DAR ES SALAAM, February 14, 2007  –  Davis Mac-Iyalla, director of the Christian gay group Changing Attitude Nigeria, briefly met Archbishop Peter Akinola, Primate of All Nigeria, today.

The chance meeting came following the first press briefing prior to the official opening of the “summit” of Anglican Primates which opens tomorrow (February 15).

Rev. Colin Coward, the director of Changing Attitude in UK was with Mr Mac-Iyalla, who is a lay minister, at the time.

It is understood that Mr. Mr Mac-Iyalla lobbied the Archbishop on the controversial ‘anti-gay’ Bill before the Nigerian Parliament that would mean that, for instance, any bishop or priest who befriends, baptises, confirms or welcomes a gay man or woman into their church will also be guilty of a criminal offence, if the Bill passes.

“We exchanged handshakes and greetings with the Archbishop, who was friendly and open,” he said.

A brief statement was issued by Changing Attitude following the meeting.

“I came to Tanzania hoping I would be given the opportunity to meet my own Primate and I am very happy now to have met him and been warmly greeted by him,” Mr. Mac-Iyalla said after the meeting.

“My Archbishop is now aware that I am here, representing Nigerian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Anglicans.

“I care about our Anglican Communion of which we are both members,” he continued. “I would hope for the opportunity of meeting him again so that I can bring before him the issues affecting gays and lesbians in Nigeria as a result of the Government bill and of church attitudes towards LGBT people.”

“I am happy now that the truth that I have always told about myself, that I am a gay Nigerian Anglican [who] has been witnessed by my own Primate.  I hope Archbishop Peter Akinola will know that I am not a person who has deceived or cheated the church.  I have always told the truth about my time with Bishop Ugede in Otukpo and my commitment to the diocese and the whole church.”

Last night, Rev. Coward and Mr. Mac-Iyalla “enjoyed a lively supper” with, among others, two UK specialist religion journalists – Stephen Bates (the Guardian) and Jonathan Petre (Daily Telegraph), as ‘dispatch’ published on the US Episcopal Church’s ‘Integrity News’ list-serv.

It was, as American Scott Gunn put it, a group of differing sexual identities, race, nationality, gender and theological positions.

“This diverse group around the supper table felt to me what it means to be Christian and Anglican,” he observed.

SEE ALSO

Scott Gunn’s dispatches from Dar es Salaam on the ‘Inclusive Church’ blog.

LINK

UK website

 

Posted: 14 February 2007 at 16:00 (UK time)