WE’RE EXCITED to share that The Open Table Network [OTN] has secured a Charity Champion funder for this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest match-funding campaign! The Together Fund will match every pound raised from our supporters during the campaign, helping us reach our ambitious £10,000 target. Here's how you can help.

OCTOBER 1st marks the first anniversary of the Director of the Open Table Network taking on the role. Thanks to the charity’s first grant from a national church, Kieran Bohan became the charity’s first Director on this day in 2023. Here's what OTN has achieved this year.

AN ART EXHIBITION which travelled cathedrals and town centre churches for a year ended last month with the donation of the centrepiece painting to the church where Open Table began. Fine artist and theologian Elizabeth Gray King donated 40% of the sales of original artworks and prints which people bought because of this exhibition, to OTN.

THIS YEAR the Open Table Network [OTN] is taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest match-funding campaign. The first step is to ask our supporters to become Pledgers, whose promise to give after the campaign ends in December will help OTN to attract match-funding and double the impact of donations made during the campaign.

ATTENDING a church service or Christian event can be hugely daunting for LGBT+ Christians and those exploring faith. The Open Table Network (OTN) is working with the United Reformed Church (URC) to help people create safer sacred spaces for LGBT+ people as part of Greenbelt, an inclusive, affirming Christian festival of artistry, activism and belief.

IN A LOCAL newspaper interview published this week, the leader of the Open Table Warrington community has shared her joy and disbelief following her wedding this month. Gail Rose, 55, lived most of her life suppressing her sexuality as she believed she couldn't be both gay and Christian.

THE HEAD of a charity which creates and sustains welcoming and affirming spaces for LGBT+ people within Christian communities has been approved for ministry training by the Methodist Church in Britain this week. This recommendation was confirmed at a meeting of the Methodist Conference, the governing body of the Methodist Church In Britain, on Wednesday 3rd July.

IN JUNE 2021 we asked Open Table community members and volunteers: ‘Imagine it’s Saturday 15th June 2024: We’re celebrating 16 years of the first Open Table community and 9 years as a network. We've achieved three years’ funding. What does OTN look like?’ Here are some of our members’ and volunteers’ responses, and what we have achieved three years’ on.

AT OUR AGM on Tuesday 12th March 2024 we thanked one of our Co-Chairs and founding trustees of the Open Table Network as they stepped down from the role. Now we are delighted to announce that Revd Dr Alex Clare-Young has agreed to become the latest patron of the charity.

THIS FRIDAY, 17th May, is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia [IDAHOBIT]. This year’s theme is ‘No One Left Behind: Equality, Freedom and Justice For All. How are you planning to mark the day this year?

OTN Patron Revd Dr Barbara Glasson has edited a new book of prayers to empower church communities to focus more fully and publicly on matters of justice. These original prayers commissioned specifically for public worship were contributed by a diverse range of people including two from a founding member of the first Open Table community.

THE 2021 CENSUS was the first time residents aged 16 and over in England and Wales had been asked voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. A report from the BBC this week analysed data from the Office for National Statistics [ONS] which shows that while 3.2% of the general population identified as Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual or another minority sexual orientation (LGB+), only 1.7% of Christians identified as LGB+.

IN MAY 2021 we shared the news that a long-term supporter of Open Table had been recommended for ordination training in The Church of England. Nick Birnie-Campbell, who has supported several Open Table communities in the north-west for many years, was ordained as a priest at Manchester Cathedral on Saturday 29th June 2024. Here Nick shares an update on his journey.

AT THE CLOSE of Pride in Liverpool on Sunday 28th July 2024, Liverpool Cathedral and Open Table collaborated to host a reflective service that brought us together and celebrated the vulnerability and visibility of Pride. Revd Lu Skerrat-Love, ordained at the city’s cathedral in June to serve the parish which hosts the first Open Table community, offered this reflection inspired by the festival’s theme.

TODAY the governing body of the Church of England, General Synod, gathers in York for the next five days. Nic Tall, a founding member of our Open Table Taunton community, and National Co-ordinator of Together for the Church of England, which campaigns to unite those seeking to remove all discrimination in the Church of England, explains how we can support them this weekend.

IN JULY 2015, Open Table began to multiply from one to many communities and become the growing partnership and charity that it is today. Taking inspiration from the title a hymn one of our founding members heard on returning to church after many years, we created a logo for the new Open Table network in 2016 with the slogan ‘Come As You Are’. The hymn-writer, Sister Deirdre Browne, has kindly written this reflection for our anniversary.

A VIGIL in support of same-sex marriage in the Church of England took place last Sunday in Liverpool, in which members from several Open Table communities took part. Revd Cate Jacobs shared this powerful reflection on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.

FINE ARTIST Elizabeth Gray King is touring with 13 intriguing and affirming canvases, exploring the equality and inclusivity of God’s love. Here’s the reflection from OTN Patron and United Reformed Church General Secretary Revd Dr John Bradbury’s from the launch of the exhibition at the American International Church, London on Sunday 23rd June.

GOD’S LOVE for each of us - and all of us - is at the centre of a painting exhibition which is touring cathedrals and town centre churches. Fine artist and theologian Elizabeth Gray King is showing 13 intriguing and affirming canvases, exploring the equality and inclusivity of God’s love. Here’s Elizabeth’s reflection on the journey so far, and announcing two more destinations by popular demand.

OTN trustee Revd Rose Hill, host of our Open Table community in East Cardiff, attended the premiere of a new short film and shares her reflection on this dramatic tale of hope, perseverance, and religious intolerance a tale that is familiar to many in our communities.

Knock, knock!

No corny joke to follow! Just a door opening, then a voice that greets you in the entrance. What do you hope happens next? Which of the following words would you prefer to hear? asks OTN Secretary Neil Rees.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND’s Living in Love and Faith process on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage has stirred up a lot for many LGBTQIA+ people in the last few years. Warren Hartley reflects on his experience of the process, and a phrase in the debate which reveals a real problem.

AT GENERAL SYNOD, the Church of England's governing body, last month up to eight hours was timetabled for debate on Living in Love and Faith (LLF), its long running project looking at identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.. Gill Ball, a member of the House of Laity from the Diocese of Chelmsford, explains what happened next and where we are now.

ON SUNDAY 3rd March, Bishop of Bradford Rt Revd Toby Howarth led a special celebration of Communion to mark the first birthday of the Open Table Bradford community, the first to meet outside a church as no suitable church venue could be found.

ON SUNDAY 4th February 2024, Open Table Cambridge hosted a celebratory service to mark the start of LGBT+ History Month. OTN Patron Ven Dr Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Bolton and Salford in the Church of England Diocese of Manchester shared this powerful message inspired by Mark 1:29-39.

LAST MONTH the Open Table community in Blackheath, south London celebrated six years and met for the last time. Revd Anne Bennett, vicar of the church which hosted the community, and Open Table Network trustee, shares her reflection on the journey.

ON SUNDAY 21st January 2024 Right Reverend Doctor John Perumbalath, Bishop of Liverpool led a celebration of communion at the first Open Table community in the city. He reflected on the story of the first reported miracle of Jesus in John’s gospel [John 2:1-11]

IT'S THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY. We recall how Jesus prayed for all who believe in him: 'May they all be one' [John 17:21]. We thank God he didn't say 'one and the same'! We're called to unity not uniformity, so we celebrate our diversity. OTN Trustee Neil Rees reflects on why he believes what he believes.

AT A CAROL SERVICE hosted by the Open Table Salford community, Kieran the OTN Director shared this reflection inspired by the Open To All exhibition, which Sacred Trinity Church, Salford, is hosting throughout December 2023. In particular, he focused on the largest painting in the collection by Revd Elizabeth Gray King, called Nativity.

WHAT DO YOU DO when you can’t find a suitable poem for an Open Table carol service? Why not write one? That’s what Jo Miller, leader of our new Open Table Colchester community did, with her wife Georgina.

GENERAL SYNOD, the Church of England's governing body, met for an extraordinary meeting last month, which largely focused on Living in Love and Faith (LLF), its long running project looking at identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. Nic Tall, a founding member of our Open Table Taunton community, explains what this means, especially for same-sex couples.

What does it mean to be a prophet? What image does that word conjure up for you?  At a celebration of the first birthday of our Open Table Nantwich community on Sunday 26th November, Warren Hartley from Open Table Liverpool asked these questions, inspired by the story of John the Baptist [John 1:6-8, 1:19-28] which we hear during the season of Advent.

Obviously this photo is a little humorous, not particularly serious, but it is important. Why? Because I am sick and tired of people telling me that it is not ok to be trans because ‘the body is a temple’, writes OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young.

LAST MONTH, the Open Table Bradford community hosted an away day addressing challenges that people face about ‘what the Bible says…’ about LGBT+ people. Dr Diana Tremayne, a member of the Church of England’s governing body General Synod, shares how this day helped her prepare for this month’s extraordinary meeting in London to debate blessings of same-gender relationships.

TODAY, 11th October, is marked around the world as ‘Coming Out Day’. On Sunday 8th October, Warren Hartley from Open Table Liverpool preached at the Open Table Warrington community on the theme of ‘coming out’, inspired by the song of Mary, known as the Magnificat [Luke 1:46-55].

TODAY, 11th October, is marked around the world as ‘Coming Out Day’, based on the belief that prejudice against LGBTQIA+ people thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance, and that once people know that they have loved ones who are LGBTQIA+, they are far less likely to maintain prejudiced or oppressive views. Wendy Young shares her coming out story.

BILLED AS ‘the nice people’s pop festival’ when it began in 1974, Greenbelt is more subversive than it first appeared 50 years ago. The annual celebration of art, activism and belief describes itself as ‘a festival that’s inclusive, open-minded, participatory and generous in spirit’. Gail from Open Table Warrington reflects on her first visit this year.

AT OTN’S NATIONAL GATHERING in June, Lauren McCombie Smith from Frontier Youth Trust led a breakout group to introduce Open Table members to Diversity Dice, a resource created by a Christian youth charity and an LGBT+ youth group. Lauren explains, and movingly shares why this really matters to her.