largest selection of LGBT cards, gifts and books on the Big Island Hawaii.<br />
<br />
The Big Island PFLAG announced the Other Sheep meeting in the March 27 <em>Big Island Weekly</em> free publication under the "Big Island Calendar" column. The announcement gave the topic of discussion and a description of the ministry of Other Sheep</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-522599591559391802013-03-27T12:26:00.003-04:002013-05-07T16:51:53.218-04:00A Pearl Harbor kissing photo op, and a Honolulu Marriage Equality march, on the first day of the Supreme Court's Prop 8 hearings.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Rev. Steve Parelli<br />
March 27, 2031<br />
Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa Hotel<br />
Kanekapolei Street<br />
Honolulu, Hawaii<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9invDUQjGzpkEUZGW5gCIG6JvVa32WI6zMHQQD-8KfLMOPLPO2L8HBt4YbHXtOjXVCRtqHjzoTwEo2xI-HDvXE40S1EQgUQ09EKYkbnZnK5cWx96jdkFgPud2SIJ0rfTrECnlx6RMzN8/s1600/Jose+and+Steve+kissing+at+Sailor+kissing+Missiouri+Battleship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9invDUQjGzpkEUZGW5gCIG6JvVa32WI6zMHQQD-8KfLMOPLPO2L8HBt4YbHXtOjXVCRtqHjzoTwEo2xI-HDvXE40S1EQgUQ09EKYkbnZnK5cWx96jdkFgPud2SIJ0rfTrECnlx6RMzN8/s320/Jose+and+Steve+kissing+at+Sailor+kissing+Missiouri+Battleship.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Parelli, right and Joe Ortiz, MO Battleship, <br />
Pearl Harbor, March 26, 2013, <br />
first day of Supreme Court hearing<br />
on Prop 8. Steve and Jose were married in<br />
Sacramento, California, on March 25, 2008.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is our first time to Hawaii, and yesterday was our first full day in the 50th state. <br />
<br />
Jose and I are here celebrating a milestone in my life. I turned 60 years old in January, and this week-long vacation in Hawaii is Jose's birthday gift to me.<br />
<br />
We planned two activities for our first day: Pearl Harbor in the morning and a tour of the Mission House in the late afternoon, a National Historic Site, the site where New England missionaries, in the early 1800s, lived and worked to introduce Christianity to the islands.<br />
<br />
What we didn't plan was our participation in the Honolulu Inter-faith Equality March. We stumbled onto that event. Following our Mission House tour, we made our way to the huge grounds of the close-by historic Palace.<br />
<br />
While walking the Palace grounds, a young man at quite a distance away, kept waving to us to come over. We could make out that he was with a small group with signs of some kind.<br />
<br />
"Maybe," I said to Jose, "its a Marriage Equality march." After all, today was the first day of the Supreme Court hearing of Proposition 8, the California ballot box decision that repealed marriage equality in California. Jose and I were married in Sacramento, California, on August 25, 2008.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuiARTF4ZWFCl-MmMxcnbprhaSf_y6Fsd64omQa-zRfc6MmLFNNjqr3tBcNZBQWDZokouW9-VI60N19rSwd7tnjrZVZRXRL33O4aSnaCOSM7IRQitUT6RQgJaVR1ZJn-dNap9-CztYvA2/s1600/Equality+March+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuiARTF4ZWFCl-MmMxcnbprhaSf_y6Fsd64omQa-zRfc6MmLFNNjqr3tBcNZBQWDZokouW9-VI60N19rSwd7tnjrZVZRXRL33O4aSnaCOSM7IRQitUT6RQgJaVR1ZJn-dNap9-CztYvA2/s320/Equality+March+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honolulu Inter-faith Marriage Equality March,<br />
March 26, 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Throughout the day we had kept ourselves abreast of whatever news we could get on the Washington, DC, events around this historic day, reading articles on our cell phones, while coming and going on the public buses.<br />
<br />
At Pearl Harbor, after touring the Missouri Battleship, we posed for a picture, kissing one another, alongside a famous statue of that WW II sailor spontaneously kissing a woman, also in uniform. We made the picture to celebrate, on this first day of the Supreme Court's Proposition 8 hearings, our August 25, 2008, California marriage. It was our way of connecting Hawaii (where the first Marriage Equality battle took place in state courts), with Sacramento (where we were married) with the Supremem Court initial hearings on Proposition 8. It was our small symbolic way of support.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQa-Z2FCd12HBYn0C73L-Ykcd5zhWiiTr9SRAjfrVQwnVrTF-kBFGU6V2Y4N9vfAsquGQM8j_mCGRuNIQGSpBd4WjNfP9831tQlaQCJyR4kYGaM8-HB2ULNoHokOy-_GTKF6EoEJ5NeANo/s1600/Jose+and+Steve+with+main+speaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQa-Z2FCd12HBYn0C73L-Ykcd5zhWiiTr9SRAjfrVQwnVrTF-kBFGU6V2Y4N9vfAsquGQM8j_mCGRuNIQGSpBd4WjNfP9831tQlaQCJyR4kYGaM8-HB2ULNoHokOy-_GTKF6EoEJ5NeANo/s320/Jose+and+Steve+with+main+speaker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honolulu Interfaith Marriage Equaility March,<br />
Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kupono Kwong (center) of<br />
First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, <br />
with Rev. Steve Parelli (left) and Jose Ortiz<br />
March 26, 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Little did we know, upon the taking of our symbolic photo of support at the Missouri Battleship, that before the day was over we would be marching in an Iner-faith Honolulu Marriage Equality march in support of overturning Proposition 8.<br />
<br />
I wondered what our 1800 New England missionaries to Hawaii would think about Marrige Equality. After all, our tour-guide said the missionaries did not approve of the Hawaiian hula and were instrumental in legally removing its practice from the islands. <br />
<br />
I felt I knew, however, what Eleanor Roosevelt would think about Marriage Equality. Overlooking Pearl Harbor there is a quote in stone by the First Lady. She said something like this that she must now, in view of all who give their lives for our freedom, ask herself if her life is worth dying for. To live the Golden Rule, wherever we are, is a worthy life.<br />
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-45962002149179146202013-03-06T13:22:00.001-05:002013-03-06T14:59:47.446-05:00SUNY Benefit Concert for Other Sheep in Uganda<h4>
SUNY (State University of New York) student Sam Colbert: "You can’t affect change politically if you can’t affect change socially and vice versa."</h4>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Rev. Stephen Parelli</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Executive Director of <a href="http://www.othersheep.org/" target="_blank">Other Sheep</a></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">March 6, 2013</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bronx, New York</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6ZyynMSxohZWhLNrCENx4YUbHnti3kkTKtac31RYsW-Z-o_Tuyq7p2PXwRzHmF0JNL5UGqyL5iof3uAw8hRzRmALy3PiDsrBfsUTzgUdOe59Ih6jwIo9KwfT8Hg_bXYHylOA52iQTClB/s1600/Sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6ZyynMSxohZWhLNrCENx4YUbHnti3kkTKtac31RYsW-Z-o_Tuyq7p2PXwRzHmF0JNL5UGqyL5iof3uAw8hRzRmALy3PiDsrBfsUTzgUdOe59Ih6jwIo9KwfT8Hg_bXYHylOA52iQTClB/s1600/Sam.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Colbert, perfroming<br />
at the March 2, 2013<br />
benefit concert.<br />
<em>Photo by Steve Parelli</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On March 2, 2013, <a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/" target="_blank">Rev. Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz</a> of
Other Sheep were the honored guests of a benefit concert put on by the SUNY
(State University of New York) Geneseo faculty and students, and guest artists
Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus. </span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sam Colbert, the SUNY student who led in organizing the
event, in an interview with Geneseo’s student newspaper <em>The Lamron</em>, reported
that the proceeds of the benefit concert will go towards Other Sheep’s book distribution in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other Sheep
distributes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://lifejourneypress.cc/products/the-children-are-free" target="_blank">The Children Are Free</a></i>, a
scholarly lay-person’s guide to what the Bible does and does not say about
homosexuality.</span><br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Colbert told <em>The Lamron</em>, “I think it’s a really interesting
project because it’s targeting a social root of the issues. “ He added, “You
can’t affect change politically if you can’t affect change socially and vice
versa. I think it’s really important to change people’s minds on a social
level.”</span><br />
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ_tSf9-N_Xn-YXChHGy_JZ8eAdt1mRndff88eP4YRJUntvWvOA_F-K2poTJf3y8wOk5pYyUGbIL2c1lAI5nCWTjC-oOikX_xg5pQOkmn4OpRKdYYPcY0nlarxpSnWq2P2KkkvTM_zUnB/s1600/EU+Logo%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ_tSf9-N_Xn-YXChHGy_JZ8eAdt1mRndff88eP4YRJUntvWvOA_F-K2poTJf3y8wOk5pYyUGbIL2c1lAI5nCWTjC-oOikX_xg5pQOkmn4OpRKdYYPcY0nlarxpSnWq2P2KkkvTM_zUnB/s1600/EU+Logo%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the event poster, by <br />
artwork designer Raymond Ferreira,<br />
SUNY student</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"We've made a lot of progress in the gay rights movement [in the United States]," Colbert told <em>The Lamron</em>. "We don't really focus on international issues as much and I think it's still important . . . especially in countries where it's illegal to be gay . . . to focus our attention there."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Assistant professor of music Pamela Kurau, who performed at the concert, help Colbert with organizing the Saturday eveing 8 p.m. benefit concert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Held in the
Wadsworth Auditorium of the Geneseo SUNY (State University of New York) campus,
the benfit concert was preceded by a 4:30 p.m. lecture, also held in the Wadsorth Auditorium, delivered by Luzau Balowa, chairperson of
<a href="http://www.aragrci.com/" target="_blank">African Rights Activists Group</a>, a Nevada/Washington DC based organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balowa, according to <em>The Lamron</em>, was
incarcerated in the Congo and in Uganda for his pro-LGBT activism. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRFZJDFrFF5sL4YXqKKTPONpivwJ9NUUHT2wLPVdGQ2hANhFqKnpGSslQglSX-7V-9vne6Dc8kkMRKOy-aS4WJDUSew5rxPkDhHE9S_qI3DJegt09snP7dLxKjIc1ua6nJzjCQf3CohZy/s1600/Sam%252C+Pam%252C+Me%252C+Jose+and+Luzau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRFZJDFrFF5sL4YXqKKTPONpivwJ9NUUHT2wLPVdGQ2hANhFqKnpGSslQglSX-7V-9vne6Dc8kkMRKOy-aS4WJDUSew5rxPkDhHE9S_qI3DJegt09snP7dLxKjIc1ua6nJzjCQf3CohZy/s1600/Sam%252C+Pam%252C+Me%252C+Jose+and+Luzau.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Equality Uganda at Geneseo SUNY. Left to right: Rev. Steve Parelli of<br />
Other Sheep, assistant professor of music Pamela Kurau,<br />
organizer of the event Sam Colbert, Jose Ortiz of Other Sheep,<br />
and Luzau Balowa of African Rigts Activists Group</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two events, the Balowa lecture and the benefit concert for Other
Sheep, were billed “Equality Uganda” and was sponsored by the Provost’s Office,
Music Department, Women’s Studies Department, Office of International Programs,
Black Student Union Pride, and Pride Alliance.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The SUNY Geneseo campus is situated in western
New York state, south of Rochester.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-50323148512731550182013-03-05T00:26:00.003-05:002013-03-06T16:27:02.325-05:00Parelli tells SUNY students about his Reparative Therapy experience with Joseph Nicolosi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
Rev. Stephen Parelli, in a discussion group centered
around <em>8 The Play</em>, tells SUNY students he, too, was in Reparative Therapy with
Joseph Nicolosi<o:p></o:p></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>by Rev. Stephen Parelli<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
<em><strong>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Executive Director, Other Sheep<o:p></o:p></span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bronx, NY<o:p></o:p></span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">March 4, 2013</span></strong></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/USE_THIS_X_Gay__7_17_06.doc" target="_blank">Click here</a> for Parelli's paper on the fallacies of the "ex-gay" movement</span></em><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyHlSSWYwq3cYGybLl0NK2kjcMBhvShyphenhyphen0w8UVqVuxmcaSDEwY6atmmxdqbr6jqJto0pPexHOywrikd47FuU5WIW5NgEjiCdUo6hPOz_nQwE2tJhlQbReqsNAKaP3ZQToEys8H1q85XZza/s1600/8+The+Play+-+photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyHlSSWYwq3cYGybLl0NK2kjcMBhvShyphenhyphen0w8UVqVuxmcaSDEwY6atmmxdqbr6jqJto0pPexHOywrikd47FuU5WIW5NgEjiCdUo6hPOz_nQwE2tJhlQbReqsNAKaP3ZQToEys8H1q85XZza/s400/8+The+Play+-+photo+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>8 The Play</em>, March 1, 2013, perfomred by SUNY at Geneso students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a discussion group following the March 1 presentation
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.8theplay.com/" target="_blank">8 The Play</a></i>, a staged reading
dramatization of the May 4, 2010, ruling that overturned Proposition 8 in
California, performed by <a href="http://www.geneseo.edu/wsminor" target="_blank">The Women’s Studies</a> and <a href="http://www.geneseo.edu/english" target="_blank">English Departments</a> of SUNY
(State University of New York) of Geneseo and directed by Rachel Tamarin, Rev.
Stephen Parelli, a special guest for the weekend and who saw the performance,
remarked that the actors who portrayed the defense – the conservative right in
favor of Proposition 8, the amendment that limited marriage to same-sex couples
– may have appeared “over the top” in portraying their respective conservative characters,
but were in fact, in their portrayals, truly representative of the vehement,
aggressive anti-gay spirit that so often characterizes those activists who oppose
marriage equality. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKKGFRsTq7w0rffztMLeMBvK6BRgzdyAzbaBQoIt2U0sw4QNHbU18ddkEVGjWSYiECzGI2gij0Q7twqqirL77aFPxviyicgQWokwWXX7LPc3M4g3qf-ZMFmG4jDByLvUYdhKIfCTrYS8B/s1600/8+The+Play+-+photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKKGFRsTq7w0rffztMLeMBvK6BRgzdyAzbaBQoIt2U0sw4QNHbU18ddkEVGjWSYiECzGI2gij0Q7twqqirL77aFPxviyicgQWokwWXX7LPc3M4g3qf-ZMFmG4jDByLvUYdhKIfCTrYS8B/s200/8+The+Play+-+photo+4.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Parelli, left, with <br />
Hunter Kane who played the<br />
character in<em> 8 The Play</em> who, like<br />
Steve, was in Reparative Therapy <br />
withJoseph Nicolosi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parelli, having noted that the play had a gay character
who testified to his counseling experience with Joseph Nicolosi of <a href="http://narth.com/" target="_blank">NARTH</a>
(National Association for Research & therapy of homosexuality), shared with
the SUNY students his own personal experiences as a former client of Joseph
Nicolosi in 1996-1997.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parelli offered to
email his “<a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/USE_THIS_X_Gay__7_17_06.doc" target="_blank"><strong>ex-gay” paper</strong></a>, which discusses the fallacies of the “ex-gay”
movement, to interested students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-0BWkZr-kq6suiEuGUlylbbBycN1WiXkOh7Iyu4T1qMLfb2zKstolAEwdLJrw_8xijSvau0HuFINmPQLC9_kA6Wh8m0Y7Qo7oPDaXqwePYcBzzbo5YkwLWpfHgqVrrzHSL3YQrED3gd7/s1600/8+The+Play+-+photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-0BWkZr-kq6suiEuGUlylbbBycN1WiXkOh7Iyu4T1qMLfb2zKstolAEwdLJrw_8xijSvau0HuFINmPQLC9_kA6Wh8m0Y7Qo7oPDaXqwePYcBzzbo5YkwLWpfHgqVrrzHSL3YQrED3gd7/s320/8+The+Play+-+photo+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>8 The Play</em>, March 1, 2013, <br />
perfomred by SUNY at Geneso students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his discussion of Nicolosi, while he said he did not agree
with the presuppositions of reparative therapy nor with the supposed possible
outcome of reversing his homosexuality, Parelli did give a balanced view of
Nicolosi’s overall ability to relate to his clients, citing specifics where
Parelli felt the counseling sessions did help him in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parelli related how Nicolosi’s permission to
hold and be held, for days at a time, in the arms of another male, did in fact
set the stage for the marriage he now enjoys with his husband Jose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parelli said he had asked Jose to hold him, telling Jose
that his therapist had granted permission, and that holding would be part of
the healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said Jose asked him how
much holding is enough holding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaSCmi3X5MjTmjKI8bOJ2A4V9_KRZulpv9nSIb3wt5hh0H2YJG3YN1D9ZlArNKW8M_LxaOyghsQC-ODme_XqsuJB4P3_svQtIBPin90w094LO7cNQ-CbdAi2_sU0G2fv2xOX6y1QzX5Gw/s1600/steve_on_lap_of_Jose_2-321x390%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaSCmi3X5MjTmjKI8bOJ2A4V9_KRZulpv9nSIb3wt5hh0H2YJG3YN1D9ZlArNKW8M_LxaOyghsQC-ODme_XqsuJB4P3_svQtIBPin90w094LO7cNQ-CbdAi2_sU0G2fv2xOX6y1QzX5Gw/s200/steve_on_lap_of_Jose_2-321x390%5B1%5D.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Parelli and<br />
Jose Ortiz on their<br />
wedding day,<br />
August 25, 2008<br />
Sacramento, CA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parelli, who has lived in New York City with his partner
since 1997, told the SUNY students he and his partner Jose were <a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Our_Wedding_August_25_2008.html" target="_blank"><strong>married</strong> in Sacramento, California, in August of 2008</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said Jose and he married for the legal protection and benefits that
marriage would bring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, he said, upon
leaving Sacramento City Hall as husband and husband, he was overcome with the sensation
that, at last, he was now fully “American,” one with society, equal in
citizenship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said it was a feeling he
had not expected, that completely overtook him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-58725334919445990242013-03-04T22:25:00.001-05:002013-06-01T13:00:47.792-04:00SUNY (State University of New York) Students Hear Other Sheep Presentation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h3 class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #990000;">At an Other Sheep presentation on LGBT Christians in
Kenya and Uganda, SUNY (Statue University of New York) students of Geneseo hear
an activist lawyer comment on how “human rights” is not grasped in developing
countries where the Bible is believed to be the final authority in all things</span></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<em>by Rev. Stephen Parelli</em></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<em>Executive Director, </em><a href="http://www.othersheep.org/" target="_blank"><em>Other Sheep</em></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<em>Bronx, NY</em></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<em>March 4, 2013</em></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #405b81; font-family: Georgia;">Rev. Parelli speaks on why "religion" is so important to the work of human rights
for LGBT people in countries like Uganda</span></strong><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rev. <a href="http://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=161" target="_blank">Stephen Parelli</a>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/" target="_blank">Executive Director of Other Sheep</a>, speaking on the topic of religion and
homosexuality in Uganda, told a group of thirty plus students attending the
<a href="http://www.geneseo.edu/~pride/index.html" target="_blank">Pride Alliance</a> February 28 meeting at State University of New York (SUNY) at
Geneseo in western New York, that the rational for Other Sheep could be found
in a quote taken from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Religion, Conflict
and Democracy in Modern Africa</i> (2012):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“. . . what you fellows don’t understand is that you must get at a man
through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>his</u></i> religion and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>not</u></i><u> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yours</i></u>” (emphasis is Parelli’s from his PowerPoint
presentation).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parelli, quoting from Gerrie ter Haar’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How God Became African </i>(2009), said “The
extreme attention to the Bible as the authoritative and infallible word of God
is another notable point of distinction between African Christians and most of their
Western counterparts.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parelli was
quick to note, however, that according to Mark Noll, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The New Shape of World Christianity</i>, a “key mark of evangelicalism,”
whether in the United States or Africa, is “the Bible as ultimate religious
authority.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parelli remarked that the
book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Children Are Free</i>, the book
that Other Sheep distributes which is on what the Bible does and does not say
about homosexuality, addresses the topic of homosexuality from the evangelical
perspective, that is, that the Bible is the final authority in all that it
addresses, and therefore speaks to the African through his religion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Following Parelli’s presentation, a local activist lawyer
from Rochester, who presented briefly about a film he is making on a
developing country and homophobia, commented that “human rights” is not a
principle that developing countries recognize when talking about equality for
gays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, he said, you must talk to
them about what God is or is not saying, referencing the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What God may or may not say about
homosexuality trumps any idea of human rights, according the lawyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The activist lawyer went on to say that the
ministry of Other Sheep, in countries like Uganda, is exactly what is needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhhQhqgTMFW9muzv-y2D2azlkry-6xW07oFJglLl8rp2YVIwlEbISI9_F5bf-XDSmyn_kXrE12DX52867pAiroAqbQYjGS7drLxCgGlRqwt1vrHhI5kWa09A0mYVr83NKXn3hGa2cSivf/s1600/Steve+with+Kato+in+Uganda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhhQhqgTMFW9muzv-y2D2azlkry-6xW07oFJglLl8rp2YVIwlEbISI9_F5bf-XDSmyn_kXrE12DX52867pAiroAqbQYjGS7drLxCgGlRqwt1vrHhI5kWa09A0mYVr83NKXn3hGa2cSivf/s320/Steve+with+Kato+in+Uganda.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Kato (left) with Steve Parelli, Uganda, 2007.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parelli commented that “liberty of conscience” addresses
the idea of human rights in the specific context of religion, that is, that each person
is at liberty to follow the dictates of his or her own heart in the matter of
what the Bible does or does not say about homosexuality without the
interference of the state or church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Parelli commented that <a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writting_In_memory_of_David_Kato.html" target="_blank">David Kato</a>, when learning about “liberty of
conscience” for the first time in a discussion with Parelli, asked Parelli, “Where
can I get more information about liberty of conscience.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parelli’s presentation focused on Other Sheep’s work in
Uganda and Kenya since 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other Sheep,
which began in 1992 in Latin America, is an ecumenical Christian organization that
empowers LGBT people of faith worldwide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Parelli became Executive Director of Other Sheep in 2005 and since then,
with his husband Jose Ortiz, has visited countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin
America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jill McPherson and Sam Colbert of SUNY Geneseo Pride Alliance invited
Parelli to speak to the SUNY students in conjunction with his being on campus
as the honored guest of the March 2nd benefit concert for Other Sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" dir="ltr" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-9796375314217905902013-02-20T23:18:00.000-05:002013-02-21T00:56:11.802-05:00Yuri of Burma: His Other Sheep story and his song Fly!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><em></em></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><em></em></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><em></em></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Excerpt:</em> I would like you to </span></span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8OLydgOYHaAahSXHNgi-9k_k8h8vR_75zZ5ybG5WTPvnvY9onBHcmjXEzMiVQwovG05EtgY-KOSSmXIrXJYrcf2W9dBowx3nQB1gezOhkQ3Lynt6tW1xzBe-5epPn7xO2ZZxziyzZvZhxjw-BZydMSdyTc9vtgwLYKyEa3gKYrVavTe-KKaN6ryPwnraPxAjFZ1KlnjI8V6VMBBOc32zEAU3A4-nlp5gulRw4VC_z1nOFzLtOTe5YAUDfHjifci1E0iCn005qXV0MgO0FXzFmtcp79BpxqpV8ncnvax70utSnVj5Mrqm21IsC2NhYnitftqQMPp540u3x8hHvULf2BG5emxnZWt0UG08G8CNQW4p2DCFPFQZVgZK1M6UiO8Ahu6UEkUP3dUYSdhEjNJ7xws1M1Dy0u_usOO-VzDOLerkhOdjFZnOWOewdVIhWlq8bBMBi7DT18VsCJypWrGx6tn68mWoWX_ddTIq_MBIHnQQ7iUnm99KtFA5-X9y5KA_75tRAMs5FOvw==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">listen to one of Yuri's songs</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> -- <strong id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361409193354_63999">a song he composed himself</strong>. You can </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8OLydgOYHaAahSXHNgi-9k_k8h8vR_75zZ5ybG5WTPvnvY9onBHcmjXEzMiVQwovG05EtgY-KOSSmXIrXJYrcf2W9dBowx3nQB1gezOhkQ3Lynt6tW1xzBe-5epPn7xO2ZZxziyzZvZhxjw-BZydMSdyTc9vtgwLYKyEa3gKYrVavTe-KKaN6ryPwnraPxAjFZ1KlnjI8V6VMBBOc32zEAU3A4-nlp5gulRw4VC_z1nOFzLtOTe5YAUDfHjifci1E0iCn005qXV0MgO0FXzFmtcp79BpxqpV8ncnvax70utSnVj5Mrqm21IsC2NhYnitftqQMPp540u3x8hHvULf2BG5emxnZWt0UG08G8CNQW4p2DCFPFQZVgZK1M6UiO8Ahu6UEkUP3dUYSdhEjNJ7xws1M1Dy0u_usOO-VzDOLerkhOdjFZnOWOewdVIhWlq8bBMBi7DT18VsCJypWrGx6tn68mWoWX_ddTIq_MBIHnQQ7iUnm99KtFA5-X9y5KA_75tRAMs5FOvw==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">hear it here</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> on the Other Sheep website, and (especially after) knowing his story (below), you will be deeply moved as you <strong>hear him sing his song <em><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8OLydgOYHaAahSXHNgi-9k_k8h8vR_75zZ5ybG5WTPvnvY9onBHcmjXEzMiVQwovG05EtgY-KOSSmXIrXJYrcf2W9dBowx3nQB1gezOhkQ3Lynt6tW1xzBe-5epPn7xO2ZZxziyzZvZhxjw-BZydMSdyTc9vtgwLYKyEa3gKYrVavTe-KKaN6ryPwnraPxAjFZ1KlnjI8V6VMBBOc32zEAU3A4-nlp5gulRw4VC_z1nOFzLtOTe5YAUDfHjifci1E0iCn005qXV0MgO0FXzFmtcp79BpxqpV8ncnvax70utSnVj5Mrqm21IsC2NhYnitftqQMPp540u3x8hHvULf2BG5emxnZWt0UG08G8CNQW4p2DCFPFQZVgZK1M6UiO8Ahu6UEkUP3dUYSdhEjNJ7xws1M1Dy0u_usOO-VzDOLerkhOdjFZnOWOewdVIhWlq8bBMBi7DT18VsCJypWrGx6tn68mWoWX_ddTIq_MBIHnQQ7iUnm99KtFA5-X9y5KA_75tRAMs5FOvw==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Fly!</a></em></strong>. </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<em>by Rev. Steve Parelli</em></div>
<div>
<em>February 20, 2013</em></div>
<div>
<em>Bronx, New York</em></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
At last, all our Other Sheep 2012 reports are posted on our websites. The February 20, 2013 Other Sheep electronic newsletter (<em><a href="http://othersheep.org/Other_Sheep_eNews_2013_02_20_2013_Annual_Reports_2012_Parelli_Ortiz_Summer_Travels_Report_2012.doc" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">click here</span></a></em>) will link you to those reports.</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361409193354_63982">
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Personally, every report was an immense blessing to me. I would like, however, to point you to one report in particular and for one reason in particular.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<strong></strong> </div>
<div>
<strong><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu_MRT701oqMVehw4yzCUmSU0Omj7V9K1kBIEP-rMpuQbR87qK5VQSALlJzEEnxEEfF2VJjVNLdPCPFCasjJW4EcpyF-oetyGuwi3Opewlffe6YJ4Wf-kZhUoO_HKd3YfT8xYepfs5Z7QwDFA7JPl1SARYj97cc-C1yHS3hpZM9NyR1VLFlEIYXurSp4qqn3aRNa7VuY10PM4SBWenNxvu17I5Ct2_G-UxOvStZm1i2ifEaVVkKmUcZrlcFvmf4a2kgAc4_T0IooB0HV01-QirIwRrmXPpEQKBKgSUxjK_LmrKqiM_roVHlvRyIltXSNTaosnLuNDpNARprB0G0LZ6cs5i1ngfcZqL641Ulk39Fq5zquHmx6iST9yadw52394s7VSCrx2n07p-WJiEyMekMtvdFIAtn9E5JJAggCY_SftX0hmElWhNGlRlVDAvjfhK5p5y7SnA64GlWPxsqkDQLtmtdsOQ1r_4A=" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Yuri Saw's report</a></strong> on <strong>the Burmese translation</strong>, and subsequent distribution, of <em>The Children Are Free</em> (what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality) is of particular interest to me (and no doubt, of particular interest to all our volunteer Coordinators at Other Sheep) for this reason: Yuri independently, indigenously, and with finances he raised himself, took his first meeting <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu94DmHBVB_flyVZjBDPn3GPep0gymLcVwkcmeEvdCY_xVESinSBS9KuULSif6HA4SBeVa_-PyljHSU8OWMT5N9wKrUBd5Odnsw1UbTM1EfvO015n2omfm-4nl5SS5fFQ43A1ajMcWUT8GwZDZQeG4Pqb_nEBVA8mwzmAKlpV5zEBvrosPvxM0RoJ2VfCK4NIC8ih6G7-zDZ1ZoFegeaC9GJzwYo56W2S1-39Imai7Dj305aCniPZHSPLqp4u2fVdV5YqPyUK1j2hkxzboZkL72Peah_Fst4erWRXykPU7mQbUeHDrxAGD_pVeTJ2UZk8LHxbLkBQE4bumXq1h3axmxpJk-TZu9ryQTmeJWZHpr7MEV1QX3wU2R6lVNkCt_20HnA9zVRnz5GArDTm3tHA-cFiFUwBV_SkC_DoS5s4foHkbmssp_JWD_kA4XHcnmQOwvP6Yg4utTpHMs9i6ivTT4f" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361409193354_63988" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">with Other Sheep in 2009</a> and, through his oversight of the translation and distribution in Thailand and Burma of <em id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361409193354_63993">The Children Are Free</em>, reproduced, in his local and regional context, the mission and vision of the full inclusion of LGBT people within the church.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 8pt;">
(<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8XwJyiYKmQQ8ORcf4qvmUKNoUpf5RIPUTtD0wkmejQMD3WRC_2s1036B3rSBqHKHvek8q29b4e65jtP-d2R8BGhvcM4In4_4uAEEhl8wbynFn4sq3b7bKAj9aQkUpmSYs33CIbIft71XOVQrvwAM_BhcaJ3wSLTXC7nR6IO57DAEwfVXb2XiM9zEWlmaZGZLX4VkCBzTTWMaFW1ZIdQQBxg6fWfFxfNuQqSPaPkO5_pdpWea2uc2d7C54QdcgsWvwM5CSFv1URvSE0ncI4oI38Mce2bPxTyN-EEfKvfC6moqXiETIY1lmkPbZcg0QA2lGM2VOpvkQwowHZdINzMi503egvHuOqw20OLYSohn4DXumRoy10rM6X2rocJR62gduoW5J8Uv0TSWZE_XZbnINy1sZ1zuOGHs9EYNd6_sC1uA8dyD8CPfFYr440HBRJ8muQsAFqUsEMHp9vJRVNyLECslJX8teySB8=" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">See the blog</a> "Burmese Baptist Christians Translate, Print and Distribute book on the Bible and Homosexuality")</div>
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Jose and I have personally seen accounts like this happen in <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu-uFLQKQe9mXShFaSITrPWXf3yw77CiHsph3lZyzQR6Y4LjHgYWlwoQ0tPFSVBhjhoQ3rA4VeBC_XzWk7mfQX4SDcOy805GW88p8qy4FbXU-DmhG9a3w4yx1kEvgBQv-olLWlSt4WDCQ8ANF0L4DOtyc9VPibYcf-tEPcLQM9d-xX_mtLqh9Ho2dT2ITtmvuaz8gGW0kX1tD-guLDfqHetevAfEG0KIHbOHcG-48Fn0y_Y_LAMQN6fglBgVolh6kfT1lNwX6CankB0aIstsyyrEPYRioVINgukAftu4aCfObEfYGykcTLgnj8b06tSWKg5j-0DFC0nG4FEs4ye-jL8y6q7tpPntdVIP_m1OQti2Ro9MA2jh4ft8NEuTPRF-8f22kXgCPUEBxUwfF9GUiql7nSCv_Y5YD3PjQgY9loJANaErjqTJCm0QulQSH8kSmX1OaySWKUKYsuJogwL-O6nIzDT9zZxbuQzuOoTKpRtdzo0ldWknfwlEzzvk7lZBxThJBHrOI0L70nHhP7NSsyAU" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361409193354_64000" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">India</a>, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu_1kjo8I0zaeIOy1QlQPHHtuJfPf-DeSdG0CMQvM8wtnh5pL_4e0lrn8FCrKaL8GXapSfbwzC04rv-hgJwavp8aTpzPRbbzdF58VEwpofvnE9LdcYEK_e38ajLeBPaFjk-4MwHSqhhvactGBpSOTdHrj7Jih1RGkV6fwwTvAATNBuI92afHDxL021eOHN5AD15UlZ6pfJLr8DIwh2wzD0bzPMeG5FAozi9tFBVbDVSTWS9yj0fdo4guK6Dxmqwn5YJcNPTUGpEUVT3Mdx8bmDoIEpyeyEaayw_6LokET6nDCeVHezQkcMgye2PEvlNYao3HVUhFwufrz1Vv4EJqOHhP8dPOpjZUC0vpK6j_l4dGUQXo6uP5j4_GaZjXNU86oSCFEqMqnTNxofbkdYkeDWk-pvlHBweCuZ8wLJhizucnMp8l5nuK_wnrIYgpJNf6uqZWfcML9Bq2zA==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Nepal</a>, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu-2LmMLSIYTXg1nl-yyGjIBVuf4qHVV0ZAgEPGjVO59sT8NKJ_5xT09xcwbCux9TbA7TmuXSe5mUGUsO-drGyyaDhSCi_G0W1_rZTvWprtW9BkgPJIhdzdWobFlOTBJZF0v65j-7_s_rED6Ct6oc1yUlbNPFmxxYkbky7jIUvimlANQUPCitKGoJqqSTYNuq3guQvCE0IyxDxaXubBPGxi4oCwDA4XHB24HbFZKcxPj7rpgHofXJnzC8ogbsNVHadyIrzIIekJIsAY1ObLXwx1KYsQf0nqnZAX5YJkSsxlN7uyM_PWCM-BdC0EfEnjvq8CgaIIyzdkdXUN1vp_lJG01CtYhTPpi_sD4Up_j0WzKBdXjiXA5-1sSre7bPv4FiiHgE0m5WrLloO3chmS5tDuJ" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">East Africa</a> and <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu-CgnYX-G8Wbhl4MPFFyt1-jOmQXsTiiWRRGBoEHN4_aRUBCk20Ud9qRApuVr2tmGOk4JZrroH1-M0IxzmdWXEWSepS8D35IO2QgHs1UKl_TaB7tSlUPHLBTCpsNJAdVZbujMBu4LYiM4NN-y8rgRsb23z3l6NyXqT7alxq_z_dQ0RSBrBLR2jS6S6Oi6Qs-449NupqBcauRKbsk_PyXuO5s67os2NkKakeFk_NwveAOQ3L6rsZvfDMwlL5sPqKZGNNmbCxSf0B3HCUpvJuTyUvPTNQeC9vAArjpdTICPMizE0cXNagXX0Ga2j316bYGcAtJZgU1-y5waS0mLQo2KwEpp7X6b_cHi9Y6ALFROgcwz0MIBXVbE-QAqv5BDnbbgqTTWNulNHpe0-eut7NE4Qu195hGWO8Keo=" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">other regions</a> where individuals who hear, perhaps for the first time, the articulation of the message of LGBT inclusion, reproduce that message in their context. (In their hearts, they already knew the message to be the truth.)</div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong>Yuri is</strong> a gay Christian <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8OLydgOYHaAahSXHNgi-9k_k8h8vR_75zZ5ybG5WTPvnvY9onBHcmjXEzMiVQwovG05EtgY-KOSSmXIrXJYrcf2W9dBowx3nQB1gezOhkQ3Lynt6tW1xzBe-5epPn7xO2ZZxziyzZvZhxjw-BZydMSdyTc9vtgwLYKyEa3gKYrVavTe-KKaN6ryPwnraPxAjFZ1KlnjI8V6VMBBOc32zEAU3A4-nlp5gulRw4VC_z1nOFzLtOTe5YAUDfHjifci1E0iCn005qXV0MgO0FXzFmtcp79BpxqpV8ncnvax70utSnVj5Mrqm21IsC2NhYnitftqQMPp540u3x8hHvULf2BG5emxnZWt0UG08G8CNQW4p2DCFPFQZVgZK1M6UiO8Ahu6UEkUP3dUYSdhEjNJ7xws1M1Dy0u_usOO-VzDOLerkhOdjFZnOWOewdVIhWlq8bBMBi7DT18VsCJypWrGx6tn68mWoWX_ddTIq_MBIHnQQ7iUnm99KtFA5-X9y5KA_75tRAMs5FOvw==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">gospel singer</a> and human rights activist for LGBT people. His faith heritage is Burmese Baptist and evangelical. His mother, supportive of her son, teaches at a Christian college in Burma.</div>
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I would like you to <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8OLydgOYHaAahSXHNgi-9k_k8h8vR_75zZ5ybG5WTPvnvY9onBHcmjXEzMiVQwovG05EtgY-KOSSmXIrXJYrcf2W9dBowx3nQB1gezOhkQ3Lynt6tW1xzBe-5epPn7xO2ZZxziyzZvZhxjw-BZydMSdyTc9vtgwLYKyEa3gKYrVavTe-KKaN6ryPwnraPxAjFZ1KlnjI8V6VMBBOc32zEAU3A4-nlp5gulRw4VC_z1nOFzLtOTe5YAUDfHjifci1E0iCn005qXV0MgO0FXzFmtcp79BpxqpV8ncnvax70utSnVj5Mrqm21IsC2NhYnitftqQMPp540u3x8hHvULf2BG5emxnZWt0UG08G8CNQW4p2DCFPFQZVgZK1M6UiO8Ahu6UEkUP3dUYSdhEjNJ7xws1M1Dy0u_usOO-VzDOLerkhOdjFZnOWOewdVIhWlq8bBMBi7DT18VsCJypWrGx6tn68mWoWX_ddTIq_MBIHnQQ7iUnm99KtFA5-X9y5KA_75tRAMs5FOvw==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">listen to one of Yuri's songs</a> -- <strong id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361409193354_63999">a song he composed himself</strong>. You can <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8OLydgOYHaAahSXHNgi-9k_k8h8vR_75zZ5ybG5WTPvnvY9onBHcmjXEzMiVQwovG05EtgY-KOSSmXIrXJYrcf2W9dBowx3nQB1gezOhkQ3Lynt6tW1xzBe-5epPn7xO2ZZxziyzZvZhxjw-BZydMSdyTc9vtgwLYKyEa3gKYrVavTe-KKaN6ryPwnraPxAjFZ1KlnjI8V6VMBBOc32zEAU3A4-nlp5gulRw4VC_z1nOFzLtOTe5YAUDfHjifci1E0iCn005qXV0MgO0FXzFmtcp79BpxqpV8ncnvax70utSnVj5Mrqm21IsC2NhYnitftqQMPp540u3x8hHvULf2BG5emxnZWt0UG08G8CNQW4p2DCFPFQZVgZK1M6UiO8Ahu6UEkUP3dUYSdhEjNJ7xws1M1Dy0u_usOO-VzDOLerkhOdjFZnOWOewdVIhWlq8bBMBi7DT18VsCJypWrGx6tn68mWoWX_ddTIq_MBIHnQQ7iUnm99KtFA5-X9y5KA_75tRAMs5FOvw==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">hear it here</a> on the Other Sheep website, and knowing his story, you will be deeply moved as you <strong>hear him sing his song <em><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Y3VjSUINnu8OLydgOYHaAahSXHNgi-9k_k8h8vR_75zZ5ybG5WTPvnvY9onBHcmjXEzMiVQwovG05EtgY-KOSSmXIrXJYrcf2W9dBowx3nQB1gezOhkQ3Lynt6tW1xzBe-5epPn7xO2ZZxziyzZvZhxjw-BZydMSdyTc9vtgwLYKyEa3gKYrVavTe-KKaN6ryPwnraPxAjFZ1KlnjI8V6VMBBOc32zEAU3A4-nlp5gulRw4VC_z1nOFzLtOTe5YAUDfHjifci1E0iCn005qXV0MgO0FXzFmtcp79BpxqpV8ncnvax70utSnVj5Mrqm21IsC2NhYnitftqQMPp540u3x8hHvULf2BG5emxnZWt0UG08G8CNQW4p2DCFPFQZVgZK1M6UiO8Ahu6UEkUP3dUYSdhEjNJ7xws1M1Dy0u_usOO-VzDOLerkhOdjFZnOWOewdVIhWlq8bBMBi7DT18VsCJypWrGx6tn68mWoWX_ddTIq_MBIHnQQ7iUnm99KtFA5-X9y5KA_75tRAMs5FOvw==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Fly!</a></em></strong>.</div>
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Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-27429944933314713212013-02-18T10:36:00.000-05:002013-02-18T11:26:36.825-05:00Talking Points<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></b></span><br />
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></b></span><br />
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 638px;">
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<td align="center" height="165" nowrap="" valign="top"><div align="left">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 36px; line-height: 43px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_on_the_Bible_and_Homosexuality_Introduction.html" target="_blank">Talking Points</a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 36px; line-height: 43px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">What you need to know and say
when they say:</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 36px; line-height: 43px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;">“But the Bible clearly condemns
homosexuality!”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 36px; line-height: 43px;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Compiled and written<strong>*</strong> by Rev. Stephen
Parelli</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 36px; line-height: 43px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">June, 2012, Bronx, New York</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 36px; line-height: 43px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div align="left">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 36px; line-height: 43px;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>For this paper in word document format, </em><a href="http://othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_on_the_Bible_and_Homosexuality_by_Rev_Stephen_Parelli_2012.doc" target="_blank"><em>click here</em></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">*Throughout
this paper, the writing presented here is largely, but not entirely, in the
words of the authors cited in brackets with some alterations in some
instances, and in some cases the statement attributed to the author is
actually a paraphrase or summary statement of what the author, cited in brackets, wrote.</span></span></span></b></span><u></u><br />
<u></u><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<u>Introduction</u></h3>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">This paper is a digest (in
kind) of what some theologians, scholars and other notables have written on the Bible passages traditionally used to condemn homosexuals: Genesis
19; Lev. 18 and 20; Romans 1; I Cor. 9 and I Tim. 1; and Jude
7.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">The intended use of this paper is to provide “talking points” that
serve to support the proposition stated under each of the six topics
presented. The outline is in four parts and is repeated per text(s) discussed: (1) Topic (heading), (2) In Point of Fact (stated proposition),
(3) Talking Points (in support of the stated proposition) and (4)
Conclusion (summary).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">The object of this paper is to equip the reader
(or, seminar participant as the case may be) with “talking points” so
that he or she can succinctly speak in support of each In Point of Fact.</span></b><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<u>Contents</u> </h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></b></span><br />
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_Topic_1_The_misuse_of_sodomite_in_1611_KJV.html" target="_blank">Topic #1</a></span></b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">: The erroneous
use of the word “sodomite(s)” in the 1611 King James Bible (KJV; also known as the AV – Authorized Version)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_Topic_2_Sodom_and_Gomorrah.html" target="_blank">Topic #2</a></span></b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">: “The Gen. 19 notorious story of
Sodom and Gomorrah [is] irrelevant to the topic” of homosexuality</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_Topic_3_on_I_Cor_6_9_and_I_Tim_10.html" target="_blank">Topic #3</a></span></b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">: Modern Bible versions that use
the word “homosexual(s)” or “homosexuality” in its translation of I
Cor. 6:9 and I Tim. 1:10 are “driven more by ideological interests in
marginalizing gay and lesbian people” than by
scholarship</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_Topic_4_on_Romans_chapter_1.html" target="_blank">Topic #4</a></span></b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">: Romans 1, probably the passage
most often used to condemn homosexuals, isn’t about homosexuality</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_Topic_5_on_Lev_18_22_and_20_13.html" target="_blank">Topic #5</a></span></b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">: Once the context is understood, it
is clear that Lev. 18:22 and 20:13 – that a man should not lie with a
man – is not a blanket condemnation of homosexuality</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_Topic_6_on_Jude_7_and_Sodom_and_Gomorrah.html" target="_blank">Topic #6</a></span></b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">: The reference in Jude 7 to Sodom
and Gomorrah “going after strange flesh” is perhaps best understand in
light of a first century legend</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writing_Talking_Points_on_the_Bible_and_Homosexuality_books_and_web_sites_cited.html" target="_blank">Books and Web Sites Cited</a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></b></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">This paper
was first presented in <a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/2012_Uganda_Rwanda.html" target="_blank">Kampala, Uganda, in July of 2012</a>, by the author, at two
separate conferences. Copies of the paper were made available to
conference attendees</span></i></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-12490592420539657712013-02-08T11:16:00.000-05:002013-02-08T17:35:09.934-05:00Gordon I. Herzog's Day of Remembrance: Full Circle -- From St. Louis to Africa and Back!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>by Rev. Stephen R. Parelli</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/" target="_blank">Executive Director</a>, <a href="http://www.otherhseep.org/" target="_blank">Other Sheep</a></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Bronx, NY</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>February 8, 2013</em></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q8Abk9MARTvjtqiKgZc2bN0hr_RxCRr0c8_tyhLVjBtdpjhzYmciEjjS9gnc95SDrNBiOY7AxAX-8RRD5TTA8ElklJ6fZknfSdVcrzP-Jcw1prWQOpyksr5Hm5slL7wvGmgcVY4H72lX/s1600/38%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q8Abk9MARTvjtqiKgZc2bN0hr_RxCRr0c8_tyhLVjBtdpjhzYmciEjjS9gnc95SDrNBiOY7AxAX-8RRD5TTA8ElklJ6fZknfSdVcrzP-Jcw1prWQOpyksr5Hm5slL7wvGmgcVY4H72lX/s200/38%255B1%255D.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Herzog, Other Sheep <br />
board member,<br />
1992-2013<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Photo by Steve Parelli</em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gordon Herzog was a founding director of Other Sheep and a member of the Other Sheep board since its inception in 1992 until his passing on January 29, 2013. Since 2005, when I became the Executive Director of Other Sheep, <a href="http://othersheepexecsiteblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/there-would-be-no-other-sheep-without.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">I had the privilege of getting to know Gordon during my annual visits to St. Louis</span></a>, staying days at-a-time in his home.<br />
<br />
Gordon's humanitarian accomplishments were considerable. He served as president, chairman or director of: Council of Intercity Ministries, Grace Hill Council, Episcopal Church Foundation, Episcopal City Mission, and St. Louis Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy; and he was a founding director of Grace Hill Neighborhood Services, Charles Kilo Diabetes and Vascular Research Foundation, Missourians for Freedom and Justice, Water Tower North, and Other Sheep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4akI6HpwlLH-rUorrTnXRcOqeW1OFoqY0rlL9lO7qUJnMeJGZzRjFO73p0YkAPEvUy_KvZixdPCAEhYYTeYp84r980MCxEFyalVrB-ILX5Gaio825V5_N8BSc2prALOk4OHoDLkpEgJv/s1600/Adam+at+Gordon%2527s+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4akI6HpwlLH-rUorrTnXRcOqeW1OFoqY0rlL9lO7qUJnMeJGZzRjFO73p0YkAPEvUy_KvZixdPCAEhYYTeYp84r980MCxEFyalVrB-ILX5Gaio825V5_N8BSc2prALOk4OHoDLkpEgJv/s320/Adam+at+Gordon%2527s+home.jpg" width="129" /></a>There was, evidently, in addition to Gordon's boardroom contributions, his personal one-on-one activism and the interest he took in others, especially in queer people like himself.</div>
<br />
I'm talking about Adam Matthews, Gordon's hired help who cared for Gordon's yard, and helped around the house in other ways (<em>photo at left, taken February 2</em>). Gordon had told Jose, who is my husband, and me about his "good looking" help, and the good work he did, but we had never met Adam. The morning of Gordon's memorial service, Adam and I met for the first time. Adam came over to watch Gordon's dogs while Gordon's son Jeff and I left to attend the memorial service. Having flown in from New York the day before, I was staying at Gordon's house, my usual place-of-stay when in St. Louis.<br />
<br />
Upon meeting -- there at Gordon's home in the front entrance -- and making our introductions, Adam, with quite a bit of excitement said, "You're Other Sheep! Gordon talked about you and your husband and Other Sheep all the time!"<br />
<br />
It felt good to hear, I must admit. But Gordon wasn't talking up Other Sheep to Adam just because of his admiration for Jose and me (though Gordon was known to do that). He was talking Other Sheep because Adam is an openly gay high school student who, like all of us who are gay, is empowered by meeting and knowing others just like us. And because Adam had a spiritual side to him that he desired to nurture, Other Sheep, a faith-based ministry designed to encourage LGBT people of faith, would be of interest to Adam, so Gordon was sure. "Every day Gordon would ask me if I had visited the Other Sheep website," Adam told me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHWprTd0LbQPt7aItLD7goYHmehK2R1jstZaxbBwjM-8WivDhrj-_MzR529j6C4M-ZxCZ_dIKyEOGfL9JAtcLk2zmDid_HnLz37R1ZwflDQ43N9yPzuZ4Nvf-0f0QGsYT6Sa01AmBcf58/s1600/imagesCA8M8JA4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHWprTd0LbQPt7aItLD7goYHmehK2R1jstZaxbBwjM-8WivDhrj-_MzR529j6C4M-ZxCZ_dIKyEOGfL9JAtcLk2zmDid_HnLz37R1ZwflDQ43N9yPzuZ4Nvf-0f0QGsYT6Sa01AmBcf58/s200/imagesCA8M8JA4.jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Tom Hanks, co-founder</em><br />
<em> of Other </em><em>Sheep, is a </em><br />
<em>contributing</em><br />
<em>author to</em> The Queer <br />
Bible Commentary<em>: He</em><br />
<em>wrote the section on</em><br />
<em>Romans and Hebrews</em><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Adam sat for a while and talked. He told me how Gordon had helped him immensely by directing him to a welcoming and affirming Episcopal church. Adam, a Roman Catholic and gay, had become disillusioned with church, understandably so. Now he was happily at home in a church that validated him just as he is. <br />
<br />
Later that day, after returning from the memorial service and the reception that followed, Adam showed me the single volume Bible commentary <em>The Queer Bible Commentary</em>, a resource book Other Sheep distributes when funds permit. Gordon had shown the book to Adam, and Adam was reading it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd2byPP21JsfTYIYWG2B2u-HR9e-0kt_dOLmLQR0nNq1I71VNNBOE7By0dqCoynZzvn-dUfZV7lZqkhhTNhaSq9lwoDOLRwyleanNaK8XGPqijYOAHbwZ1dBDgBt-zCFC3ZNECLXp4p2q/s1600/Adam+and+Steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd2byPP21JsfTYIYWG2B2u-HR9e-0kt_dOLmLQR0nNq1I71VNNBOE7By0dqCoynZzvn-dUfZV7lZqkhhTNhaSq9lwoDOLRwyleanNaK8XGPqijYOAHbwZ1dBDgBt-zCFC3ZNECLXp4p2q/s200/Adam+and+Steve.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Stephen Parelli, <em>left</em>, with <br />
Adam Matthews<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Photo by Steve Parelli</em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We talked some more and then I excused myself. I had an appointment to keep and I needed to place a call to confirm it. An African theological graduate student, a straight ally, pursing his studies now in America and living in the St. Louis area, who learned of Other Sheep while in Africa from someone Jose and I had directly worked with while we were in Africa, had read on my Facebook that I was coming to St. Louis. He emailed me and asked to meet. I was exhausted, having slept little the previous two nights; Adam quickly agreed to drive when I asked if he would. Over the phone the African theologian said he was more than glad to have Adam join in, and with that Adam and I were off to meet another "other sheep," this one from Africa, who told us during our meeting that he was positioning himself theologically, through education, to someday "explode!" with the message of inclusion. Already he had made a stir back home in Africa. As a student in an evangelical school, he had spoken out to professors and fellow-students alike for gay equality within the church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpQkGNgAxy5_uGH0Ib-fC_8Q32dUD20DU5ecVeXLGfSQnnvTW931vWsMzAPqJHF7S_MS4kHQ_CtLfrNRvgZMfC-DKPBHr4wxuu5J1Nl9MdSo1iBJQ4yMqbWNl4pNGp6zBVcSSQnZWEk0N/s1600/Driveway+at+Gordon%2527s+day+after+his+memorial+service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpQkGNgAxy5_uGH0Ib-fC_8Q32dUD20DU5ecVeXLGfSQnnvTW931vWsMzAPqJHF7S_MS4kHQ_CtLfrNRvgZMfC-DKPBHr4wxuu5J1Nl9MdSo1iBJQ4yMqbWNl4pNGp6zBVcSSQnZWEk0N/s200/Driveway+at+Gordon%2527s+day+after+his+memorial+service.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The driveway to Gordon's home: <br />
The day after Gordon's<br />
Memorial Service, a peaceful<br />
white blanket of new fallen <br />
snow<br />
<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Steve Parelli</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a remarkable day, for me, this day of remembrance. How better to remember Gordon's twenty years of service with Other Sheep than to begin the day by hearing Adam tell me personally, at Gordon's dinning room table, how Gordon had impacted his life. And then, at the end of the day, with Adam, to visit a theological student from Africa whose life is dedicated to the study of God and full inclusion. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_R_2007_07_14_Report.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Jose and I introduced Other Sheep to Africa in 2007</span></a>. It was Other Sheep's first venture outside of Latin America where Other Sheep started. It was a bold step. More daring than I realized at the time. Gordon was there for us, supporting us, when Jose and I went to Africa, as was all the board of Other Sheep. Now, on Gordon's day of remembrance, in Gordon's American city, I was in the home of an African who was greatly influenced by an Other Sheep activist in Africa. And with me was Adam who Gordon helped personally along the path of spiritual nurturing. <br />
<br />
A type of "full circle," I would say: Adam, the gay high school student who knew Gordon, the African "other sheep" young theologian, and myself, all geographically in the area where Other Sheep was legally formed, meeting on the day of Gordon's memorial service. Kind of a tribute to the legacy of Gordon and all the Other Sheep board of directors who, since 1992, have served with Gordon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgdNA02G6JO9wGa1WauZr4djgpZIIdpVbmGxYRQnv4_vQwHG4qDqtUA0xJOZrfRHT96_uAU5HweE0iVfFCU7KH1qRci9zustXyEe2IDalPfPNalaxsiHqnOnS-Qynxr_fqVCwXoW0peW1/s1600/View+of+Missiouri+River+where+Gordon+lives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgdNA02G6JO9wGa1WauZr4djgpZIIdpVbmGxYRQnv4_vQwHG4qDqtUA0xJOZrfRHT96_uAU5HweE0iVfFCU7KH1qRci9zustXyEe2IDalPfPNalaxsiHqnOnS-Qynxr_fqVCwXoW0peW1/s400/View+of+Missiouri+River+where+Gordon+lives.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>The day after Gordon's Memorial Service: A view of the Missouri River,</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>the stretch of river where Gordon's home is located, easily identifiable</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>by the double bridge at the left, the bend of the river at the right, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>and the two relatively narrow water ways that snake and cut in</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>and out of the land mass. </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>(After taking this photo, I did a Google Satellite overlook to </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>confirm the sighting</em></span><span style="font-size: small;"><em> I had made from the plane.)</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Steve Parelli</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-44275441718474383822013-02-01T19:30:00.001-05:002013-02-01T22:56:19.642-05:00"There would be no Other Sheep without Gordon" <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Herzog<br />
<em>Other Sheep board member</em><br />
<em>1992-2013</em><br />
<em>Died January 29, 2013</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
tribute to <b>Gordon I. Herzog </b>who served </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">as
a board member with Other Sheep f</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">rom
its inception in 1992 until his </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">passing,
January 29, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Rev. Stephen Parelli, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Other Sheep Executive Director </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Written January 29, 2013, Bronx, New York</span></div>
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<em>Published on this Other Sheep Blog on February 1, 6:30 PM, Central Time, from Gordon's desk in his bedroom, Florissant, Missouri - where he always let me work online when visiting here.</em></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were sitting at a
restaurant table, Rev. Thomas Hanks and I. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can't remember if
we were still in St. Louis after the Other Sheep 2012 November annual business
meeting, or if we were in Chicago a week or so later, attending the American
Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature conference.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Either way, it was
what Tom said that struck me: "There would be no Other Sheep without
Gordon."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Hanks<br />
Co-Founder of Other Sheep</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other Sheep was the
vision of Tom Hanks, American missionary in Argentina. But it took a Gordon
Herzog, lawyer and boyhood friend to Tom Hanks, to make the dream a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1992, just more
than twenty years ago, Other Sheep was born in Argentina. Gordon had come out
as a gay man years before Tom. When missionary Tom came out in Argentina in the
late 1980s, he wrote a letter back home to his constituency. When Other Sheep
was on the drawing board, it was just natural that Gordon, his longtime friend
and lawyer, should be asked to write up the legal papers, sit on the board, and
help promote Other Sheep at home in the USA. And Gordon did just that, for no
less a reason than this: Tom was his friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon's Home, <em>Where the Other Sheep</em><br />
<em>Board of Directors often held their</em><br />
<em>annual meeting</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jose, my husband and
Other Sheep Coordinator, and I came on board Other Sheep in 2005, and we've
never had anyone, anywhere, love us more than Gordon, and in return we loved
him, too. It couldn't be helped! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every year, during
the annual business meeting, we stayed in his grand home on the Missouri River,
took trips with his car, worked at Other Sheep business in his "barn"
- his lawyer's office - or at his desk and computer in his room. We spent evenings
with him eating out, or visiting with him and his neighbor, or watching TV. We
attended his church, met and had good times with his family, and watered his
dogs. Gordon's home was our second home in so many ways. Jose and I relished
our visits with Gordon. November's Other Sheep annual meeting was like going
home, a reunion and trip we always were glad to make. We laughed together with
Gordon, let him talk politics, borrowed his videos - returning them only to
borrow more, raided his refrigerator, and kept a secret we promised to keep. We
felt playful and giddy at Gordon's home, as if we could do no wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurLRRfnZjOd9yEp5I_UzZpKSyC72EjazhKjuEAVn5XGE1CYCRUTtGXV9OAmUpEnyTpyWgmAp7col1IdmgutglJUjE9bxLk3V4SDwveImz8GRHxQ-Sy0T-FJ7c5PG8LnUBcB9NUp9LYmsA/s1600/DSCN4671-323x233%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurLRRfnZjOd9yEp5I_UzZpKSyC72EjazhKjuEAVn5XGE1CYCRUTtGXV9OAmUpEnyTpyWgmAp7col1IdmgutglJUjE9bxLk3V4SDwveImz8GRHxQ-Sy0T-FJ7c5PG8LnUBcB9NUp9LYmsA/s320/DSCN4671-323x233%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Missouri River, View from Gorond's Home </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jose and I will miss
him dearly. St. Louis is a special place to us because Gordon was there! And,
oh yes, because St. Louis is the place where Gordon, and others who are also
dear friends of Tom and Gordon, all made Other Sheep happen here in the United
States with a focus on helping LGBT people of faith throughout the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other Sheep, in its
20 years of history, has reached out and touched people in Latin America, Asia,
Africa and Europe. Gordon shares greatly in that legacy. His life, through his
work with Other Sheep, touches gay Christian people today around the world. One
gay Christian man in Argentina, asking another gay Christian man in St. Louis
to help, together and with the help of others, have ministered to gay and
straight people in all parts of the world, affirming them and loving them,
through Other Sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jose and I will miss
you Gordon! And on behalf of all the people we've had the opportunity to meet,
they join me in saying "Thank you for your love and service with Other
Sheep."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCtBOTc7egcERIqHHpKrWE-0gE95cc6vf-2CKJBibF3UVkMGJp7zyDRPz0SkLrJl47MdrSi96eDIsnYTGovsAdZ4m-s2ngukMRh02Etgr6VJc_yBfBpLo7OV9FdXhC2_IZOJoGZXX_6J8/s1600/Tom+and+Gordon+last+time+together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCtBOTc7egcERIqHHpKrWE-0gE95cc6vf-2CKJBibF3UVkMGJp7zyDRPz0SkLrJl47MdrSi96eDIsnYTGovsAdZ4m-s2ngukMRh02Etgr6VJc_yBfBpLo7OV9FdXhC2_IZOJoGZXX_6J8/s400/Tom+and+Gordon+last+time+together.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Hanks, left, and Gordon Herzog<br />
November 10, 2012 - Following the annual Othre Sheep<br />
board meeting, out for dinner at an area restaurant</td></tr>
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</div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-65633360803220150562013-01-25T11:07:00.000-05:002013-01-26T22:13:19.505-05:00What religion is this that loves but does not love?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;"><em>Another turn of another decade in the
years of my life,<br />and still, my mother cannot openly love me, her gay son.</em></span></span></span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">By Rev,
Stephen Parelli<br />January 24</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> and 25</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">, 2013<br />Bronx, New York</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 26px;">As a gay activist and son, I finally,
openly reflect on my mother's inability, after 15 years, to escape her
homophobic religious surroundings in which my father, her husband who
is a lay-pastor, dominates her life, manipulating her landscape <br soft="" />through
the grid of his own dreaded, hidden, secret homoerotic feelings.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yesterday my
mother refused to speak with me on the phone when I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
called her on my
birthday. All she could say, in a soft-spoken voice, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
was "OK" to each
of my several awkward small-talk comments. Then </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
she said "I love you,
I always have," and hung up. In 15 years times - </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
since I came out and
entered into a same-sex union with my lover in </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1997 - my mother and I
have spoken perhaps 5 or 6 times.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wish she could see this present-day,
2013, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/high-school-senior-comes-gay-while-accepting-award-230305217.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">video of a Parsippany, NJ, high school student coming out to his classmates</span></a> and suddenly realize, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
like
an epiphany, that we gays – by virtue of our omnipresence, if </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
nothing
else – are not sinners from whom to separate. Ostracism is </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
one of the
worst forms of abuse a person can suffer, so psychologists </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
tell us.
We gays are people to love just as we are, not off-spring to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
disown
and disassociate from, to discharge as if suddenly we become </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
still-born
when publicly coming out as gay. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I don't know why God made me this way
. . . but I am . . . and I wish </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
they could all love me unconditionally
(just as they once did): That my </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
parents and my children and my
college friends from Bible college and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
seminary days, and my former
clergy peers and church friends since </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
my childhood, and my ex-wife (who
knew before we married), -- that </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
they could all love me now, love me
still. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
God is my witness: I did not choose this! So, I will live it
with gusto and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
thanksgiving, honoring the God who blesses me with
it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes, I am gay and I am blessed with a husband of 15 years who holds
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
me in his arms at the end of each day and is lovingly, passionately </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
dedicated to our union. I hurt. He loves me, oh so tenderly, when I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
hurt. With sympathetic eyes, he looks deep into mine while holding
me.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They - my (former) family, (former) friends and (former pastor) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
associates - are missing out on some of the greatest ventures and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
accomplishments of my life. I miss them, but I cannot go back. I pray </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
they will, with love and affirmation, at long last step into the light with
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
me, and embrace me, and rejoice in God's creative diversity - so </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
obviously, universally attested to. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"I love you, I always have,"
my mother said as she silently hung up the </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
phone, shutting me out of
her life again. How sad that she cannot live </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the love she testifies
of: the love for her first-born, a love she keeps </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
swallowed up in her
breast. What religion is this that loves but does </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
not love? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I
live the love I know, the love I have, the gay-love God has given me </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
that I, too, should live to the fullest. The moment is mine, it belongs to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
those who love. I'm gay. I love. I’m present. I’m alive.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is my
mother who is still-born, tethered to a by-gone, man-made </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
church-based
heterosexist moralistic era from which she cannot now </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
escape, forever
closed-off to her son, knowing only the heart-beat of </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
her own lonely
heart, making the choice to never see, or hear from, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
her
son.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
She hurts. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And who is he who loves her, my mother, oh so
tenderly, when she </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
hurts; who with sympathetic eyes looks deep into her
own? It is my </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
father who late in life became a popular lay Baptist
pastor in Central </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
New York, who became enamored with a new found
prestige and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
power, who when I said, as a married adult with four
children, that ‘I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
must tell my mother I’m gay because someone who loves
me must </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
know,’ said to me, grabbing my throat with both his hands and
raising </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
me bodily two inches completely off the floor by the strength
of his </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
rage, “I will kill you if you tell your mother.” It is he, my father, who </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
comforts her, my mother, with goodly words like “Follow me as I follow </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
God.”</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A year or two will pass before I call again and say, as I did
yesterday, “I </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
just wanted to hear your voice, mom.” “OK” she will
manage to say. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And just before hanging up, without the slightest hint
that my one-way </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
conversation with her is over, will whisper “I love
you, I always have.” </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The phone will go dead and she will go on dying
one day at a time, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
believing she is honoring God and honoring her
husband by aborting, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
again, her mother-son relationship, believing she
has made this holy </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
choice of abortion on her own accord when in reality
she is tethered. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tethered to an out-dated God who is majestically
ascribed by some </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
worshipers as “the same yesterday, today and forever,”
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
misappropriating the sacred text to shield themselves from whatever </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
changes in society or in life they cannot face.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is my father who
cannot face life as he knows it. He is a homophobe </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
for reasons, he only
knows, found deep in his dark heart. Reasons he </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
attempts to hide from
others. What is it that makes him especially </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
hateful towards gays that
he would say to his own son “I will take a bat </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to your head if you
attend your grandmother’s funeral?” or “All gays </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
should be taken out
and hung” or “Your ten-year old son should never </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
see you, or your
partner, again – what all gays ever do is molest </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
minors” or “If you
ever tell your mother you are gay I will kill you” or </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
“I've told your
children [ages 10 – 16] what kind of deviant, pervert you </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
are, and I am
not sorry for having told them.” </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Such hateful statements are as telling
as they are hurtful. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Many argue that such hatred for gays is really a
hatred of self because </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
of one’s own homoerotic feelings. It is not
unthinkable that my father </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
falls into this category: a self-hating
closeted bisexual or gay man. His </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
refusal to attend his granddaughter’s
wedding (on the basis that it </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
would amount to adultery, being her
second marriage); his refusal to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
be his brother’s best man (same
reason, a second marriage and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
therefore legalized adultery); his
refusal to acknowledge a shower for </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
his new-born grandchild (because the
live-together parents had not </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
yet decided to be wedded and so they are,
therefore, living in </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
fornication); and his insistence that his
grandchildren should separate </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
from the man their sibling sister was to
marry because he was outside </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
of the faith, all point to a hyper
vigilance, and in most cases to a hyper </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
vigilance for moral or sexual
purity. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is not hard to see how my father’s hyper vigilance for
sexual purity </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and his open hatred for gay men may indicate a
preoccupation with </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
unwanted homoerotic feelings.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One of the most
telling accounts of my father’s fear of his homoerotic </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
feelings is
this: When I was in seminary studying to become a pastor, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
my father –
much to my surprise – became a lay pastor (as I stated </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
above). This
was in the early 1980s. He was in his late 40s. He had no </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
education
beyond high school, no formal training in Bible or </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
counseling. I was about to be married. He wanted to give me some </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
father-to-son, pastor-to-pastor, advice about the marriage bed. He </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
told me this: “Let me tell you what I tell all the couples I counsel before </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
marrying them. I tell them not to practice oral sex on the male partner
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
for this reason. It will only increase the husband’s desire to look
for </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
more of the same outside of the marriage and he will find himself
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
seeking out
men who will provide the
service.” </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was shocked to hear my father tell me he was giving this
advice to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
couples he marries, that, in fact, according to him, the
heterosexual </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
marriage bed would, in deed, in this one case, foster
desires on the </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
part of the husband for same-sex sex. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How
un-insightful, on the part of my father, to fail to know that, at this </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
juncture of the counseling session, he was telling on himself! For all </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
his hiding and hyper vigilance to keep his homoerotic feelings unseen </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and in tow, it was here in the counseling chambers of the pastor’s </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
office that he completely, unwittingly, let his secret escape him, telling
it </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to couple after couple.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, yes, it is in this homophobic context that my mother squanders out
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the last days of her life, living in mindless religious isolation with
her </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
moralizing, parading, husband, separated forever from her
gay son, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
tethered to a homophobic God who is made over in the image of
the </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
man who impregnates her with decades of his
self-loathing,
self-hating, because
of his homoerotic
feelings.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If time allows, and if I can muster it, I will phone her again
months down </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the road, and she will quietly say as she prematurely hangs
up the </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
phone, “I love you, I always have,” while beseeching her asexual
God </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to forgive her once more for having bestowed a mother’s love upon a
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
despicable, God-forsaken son.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I will hear her words of love; I
will be thankful for it; yet I will always </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
carry an amount of sadness
that life, in her case – in our case, could </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
not be lived to the fullest
as parent-child, as God had intended when </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
he
created family. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Although my father's
homophobia overshadows and beclouds my </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
mother's ability to clear her
head and think, there are her own long-</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
standing, debilitating fears
that play into my father's homophobic </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
disdain for his son.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
From what I know of her puritanical
lecturing over the years, this must </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
be added: it would
appear that my
mother's mother-son
miscarriage is </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
due, in part, to an irrational fear she has
of sexual misconduct </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
occurring in others, especially in others close to her. She spoke of this repeatedly, in one form or another, over the years.<br />
<br />
So now, when you tie religion into all of
this, you have both
father and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
mother, man and woman, paralyzed before a wrathful Edenic God who </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
created
humankind as sexual beings and who, subsequently, sent </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
them out of the garden because of their disobedience. Sex, God and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
their complex,
internalized fears, all tied to gather, complicating their </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
relationships with others.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My parents always were their own, unscripted, abiding moral
guides. The father, homophobic, forming his world and life view
during the McCarthy era, was very much guarded - obviously
so - as to what is and what is not masculine in himself and in
his two sons. The mother, truly
doomsday shocked, since the 50s and Elizabeth Taylor and Alfred Kinsey, at
the new norms society was forging and re-forging, became the house spoksperson in the
sex-revolution 60s
for moral </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
awareness,
for what is sexually right and
wrong.<br />
<br />
Now enter their seminary graduate,
preacher-boy son, father of four, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
divorcing his
wife, openly gay, openly
celebrating his new-found same-</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
sex lover.<br />
<br />
My parents immediately resolved, without
discussion or further </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
thought, and as a matter of course, due to their good Christian </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
character (rooted in their irrational respective sex-laden fears), to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
never accept their son again, to never see him, to never talk with
him, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to never acknowledge him. He is, after all, what they each fear
most: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
sexual misconduct in others (my mother) and dreaded homoerotic </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
feelings
(my father).<br />
<br />
A pervasive, long standing
fear, or any negative emotion that rules
us, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
is a hard
taskmaster, crippling
our ability to freely love ourselves and </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
others. That was and is my
parents. Throw in religion, and now you </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
have my parents unknowingly
disguising themselves from themselves, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
preventing themselves from
seeing themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It brings me some comfort, however, to know that,
<em>while they are not </em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>able to love me, neither are they able to love other
people like me, </em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>including other immediate family members</em>, who openly
cast off </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
traditional moral values. Such people with "immoral life
styles" bring </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
my parents too close to their own gripping fear that
their own marriage, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
or their own standing in religious society, could
be compromised, some </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
day, some way, at some unguarded moment.
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My mother's words, as important and as significant as they are to me,
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
that "I love you, and I always have" fail to empower her to actually
live </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
in a loving relationship with her son, her fear of sexual
misconduct in </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
others overpowering whatever feelings she may have for
her son. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
She must address her gripping fears, along with her husband's
fear of </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
the homoerotic, and only then, I feel, will she free herself to
openly </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
love me unconditionally and others like me who do not adopt her
moral </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
values as their own.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My husband and I, we would, of
course, welcome unconditional love </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
from my mother and father, but with
every passing year it seems less </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
likely, especially knowing that
religion, in their case, is their enabler, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
that is to say, their brand
of religion permits them, encourages them, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
reinforces them, celebrates
them in their resolve to disown their son </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and his partner and others
like us, gay or straight, who compromise my </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
parents' standard of moral
integrity. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Essentially, It is their kind of religion that leaves them
little to no room </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
for self-reflection or self-analysis as to what are
the real factors, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
rather than their religious code, that may be
pushing them towards </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
cutting off all dealings with significant others.
<br />
<br />
It is their sort of religion that leaves them with no ability to adapt
to society's changes around them, so that to say "I love you, I always
have" is, sadly, a window to the past, a lamentation of what once was,
a polite way to say "This is the parting of our
ways."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
______________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>By </em><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Writings_gay_activist_son_relfects_on_his_mothers_inability_to_openly_love_him.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><em>clicking here</em></span></a><em>, this article can be viewed at Other Sheep Exec Site, the site where Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz share their stories, especially the stories of their travels for Other Sheep</em>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-7308756402466682592012-11-11T18:16:00.000-05:002012-11-11T18:43:56.453-05:00Burmese Baptist Christians Translate, Print and Distribute book on the Bible and Homosexaulity <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #405b81; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">November 3rd, 2012, Book Launching Event Held in Thailand; Distribution
Begun</span></b><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #405b81; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by Rev.
Steve Parelli</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #405b81; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other
Sheep Executive Director</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #405b81; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Florrissant (St. Louis), MO</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #405b81; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">November 11, 2012</span></b><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Saw Yuri Galler, 2009, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">then President of <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Myanmar Gay Education<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An openly gay Burmese
Baptist Christian, Yuri Saw Galler, who was formerly the president of Myanmar
Gay Education and <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016j6JIDjVGoQ3_IInSXkHfSg2Ejl7mbH2d-9cBCDc0qruJCJVYRy9nafzXIC8p63QK4BDGT9ITvCnnbCrfEYx-4IN4JixAjlQbAoAX7nAyBnoi9u-fRvkRGTXFobPHtzwQ79iVq5LOff-5ckrrwycl_DHtmUAplfm8H1DsU9iQq2Dw87hK4HD5TbwRAAC1_DRi-4D-cQqYK5C5EzqYPtEd5X4ncrkVYlvQq7S1d23t60=" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">a popular gospel singer</span></a> in
Thailand and Burma, working with Other Sheep and LifeJourney Press under a
written contract agreement, recently oversaw the translation of the book </span><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016j6JIDjVGoQ3_IInSXkHfSg2Ejl7mbH2d-9cBCDc0qruJCJVYRy9nafzXIC8p63Ql5Xz5mpVXDiaeHgCVDsSN7h_uP6rNCcsegeQHkuk35dANSHcy8SaFbF_i-2KDqfUKRARWHhccE7eUsFesuOttw==" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Children Are Free</span></a></span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> into Burmese, and the printing and distribution
of 1000 copies.</span><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In an email dated
November 6, Yuri said the November 3<sup>rd</sup> book launching event, held in
Thailand, was successful with over thirty guests attending, including
individuals from NGOs (non-government organizations) and journalists who
reported on the event. </span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">David Aye Myat, in 2009, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">as Support Executive of <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Myanmar Gay Education, assited Yuri in the
organ-izing the Other Sheep seminar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yuri further reported
that the 1000 copies are being distributed free of charge. Already, copies have
been distributed to Burmese Christians among the Burmese migrants in nine
different refugee camps along the Thailand-Burma boarder. Other copies, said
Yuri, are being "sent back" to Yangon, Burma, for distribution there,
mainly to the parents of our LGBT Christian community.</span><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The project, overseen by
Yuri and totally funded by his friends and associates, needs to print
additional copies. "1,000 [copies of the book] is not enough," writes
Yuri, "but God will provide." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Printing costs per copy of
the book is about $1 USD each. <b><i><u>Donations to the printing of additional
copies</u></i></b> of the Burmese <i>The Children Are Free</i>, can be made by
check to "Other Sheep" and designated for "TCAF Burmese
Printing" and mailed to the following address: Susan Fazio, Treasurer, c/o
Gordon Herzog, 16768 Old Jamestown Rd, Florissant, MO 63034-1409.</span><br />
<br />
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---------------------------------------------------------</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: #405b81; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A Forward to the Burmese <i>The Children Are Free</i> 2012
Edition: Other Sheep's significant role in bringing the inclusive message to
the Karen Burmese Christians</span></b><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The following forward was written
by request of Yuri, the initiator and overseer of the translation, printing, distribution
project.</span></i><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A
Forward from Steve and Jose of Other Sheep</span></b><span style="color: #4c3f36; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2009, as husband and husband since
1997 and as co-laborers together since 2005 in an inclusive Christian ministry
called Other Sheep, we </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016j6JIDjVGoQ3_IInSXkHfSg2Ejl7mbH2d-9cBCDc0qruJCJVYRy9nafzXIC8p63QK4BDGT9ITvCnnbCrfEYx-4IN4JixAjlQbAoAX7nAyBnoi9u-fRvkRPsSejnOX8FLCbURBF8Yw9BY6oEK39TShiiqgYS_OAUqTcwVgVunzD8=" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">travelled to Thailand</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, by
invitation of a local seminarian student, to network in Chiang Mai among
interested theological students. One person, living in Mae Sot, who took a
great deal of interest in Other Sheep, was Saw Yuri Galler, President of
Myanmar Gay Education, his mother a teacher at a Baptist theological seminary
in Burma. Other Sheep (</span></span><span style="color: #4c3f36; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016j6JIDjVGoQ3_IInSXkHfSg2Ejl7mbH2d-9cBCDc0qruJCJVYRy9nafzXIC8p63QK4BDGT9ITvCnnbCrfEYx--PIc5vw5NYhMVJUMcTO7to=" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.othersheep.com</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">) is an
ecumenical Christian ministry that works worldwide to empower LGBT people of
faith.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just days before our departure from
Thailand, and while we were in Bangkok working Other Sheep, Saw Yuri phoned us
and told us he had made arrangements for </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016j6JIDjVGoQ3_IInSXkHfSg2Ejl7mbH2d-9cBCDc0qruJCJVYRy9nafzXIC8p63QK4BDGT9ITvCnnbCrfEYx-4IN4JixAjlQbAoAX7nAyBnoi9u-fRvkRGTXFobPHtzwQ79iVq5LOfdWRuuM7_BkJfdAMcftQIi8L_aXnCTONahzquKlo-NX0g==" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a small gathering of Karen Burmese
Christians living in Mae Sot, Thailand, to hear our seminar on the Bible and
homosexuality</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Could we please come, he asked. We accepted</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016j6JIDjVGoQ3_IInSXkHfSg2Ejl7mbH2d-9cBCDc0qruJCJVYRy9nafzXIC8p63QK4BDGT9ITvCnnbCrfEYx-4IN4JixAjlQbAoAX7nAyBnoi9u-fRvkRGTXFobPHtzwzGrGVdIbKslC8Ydtj8UlPGMVUd8P-AKrFSELpIjZYiHhaLiS57ToXy4MV8AQrgdyZE3MCs2jwUAEyFQqJR_dLqSwUUNfZwIS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Joyce Hanks</span></a>, a feat-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ured speaker at the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2009 Mae Sot </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Other Sheep </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">seminar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Steve, not yet knowing that Yuri and the small group that would
attend were from Baptist churches, remarked, with tears in his eyes, to Jose
over their first wedding anniversary dinner celebration there in Bangkok, that
the opportunity to minister in Mae Sot to Burmese Christians was personally
very meaningful. As a formerly ordained Baptist minister, Steve had
unsuccessfully attempted to have dialogue with his Baptist peer-pastors in
upper New York State about the Bible and homosexuality. Now Steve was half a
world away from his own Baptist associates, yet presenting his Biblical
findings to Burma Christians where Adoniram Judson (1788 - 1850), the famous
Baptist missionary and first Protestant missionary from North America to Burma,
had brought the Gospel. With Yuri's invitation, here in Thailand, Steve
experienced a measure of deep gratitude that he was, in some real meaningful
way, tying-in with his Baptist roots and addressing his contemporary Baptist
detractors by presenting the message of Other Sheep to Christian Burmese living
in Thailand. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">On Friday, August 28, following our
morning seminar in Bangkok, we drove ourselves by rent-a-car to Mae Sot
(perhaps a seven hour trip) to meet Yuri and David Ya late that evening and to
present, the following morning, our seminar on the Bible and homosexuality -
that God is no respecter of persons. At the seminar, we distributed copies of
the book <i>The Children Are Free</i> in English. Following the Mae Sot Burmese
seminar, we hurried our way back to Bangkok where, that evening - tired and
exhausted yet exhilarated, we boarded our return flight to our home in New York
City.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: #4c3f36; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs179/1101898663188/img/405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mai Sot seminar" border="0" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.405" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs179/1101898663188/img/405.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3.75pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Above Photo:</em> August 29, 2009, the Mae Sot, Thailand, Other Sheep Seminar to the Karen Burmese Christians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3.75pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Left to right:</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Steve Parelli, David Myat, Joyce Hanks, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3.75pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yuri Galler, Jose Ortiz <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Three years later, with the
translation and publication of this book into Burmese by Saw Yuri, those last
two adventurous days in Thailand in 2009 have become all the more significant as
treasured memories. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">To Burmese Christians everywhere -
gay and straight, lay and professional, may you eagerly receive this book from
the hands and heart of the messengers who introduced it to Thailand and Burma:
a one-time Baptist pastor and his beloved husband whose undergrad work was also
in theology and world missions.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c3f36; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Together, as a gay Christian couple
whose first love is, as best we know how, centered in God and others, we say to
you, the message of this book will set you free.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rev. Stephen R. Parelli </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Executive Director of Other Sheep </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="mailto:sparelli2002@yahoo.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">sparelli2002@yahoo.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c3f36; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jose Enrique Ortiz</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Other Sheep Coordinator</span> <span style="color: #4c3f36; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">for
Africa and Asia</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c3f36; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="mailto:bronzprjo@hotmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">bronzprjo@hotmail.com</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tuesday, October 9, 2012,
Bronx, New York, United States</span><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-57483449061264076332012-10-04T09:51:00.000-04:002012-10-04T10:18:19.130-04:00NFL Player Matt Birk vs. the Iowa Supreme Court on Gay Marriage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>by Rev. Stephen Parelli</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>October 4, 2012</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Bronx, New York</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While supporting the right of his teammate Brendon
Ayanbadejo, a Baltimore Ravens linebacker, to publically declare his support
for same-sex marriage, Matt Birk, a center for the Baltimore Ravens, took issue
with him and advanced his own counter-view on the marriage equality debate by
authoring an opinion editorial that was recently published in his home state,
in the <em><a href="http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/171850721.html?refer=y" target="_blank">Minneapolis Star-Tribune</a></em>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Birk offered but one argument for defining marriage as
between a man and a woman:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The union of
a man and a woman is privileged and recognized by society as ‘marriage’ for a
reason, and it's not because the government has a vested interest in
celebrating the love between two people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With good reason, government recognizes
marriages and gives them certain legal benefits so they can provide a stable,
nurturing environment for the next generation of citizens: our kids.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, in the same piece, he repeats his
argument:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Marriage redefinition will
affect the broader well-being of children and the welfare of society. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Christian and a citizen, I am compelled
to care about both.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This NFL player’s opinion needs to go up against the big
league.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about the Iowa Supreme
Court?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In their <a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/us/20090403iowa-text.pdf" target="_blank">April 3, 2009, ruling</a> that decided “the state
statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman
unconstitutional,” the Iowa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supreme Court
examined the argument that “the optimal environment for children is to be
raised within a marriage of both a mother and a father.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Court, after hearing “an abundance of
evidence and research,” and confirming the findings by independent research,
“that the children are served equally by same-sex parents and opposite-sex
parents,” concluded that opposition to same-sex marriage “is less about using
marriage to achieve an optimal environment for children and more about merely
precluding gay and lesbian people from civil marriage.” This conclusion led the
Court to further remark that “stereotype and prejudice, or some other
unarticulated reason [rather than optimal environment for children], could be
present to explain the real objectives” to same-sex marriage.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the end of their ruling, after having rejected other
arguments against same-sex marriage, the Court writes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now that we have addressed and rejected each
specific interest advanced” in defense of marriage as limited to a man and a
woman “we consider the reason for the expulsion of gay and lesbian couples from
civil marriage left unspoken . . . : “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">religious
opposition</i> [emphasis mine] to same-sex marriage.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obviously, Birk is no match for the Iowa Supreme
Court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, his plea for dropping
the “bigot” and “homophobic” labels for “people [like himself] who are simply
acknowledging the basic reality of marriage between one man and one woman”
losses ground against the Court’s statement:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Whether expressly or impliedly, much of society rejects same-sex
marriage due to sincere, deeply ingrained – even fundamental – religious
belief.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In place of “bigotry,” one might say Birk is “religiously
intolerant” especially in view of the fact that “marriage is a civil contract”
and not a religious order or rite or creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as government, says the Court, “does not prescribe a definition of
marriage for religious institutions,” neither, explains the Court, in a free
society, do religious institutions, through the implementation of laws, impose
upon society their particular religious views and practices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Civil marriage,” wrote the Iowa Supreme
Court, “must be judged under our constitutional standards of equal protection
and not under religious doctrines or the religious views of individuals.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this sense, Birk is either un-American,
uninformed of the American way, or simply religiously intolerant of his
fellow-citizens who hold a different belief system on marriage.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is he “homophobic?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure he is, even in spite of the fact that his pro-gay-marriage teammate
Brendon Ayanbadejo tweeted “I don’t think he’s homophobic.” Matt Birk is buying
into, and playing on, people’s fears when he says: “Marriage redefinition will
affect the broader well-being of children and the welfare of society.” And when
he ties his homophobia to his religious beliefs by saying “as a Christian and a
citizen, I am compelled to care about both [society and children]” he is
displaying his religious intolerance, tempting others to come very close to
using the words “religious bigotry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If we go with the Iowa Supreme Court’s assessment, Matt
Birk, on the issue of gay marriage and optimum environment for children, is
prejudice, or is being stereotypical, or his religious beliefs have left him
totally partial.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/blogs/Finding_Home/2012/10/03/this-nfl-player-said-what?refcd=136901" target="_blank">According to Jim Daly of Focus on the Family</a>, “Maryland
state delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr., a Ravens fan, wrote a letter to the Ravens
owner, Steve Bisciotti, asking him to prohibit his players from offering
political commentary.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt Birk might
do well to take that advice long enough to do his homework.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Brendon Ayanbadejo who was the player
that upset Burns with his pro-gay marriage comments, he needs to go right on
upsetting the state delegate long enough until the state delegate sits down and
carefully reads, and fully comprehends, <a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/us/20090403iowa-text.pdf" target="_blank">the Iowa Supreme Court decision on gay marriage</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-63565809569755925012012-09-30T07:59:00.000-04:002012-09-30T08:08:06.574-04:00Parelli and Ortiz featured in September 22, 2012, Martinique newspaper around gay marriage debate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #405b81; font-family: Georgia, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 30px; line-height: 35px;"><strong>"God loves
gays!"</strong></span><span style="font-size: 22px; line-height: 26px;">("Dieu
aime les homosexuels! »)</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #405b81; font-family: Georgia, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">L.V. (Louvinia Valat) /
France-Antilles Martinique 22 Sept 2012</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #405b81; font-family: Georgia, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #405b81; font-family: Georgia, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><em>To be Christians while remaining
free to live one's sexual orientation: that is the credo of Stephen Parelli and
Jose Ortiz.</em></span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm-oIEo6a6cYQ0gc5Vfh9uBqb3BZ4NZN2CP1k9_jy1AG5HhEVoOgmOLHXW5qqwqw6RLzGO9rWJ1hi6Ahjmm0kbBSkCA9aFjqU8Mx25bb5VLWPA_fnjy6K4LwkRzRMUs3sEZO1QprIIbQU/s1600/PAGE+11+MQE+22-09-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm-oIEo6a6cYQ0gc5Vfh9uBqb3BZ4NZN2CP1k9_jy1AG5HhEVoOgmOLHXW5qqwqw6RLzGO9rWJ1hi6Ahjmm0kbBSkCA9aFjqU8Mx25bb5VLWPA_fnjy6K4LwkRzRMUs3sEZO1QprIIbQU/s400/PAGE+11+MQE+22-09-12.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">FRANCE-ANTILLES MARTINIQUE </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">NEWSPAPER, Saturday, September 22, 2012, issue</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><strong>FRANCE-ANTILLES
MARTINIQUE NEWSPAPER, Saturday, September 22, 2012,
issue</strong></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><i>Article (<a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/2012_Martinique_France_Antilles_09_22_Article_p_11.html" target="_blank">originally in French</a>) by
Louvinia Valat, Journalist, France-Antilles Martinique<br />Translated to English
by Stanley Hanks</i></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;">TESTIMONIAL. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Stephen Parelli</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Jose Ortiz</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"> serve as director and coordinator,
respectively, of the association "Other Sheep", a group which defends the
idea that one can be </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Christian</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><b>gay</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"> at the same time, </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><b>without betraying God or one's
faith</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;">. This is the
battle they have been fighting for over 15 years, both as a couple and as
Protestant Christians. This is currently of particular relevance for us in view
of the parliamentary debate over gay marriage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Stephen Parelli and Jose Ortiz
visited us in August for a few days before going to St. Lucia to hold a series
of workshops on controversial subjects such as: Can one be both Christian
and gay? What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Doesn't it treat it as
a perversion, an abomination?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Stephen and Jose are, above all, a couple - and they have been together for
fifteen years. They are Christians, and they have been legally married since
2008. We would never have had the chance of meeting them if their
homosexuality hadn't made it necessary for them to reconsider their faith in
the light of their sexual orientation.<br /><br />In the US, their home country, and
everywhere else in the world where Christians await their visit, Stephen Parelli
<br />(Director of Other Sheep) and Jose Ortiz (Coordinator for Asia and Africa)
do their best to show that "God is love" <br />(1 John 4). It is a love which is
not exclusive or sectarian.<br /><br />To prove this, they support their case with
the Bible. But without flights of fantasy or extrapolation: instead, they
<br />apply a scholarly approach. Both Steve and Jose have concluded Bible studies
at bachelor's degree level; Stephen, <br />who also holds a Masters in theology,
served as a pastor for approximately twenty years. They base their <br />arguments
on the text - or, to be more specific, on a reading of the text in light of the
evolution undergone by <br />society.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><b>IMPOSSIBLE TO BE
"EX-GAY"</b></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">For
these two men, their battle necessarily possesses a very personal component. For
years, formerly convinced <br />that their faith was incompatible with their love,
they had attempted to stop being gay! They had tried, for instance, <br />by
attending support groups for "Christians who are trying to overcome their
attraction for people of the same sex", <br />praying constantly and waiting for a
miracle which was not to occur - until they finally had to give up. "We finally
<br />came to realize that it is impossible to be 'ex-gay'."<br /><br />However, their
mission is not a crusade for homosexuality. Rather, they are fighting for the
fundamental right to be a Christian. Neither are they defending a Protestant
approach as opposed to Catholic "certitudes", for, in their view, <br />"all
Churches are concerned".<br /><br />That is what inspires the two to take up their
pilgrim's rod and travel the world to meet with Christians
everywhere.<br /><br />Their goal is to exchange views with them in a series of
workshops, using materials edited and published by Other <br />Sheep, in the hope
that these Christians will grow to understand that "God accepts gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and <br />transgender people".<br /><br />To contact Steve and Jose, or to
find further information, you can visit the website <a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/">www.othersheepexecsite.com</a></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-15695611507146027482012-09-18T15:44:00.000-04:002012-09-21T15:34:50.991-04:00Two Service Providers who Failed to Show us Respect as a Married Gay Couple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Excerpt: “It was as though we were on life support for equal rights, human dignity.”</em></div>
<br />
<em>by Rev. Stephen Parelli, Bronx, NY</em><br />
<em>Written September 16, 2012</em><br />
<br />
We’ve been home less than two weeks after traveling abroad for two months working in five foreign countries on behalf of human rights for LGBT people, and on two separate occasions – here in the USA – Jose and I have been mistreated as a married couple by professionals who should have known better.<br />
<br />
The first occasion occurred at US immigrations upon our arrival in the States. The officer, a Caribbean male in his 50s who checked our passports, upon learning our marital status and that our work abroad was in the area of LGBT human rights, made the comment “So, whose the wife?” In good form we answered directly that neither is the wife but that we are husband and husband. To that he said, “Someone has to be in control.” He made some other off handed, inappropriate remarks related to our work abroad.<br />
<br />
Of course, his comments were totally inappropriate and I immediately went to his supervising officer, a Latino male in his 40s, and reported him. The supervisor was deeply apologetic and said he would handle the matter immediately and directly but that he would not have us write it up to go on record and was that OK. Yes, that was OK with us. The supervisor was obviously upset and to show he was genuinely sympathetic told us of a close relative of his who is gay. <br />
<br />
The second occasion occurred yesterday. Jose’s doctor ordered him to the emergency room because blood tests showed his potassium to be dangerously high. Upon admittance at the ER, the attending person, a young African American woman, who called Jose by name from the waiting room to check his vital signs, looked at me strangely when I attempted to join him. (I was sitting next to Jose in the crowded waiting room when she called his name. I gathered my stuff and had to step quickly to catch up with Jose at the door of the initial examination room which was a mere 15 feet from where we sat. It didn’t occur to her that we were together, he being black, me white, both male; she had called for an “Ortiz,” so who was I.) “Who are you?” she asked me with a bit of that New York attitude tone in her voice (which is common enough). Jose answered, “He’s my husband.” I forget her reply to Jose’s introduction of me but it was pejorative at worst or a show of resigned, unhappy toleration at best.<br />
<br />
Jose and I were both indignant on the inside, but very non-pulsed on the outside. I responded to her without hesitation, pressing the issue. “Most people congratulate us when they learn we are a married couple,” I told her politely, meaning to indicate, quit clearly, that her professionalism was lacking in her treatment of us as a gay married couple, that we should be treated like any married person and person. While attending Jose – checking his blood pressure – , she answered me: “To each his own.” To that I said, “You wouldn’t say that to a heterosexual married couple.” The conversation was over. She made no further comment; she would not apologize nor amend in any way. Her disrespect of our marriage would not be addressed, not by her. There was some moral, religious, cultural line that she would not cross. Whatever caregiver there was in her that qualified her for the ER, it did not have to include showing respect for same-sex couples.<br />
<br />
She finished taking Jose’s vital signs and a second woman, an older white woman, entered and sat at a desk in the same room and asked Jose to describe his symptoms. The African American woman answered a phone call and, to her coworker who was taking down Jose’s symptoms, remarked loud enough for all to hear that the neighborhood kids where asking for another overnight at her home, that they spent all their time at her place, they had so much fun there. She stood next to me, talking on the phone. I noted her name on her ID badge. I typed it into my cell phone.<br />
<br />
From this initial room we were taken to the ER room. “Not so busy today,” the supervising nurse would later remark. It appeared plenty busy to us. This is the Bronx. A not so busy day is when every bed and chair is filled. We were shown where to sit to wait. Immediately I was In my own thoughts: <em>I need to write a letter tomorrow addressing the inappropriate way we were spoken to; but no, that’s too time consuming; I know, I need to address it now</em>. After reading over the remarks of the offensive conversation which I had written to a note pad on my cell phone, I walked to a central desk area in the ER over which hung the sign “Registration” and I asked if I could speak to a supervisor, that I needed to complain, that we were improperly spoken to as a gay married couple.<br />
<br />
I cited the remark that was offensive: <em>To each his own</em> I told the personnel who had said she could call for the supervisor. Having heard <em>to each his own</em>, there was no hesitation on her part. I could sense her own indignation by the way in which she urgently handled my request to speak with someone. It was as though we were on life support for equal rights, human dignity. She immediately called the supervisor who appeared in seconds. <br />
<br />
As I registered my complaint with the supervisor, a white attentive woman in her middle years, I was genuinely kind in my remarks regarding the African American woman. I told the supervisor that I was simply raising awareness; that I did not intend for any report of complaint to be placed in the woman’s file; that perhaps the way to handle it is through staff meetings in general discussion. No, the supervisor told me in a matter-of-fact manner, she would address the person directly and apparently now. But first she made sure Jose was attended to in the ER room; then she headed off in the direction where the offence occurred.<br />
<br />
At the end of our stay, the woman who questioned Jose on his symptoms happened to pass Jose’s bed as she was leaving at the end of her shift. She stopped and spoke with him. She was glad to hear all was well and that he was going home soon. <br />
<br />
In complete contrast to her co-worker, the offending woman who took Jose’s vital signs and I saw each other at a distance, alone in the halls, and the situation was sadly different. I had stepped out of the ER room through a side door into the hall ways in search of a restroom. As I continued in my direction towards her, she busied herself with the empty waiting beds that lined the hall. I passed her with her back towards me. It seemed natural enough the way she busied herself; not too awkward, though somewhat. <br />
<br />
Her indifference, expressed by her body language, represents my parents who for fifteen years now have refused to talk, have refused to acknowledge I exist. She represents that conservative, often religious, cross-section of Americans who believe the ideals and values of our country are being so undermined, so irreversibly changed, that only an ill-fated, God-judged catastrophic ending can await this young republic on account of our collective perverse sins. Because she may believe and feel these things so very strongly, I empathize, having been an evangelical Baptist minister, and I disempower my negative feelings towards her by drawing upon my understanding of the grid through which she sees life, the grid she’s never attempted to deconstruct for her own sake. And in some sense I feel sorry for her and for her son or her nephew or niece or close associate whom she will fail to understand some future day when they tell her they are gay, and by her actions and words jeopardize a significant relationship that she treasures.<br />
<br />
As I passed her I thought she’s a great person no doubt; she’s a mother with children at home; a mother who hosts overnights for her children and their friends. If only she knew how all that family and fun stuff is what Jose and I are essentially all about.<br />
<br />
As Jose and I walked the mile or more from the hospital to our home, we discussed the verbal mistreatment. Jose was totally supportive of my reporting it; in the ER he commended me upon learning I had reported it. After all, he’s a guidance counselor in the Bronx public schools. He addresses this kind of inequality all the time. Bringing awareness to others is part of his job.<br />
<br />
We talked between ourselves of our past experiences of other like situations. There was recently the American missionary in Guatemala whose mouth fell wide open when we told him we were Christian and gay; there was the hotel in Africa that refused us stay when we asked for a matrimonial bed declaring ourselves legally married. But more often than not, most people do respond with cheers and smiles. More often people are genuinely happy as if they had just been personally invited to the wedding. And when we tell them we’re 15 years together, the congratulations roll with an element of delightful surprise in their voices.<br />
<br />
But once in a while we do meet conservatives for whom we represent all that is wrong about society morally, and they have a very difficult time masking their feelings in front of us. On this most recent occasion, this hospital personnel who admits people to the ER, with all her motherly love for her children at home and her attentiveness to their neighborhood events, she just couldn’t accept Jose and me as married. And in spite of whatever professionalism she should have mustered on our behalf, she could not. We represent something too destructive, anti-society, to treat us like other human beings who are deeply in love, deeply committed, and legally married. Little did she know that Jose had just been told to go to the ER immediately because blood tests indicated that a heart attack could be imminent. <br />
<br />
She did her basics: she took Jose’s vital signs. She could have given more heartfelt, human care – the so called “bedside manners” that often make all the difference in the world when it comes to caregiving. When Jose introduced me as his husband, all she needed to do was welcome me as she would have any married couple. Kind of simple enough to do, and oh so professional. But instead, <em>to each his</em> <em>own</em> is not a fitting remark for any hospital staff to make. Otherwise, our ER experience was totally positive. Everyone gave us excellent care. And we did our part – we raised the awareness level of what proper treatment of all individuals should be by reporting the offensive remarks we unfortunately received as a married couple.<br />
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-52022585827039200952012-08-13T10:34:00.001-04:002012-09-18T18:29:12.409-04:00Kenyan Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu reaches out to LGBT people with affirmation and hope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="color: #405b81; font-family: Georgia, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b><em>Anglican
Bishop Kalu of Mombasa, Kenya: "Homosexuality is not a choice but homophobia
is."</em> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #405b81; font-family: Georgia, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><em>by Rev. Steve Parelli - an abridgement of <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001QdvYLvWdGLesSBSgU8wOSGJK0FgQC5b7ZZTFqigTTSmb63WIfG5X3LxeinF9h8nt4QAtV1ZPDBrRgs9hrtrDf_AuJz4JWr5_U_tV-ynQ_QDGuOenG67Sj9bKwOBPpwqBq-CeLsUsgGJwPOrEKNwODw==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">an article by Rev. Kimindu and
Joyshee Gideon</a></em><br />
<div>
<em>August 13, 2012</em></div>
<div>
<em>Gros Islet, St. Lucia</em></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rev. Michael Kimindu, President of Other Sheep Africa, in a news
flash released on August 13, 2012, by email, reported that Anglican Bishop Julius
Kalu of Mombasa, Kenya, upon openly meeting with Rev. Kimindu, LGBT persons and
others, publicly stated that "from what I'm gathering from you, I say
homosexuality is not a choice but homophobia is." </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bishop said this was his first time ever to see or meet with
LGBTI people from Kenya or anywhere. He said it is indeed a shame for him that
he has been shepherding LGBTI people in the Anglican Church without even knowing
it.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bishop, reminiscent of Peter's words to the Jerusalem Council
when he spoke on the early church's potential discrimination against Samaritans,
said that wherever homosexuals manifest the fruit of the Spirit of Galatians
5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control), "where is the
difference then" between them and us.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bishop strongly condemned the brutal killing of Mjomba, a
Kenyan living and working in Tanzania where he was murdered, as a "heinous and
cowardice" act and expressed the wish that someday soon LGBTI people will live
in a free world without "violence and discrimination."</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kimindu called upon the Bishop to instruct his clergy to pastor
and shepherd homosexuals without discrimination. </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bishop agreed that his meeting and comments with Rev. Kimindu
and the LGBT community were to have "wide circulation."</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the full original report, as given by Rev. Kimindu and
Joyshee Gideon, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001QdvYLvWdGLesSBSgU8wOSGJK0FgQC5b7ZZTFqigTTSmb63WIfG5X3LxeinF9h8nt4QAtV1ZPDBrRgs9hrtrDf_AuJz4JWr5_U_tV-ynQ_QDGuOenG67Sj9bKwOBPpwqBq-CeLsUsgGJwPOrEKNwODw==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">click here</a> (Changing
Attitude).</span></div>
</div>
Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-33288950331117542202012-08-06T21:57:00.002-04:002012-08-06T22:15:29.273-04:00News Flash: Steve and Jose of Other Sheep featured on "atv" Martinique<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by Rev.
Steve Parelli, </span></i><i><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">August
6, 2012</span></i><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Schoelcher,
Martinique</span></i><span style="color: #4c3f36; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At this <a href="http://www.atv.mq/actu" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">link</span></a>, select "Journal du 05 Août." The TV segment on Jose Ortiz and Steve Parelli begins at 7:02 (however, it appears you cannot fast forward). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The "Journal du 05 Août,"
according to reporters who made the interview with Parelli and Ortiz
of Other Sheep, will be available for one week only. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">t was aired last night
twice here in Martinique: at 7:00 PM and 11:30 PM.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parelli, who lived here
in Martinique in 1970 (when he was 17) for four months with American
missionaries, was told by an interested Martiniquean friend of 42 years who has
watched the developments around Other Sheep's visit to Martinique, that
evangelical Christians who know Parelli were taken back, but that the stone has
been cast - that serious dialogue among evangelicals will have to follow at some
point now that a familiar Christian face has been placed on the issue.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parelli and Ortiz are in
Martinique for two weeks. They are contacting pastors, laity and churches by
phone, email, and in person. They are making a tour of the island by car distributing
two writings to churches: one on Parelli's "ex-gay" experience and
the second on what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality. The
papers, in French, are listed (and linked to) on the <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001a-QkN3HT0vgIm6tgBHg0U7mO2pqM1Qw5f7j7dJQjRhw8tNAR4aWzd5Nxy1RzI-k0ZQc_OWed94wS7xcVrIugMYZSj_jAlp0igEYiZ4CSSrL1shtwmqM0dYy9CwHIKt-e30bNQ3KczkSc5Y7ZlHlYRtldScZjqvob" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Other Sheep French-language resource
page</span></a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW;">In addition to the TV news
coverage, Parelli and Ortiz have been interviewed by a newspaper journalist and
a radio news commentator. Both have stated that their respective news items
should come out within the next few days. </span></div>
</div>Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7660416694468536619.post-15904280481608906142012-08-02T08:52:00.001-04:002012-08-08T06:31:51.416-04:00Le retour d'un Baptiste gai à la Martinique<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<em><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Times New Roman;">Notre numero de mobile est: 0696 44 32
69 </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">jusqu'à ce Aout 11</span></em></h3>
<br />
<strong>Bonjur le Pasteur, </strong> <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cko9lup_JblEWdVV_CexTQ1gdvheSJ4dIuNaev2XpVnDmzl3NalvI3oJ3abI9R9P0Y0leoYUV9Tn1TCOQNFgSRRt5gnrP1XbT9NhNYebO9BJGo3_U8hcvgA8oZWMFaSoehTF1exbTqZe/s1600/Weeks+home+with+Steve+and+Jose+outside+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cko9lup_JblEWdVV_CexTQ1gdvheSJ4dIuNaev2XpVnDmzl3NalvI3oJ3abI9R9P0Y0leoYUV9Tn1TCOQNFgSRRt5gnrP1XbT9NhNYebO9BJGo3_U8hcvgA8oZWMFaSoehTF1exbTqZe/s320/Weeks+home+with+Steve+and+Jose+outside+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve (à gauche) avec Jose en face de <br />
la maison de la famille Weeks, Vauclin, la Martinique, <br />
où Steve a vécu pendant une semaine en 1970</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Cette lettre est pour vous informer que Stephen Parelli, qui
durant son adolescence est venu à la Martinique en 1970 pour vivre avec des
missionnaires baptistes évangéliques pour quatre mois à Le Robert (Les Austins;
and Les Weeks au Vauclin), est maintenant de retour comme le directeur exécutif
de Other Sheep (d'autres brebis)-une ONG qui travaille dans le
monde entier pour l'inclusion des chrétiens qui sont gais et
lesbiennes. Pendant le temps qu'il était dans Le Robert avec la famille Austin
et Le Vauclin avec la famille Weeks, Stephen savait qu'il était gai. C'était
quelque chose qu'il ne pouvait pas partager avec sa famille, l'église ou les
missionnaires avec lesquels il s'est rendu. Il ne retourne pas à la Martinique
seule. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Il m'a apporté, Jose Ortiz, son partenaire et son mari depuis 15 ans. Je
suis le coordinateur de Other Sheep pour Afrique et en Asie. Nous serons ici en
Martinique jusqu'à ce Aout 11. Voici une petite description de qui nous sommes
et ce que nous faisons:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: small;">La
mission de Other Sheep est de montrer de façon concrète l'amour inclusif de Dieu
à la communauté gaie et lesbienne et aux églises chrétiennes c'est-à-dire que
Dieu ne condamne pas les homosexuelles. Pour réussir à cette mission, nous
fournissons du matériel pédagogique et des séminaires qui partagent des
informations à partir de la science théologique récente, les sciences sociales
et l'expérience personnelle. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: small;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: small;">Quant à
la perspective personnelle, tout les deux Parelli et Ortiz ont obtenu des
diplômes de baccalauréat dans la Bible et Parelli a une maîtrise en théologie.
Durant son adolescence, il est venu à la Martinique en 1970 pour vivre et
travailler avec les missionnaires évangéliques. Pendant ce temps, il savait
qu'il était gay, mais a également eu un grand désir d'être un prédicateur.
Parelli est devenu un pasteur baptiste d'une dénomination évangélique
conservateur pendant 20 ans. En 1997 Parelli rencontré Ortiz dans un groupe de
soutien pour les chrétiens qui tentaient de surmonter leur attirance pour les
personnes du même sexe. Après avoir assisté à neuf mois, ils avaient décidé de
ne pas poursuivre la tentative infructueuse de changer et d'accepter l'amour
qu'ils éprouvent pour l'autre.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: small;">Leur relation amoureuse a duré 15 ans. Ils ont
été mariés légalement dans l'État de Californie en 2008. Toutes ces années
Parelli dit Ortiz qu'un jour il reviendrait à la Martinique avec Ortiz.
Maintenant 42 ans plus tard et après plus de 10 ans de recerche, Parelli est de
retour en Martinique pour partager les bonnes nouvelles que Dieu aime et accepte
gais, lesbiennes, bisexuels et transgenres.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: small;"></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 115%;">Nous
serons disponible ici en Martinique jusqu'à Août 11 à discuter de toutes les
questions que vous pourriez avoir concernant le sujet des chrétiens qui ont
l'orientation homosexuelle et la base pour les acepter pleinement dans les
eglises chretiennes. Notre numero de mobile est: 0696 44 32 69.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: 16pt;">
Jose Ortiz</div>
<div style="font-size: 16pt;">
Other Sheep Coordinator </div>
<div style="font-size: 16pt;">
pour Afrique, et Asie</div>
<div style="font-size: 16pt;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #006699; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Steve
et moi voudrions partager avec vous les liens de notre site Web qui contiennent
des informations en français sur notre travail pour les droits de l'homme et ce
que la Bible dit concernant l'homosexualite</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Les
voici:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">La
page des resources en francais: </span><a href="http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/French_Resources.html" shape="rect" style="color: #19667e; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/French_Resources.html</a><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />des
autres liens:</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001RjUXQ3Urv-vmoiKmqlWJJGCjWKU30pxjdbnv3PHG_9bveJH572p95rKGaQ94ceggKvxsyxMWJWFMJ8lLcUkWxOU4gqoJrEip2KS8hRUBbrOdItr-h9RfEJQWweno3qO93SHQovjOZ3L3fcisWAXwb9wWMLetgjxf_owmfKDjjXK9d2L-RfrW0w==" shape="rect" style="color: blue; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">La Bible est un placard vide</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> (The Bible Is An Empty
Closet)<br />par Ralph Blair ©Ralph Blair, tous droits réservés (Traduction : Fred
Wells)</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001RjUXQ3Urv-vmoiKmqlWJJGCjWKU30pxjdbnv3PHG_9bveJH572p95rKGaQ94ceggKvxsyxMWJWFMJ8lLcUkWxOU4gqoJrEipLAFdjuLyZROBaz-BloWacEi9DYDxvs7AefqX7SRFDFMyGShsG3WH0Eto3R80bORXBPNOUP57MyL0_7aFVgV2y372i3pQzddu" shape="rect" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank"><b>Peut on vraiment devenir « ex-gay » ?</b></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001RjUXQ3Urv-vmoiKmqlWJJGCjWKU30pxjdbnv3PHG_9bveJH572p95rKGaQ94ceggKvxsyxMWJWFMJ8lLcUkWxOU4gqoJrEipLAFdjuLyZROBaz-BloWacEi9DYDxvs7AefqX7SRFDFMyGShsG3WH0Eto3R80bORXBPNOUP57MyL0_7aFVgV2y372i3pQzddu" shape="rect" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank"><b>Une évaluation du mouvement américain « ex-gay » sur
la base des expériences de l' </b></a><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001RjUXQ3Urv-vmoiKmqlWJJGCjWKU30pxjdbnv3PHG_9bveJH572p95rKGaQ94ceggKvxsyxMWJWFMJ8lLcUkWxOU4gqoJrEipLAFdjuLyZROBaz-BloWacEi9DYDxvs7AefqX7SRFDFMyGShsG3WH0Eto3R80bORXBPNOUP57MyL0_7aFVgV2y372i3pQzddu" shape="rect" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank"><b>auteur,</b></a><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001RjUXQ3Urv-vmoiKmqlWJJGCjWKU30pxjdbnv3PHG_9bveJH572p95rKGaQ94ceggKvxsyxMWJWFMJ8lLcUkWxOU4gqoJrEipLAFdjuLyZROBaz-BloWacEi9DYDxvs7AefqX7SRFDFMyGShsG3WH0Eto3R80bORXBPNOUP57MyL0_7aFVgV2y372i3pQzddu" shape="rect" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank"><b>ainsi que sur les écrits des dirigeants du mouvement
« ex-gay »</b></a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino;">Par Stephen Parelli, théologien,
directeur de « Other Sheep » www.othersheepexecsite.com, www.othersheep.org (en
juin 2006). Traduit de l'américain par Stanley Hanks et Jean Vilbas
(2012).</span><br /> </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 16pt;">
</div>
</div>Rev. Stephen R. Parellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663005094740172198noreply@blogger.com0