5
16 • 16 • 16 • 16 • 16 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • June 8-21, 2010 • Of • June 8-21, 2010 • Of • June 8-21, 2010 • Of • June 8-21, 2010 • Of • June 8-21, 2010 • Official Souther ficial Souther ficial Souther ficial Souther ficial Southern Decadence Guide • Souther n Decadence Guide • Souther n Decadence Guide • Souther n Decadence Guide • Souther n Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM • NOLAPride.ORG nDecadence.COM • NOLAPride.ORG nDecadence.COM • NOLAPride.ORG nDecadence.COM • NOLAPride.ORG nDecadence.COM • NOLAPride.ORG the pink pastor by Rev. Clinton Crawshaw Email: [email protected] www.bigeasymcc.com Exciting Times A couple of weeks ago I was a meeting in Florida, where MCC ministers and leaders were dis- cussing church planting, and the explosive growth we are experiencing in the devel- oping world. I am of course a Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) pastor, and yet things are moving so quickly that I was ignorant of many of the things going on at the moment. MCC (Metropolitan Community Churches) are the largest international LGBT organization in the world today. I have taken a close interest in what was going on at our churches in Jamaica, South Africa and Nigeria because I have friends who have been working on these projects, seek the Sovereign; In the night my hand is stretched out without wearying. My soul refuses to be comforted. I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. Selah You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak… Psalm 77. 1-4” ”Pastor Pressley, things are bad here…” Those were the words I had both expected and dreaded to hear from my friend Reverend Jide Macaulay. From the time he went home to Lagos, Nigeria to organise House of Rainbow Metropoli- tan Community Church, I had felt like a family member was in a combat zone. I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I listened to Jide’s voice. He was shaken, but physically unharmed. It transpired that Jide was in hiding and in need of refuge. Members of House of Rainbow had fled two by two throughout the city after receiving a tip that kill men and officers were on the way to their meeting place. They left in haste, leaving the space prepared for Sunday worship—a full cup for communion; a paten of bread for sharing. House of Rainbow members have been the victims of an egregious and sustained media campaign exploiting their inclusiveness. Undercover reporters deceived the church by introducing themselves as members of the rainbow commu- nity seeking an affirming church. They were welcomed and loved by Jide and the congregation. In return for their kindness, these reporters secretly wrote and published a series of articles that were sensationalist and reckless. My colleague was referred to as ‘the so called’ Reverend, and incendiary language such as ‘evil’, ‘abomination’, ‘un-Afri- can’, ‘sodomite’ and ‘sign of the end times’ was used by pundits, bloggers and religious leaders to slander the good work of Jide and House of Rainbow. Photographs from birthday parties the reporters had attended were published, wrecking the lives of several young people, making them homeless and vulnerable to abusive attacks in the streets and markets of Lagos. The papers continued to be self- congratulatory, claiming they had closed House of Rainbow. Because my friend had to hide from their incited violence, they declared that his behaviour was an admission of guilt. These journalists published Rev. Jide’s home address (which was robbed that night), listed names of his family members, and began a public relations assault on his father’s Bible University, which has no formal links to House of Rainbow. Lives were nearly destroyed and vulnerable people are suffering. In a proudly Christian city, the opiate of self- righteousness took effect with disastrous results. Cry aloud, Body of Christ, this story is worth our tears and reflection. The Big Easy MCC supports MCC’s global efforts through it’s 13% monthly tithe. We are proud to be a part of the only voice speaking out for our LGBT brothers and sisters in many countries across the world. but these churches turned out to be just a portion of the worldwide revolution going on! Many of the stories are wonderful and heartwarming – the 20 new churches that have sprung up in Brazil in the last two years alone, the 36 churches now in Latin America, the churches growing and forming in The Ukraine, Russia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and the several churches in The Philippines - each one fighting hatred and homophobia in countries where it is often illegal to be gay, and sometimes results in violence, murder and imprisonment. Some stories are heartbreaking. Our churches in Nigeria face especially tough conditions, with frequent death threats and violence aimed at its members and clergy. There are a group of women in Pakistan being sheltered by MCC because their families have taken out contracts on them because they have refused marriage and been identified as lesbians. All these churches are supported and mostly financed by the work being done amongst MCC churches HERE in the United States, churches like ours here in New Orleans! Here is a short piece written by our pastor in Cape Town, South Africa (Rev Pressley Sutherland) about the danger and struggle being faced by Rev Rowland Jide Macauley as he has bravely pastured the church in Lagos, Nigeria (Pastor Jide is Nigerian by birth). “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that I may be heard. In the day of my trouble I June 25-27 New Orleans NOLAPride.ORG
