A new chapter: Embracing God's call to the Village in the City
Augustine Tanner-Ihm is an African-American activist, writer, speaker and Church of England priest. He was also the winner of the 2020 Church Times Theology Slam competition. Augustine was a trustee of the Open Table Network from July 2020 to June 2023. He has now joined the leadership team of The Village Church in Manchester city centre.
“Open Table became a lifeline - a safe place for me to be fully myself, ask thought-provoking questions, and even disagree with people healthily... Open Table helped create a safe space in a dangerous time in my life.”
The launch of the Village Church in Manchester on Sunday 24th September 2023. The church will meets for worship on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at the LGBT Foundation on Sackville Street in Manchester’s ‘Gay Village’. READ MORE about Village Church Manchester here.
OTN TRUSTEE Augustine Tanner-Ihm, who found the first Open Table community to be ‘a safe space in a dangerous time’ when he lived in Liverpool ten years ago, has stepped down from the OTN board after three years.
Now serving as a curate at St James & Emmanuel, Manchester, Augustine is also joining the leadership of Village Church in Manchester city centre, which will provide a worship community and chaplaincy for Manchester’s Gay Village.
Augustine writes:
Over the past decade, I have been profoundly touched and transformed by the boundless grace of God. This journey has not only been about personal growth and maturity, but also about embracing every facet of who I am and empowering others to realize the best version of themselves. My life's mission has been anchored in advancing humanity, reflecting Christ's love, and fostering inclusivity.
For the last three years, I have had the privilege of serving as a trustee for the Open Table Network. This role has allowed me to witness first-hand OTN’s growth and leadership in extending care and support to countless LGBTQIA+ people and allies throughout England and Wales. It has been an honour to be part of this transformative journey, and I am deeply grateful for the experiences and relationships forged during this time.
However, as with all journeys, there comes a time when God nudges us towards a new path. I have discerned a calling to serve the LGBTQIA+ community more locally, right here in Manchester. It is with great joy and anticipation that I share my new role on the leadership team of a new church plant in the heart of Manchester city centre. Aptly named ‘The Village Church" (VC), as it is nestled in the vibrant ‘Gay Village’, VC aims to be a consistent Christian beacon, inviting all to experience the profound love and embrace of God.
This vision has been close to my heart since my time with the Urban Village Church in Chicago, Illinois, back in 2015. As a micro-church, we were unapologetically rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, welcoming all of God's children and emphasizing the daily relevance of our faith. That transformative period helped me reconcile with my own sexuality, and allowed me to witness the abundant work of the Holy Spirit, both in spiritual growth and in numbers. My passion remains unwavering: to see local churches making tangible impacts in their communities.
As I move on from the trustee board of the Open Table Network, there's a bittersweet feeling. While there's sadness in leaving a role that has been so integral to my journey, I am invigorated by the new season into which God is ushering me. Pioneering is undoubtedly challenging, yet as Matthew 11 reminds us, ‘His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.’ The prospect of navigating an ever-evolving culture and reaching out in new ways is daunting yet exhilarating.
I am deeply grateful to Father Paul Pritchard and Rev Michaela Roberts for their leadership of VC, and I am eager to support them in this endeavour. My heartfelt thanks also go to the Diocese of Manchester especially our Bishop, Rt Revd Dr David Walker, a long-standing ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. I am filled with hope and excitement for what God has in store for The Village Church and the community we aim to serve.
