FOLLOWING the success of our recent Q&As with our Patrons (still available on our YouTube channel), July is the sixth anniversary of Open Table becoming a Network, so we heard more of the Open Table story from Kieran our Coordinator.

If you missed our Q&A webinar with Kieran on Thursday 20th May 2021, or want to watch it again, now you can catch up below or on our YouTube channel (60 mins). This Q&A video includes British Sign Language interpretation, thanks to Colin Townsend and Christine Jones from Signs For Worship.

Kieran Bohan is one of the founding members of the first Open Table community in Liverpool, which began in June 2008.

Originally from London, he's lived in Liverpool since 2003. He trained for the Roman Catholic priesthood in his 20s, but chose not to be ordained. He also has professional experience in education and training, youth and community work, plus supporting vulnerable adults. He moved to Liverpool to study for Diplomas in Journalism and Web Design and has worked as a freelance marketing consultant for a number of charities, most recently as Communications Officer for Modern Church, which promotes liberal theology.

In May 2012 he and his husband Warren celebrated the first civil partnership to be registered in a place of worship in the UK.

In 2015 Open Table became a network of Christian worship communities hosted by affirming churches in different traditions which offer a warm welcome to people who are LGBTQIA+, our family and friends, and all our allies. Since 2015 we have received more than 100 requests for support to offer similar ministries in churches across England and Wales.

Between 2015 and 2017 he volunteered to support the development of the network. In 2018, following a successful crowdfunding campaign, he became the part-time freelance Network Coordinator, to support active Open Table communities and enable those seeking to host an Open Table community in their churches. In October 2020, thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, he began working full-time to help our communities respond to the Coronavirus crisis and raise our online presence to reach more isolated LGBTQIA+ folk.

Kieran was in conversation with Sarah Hobbs, Co-Chair of the Open Table Network. WATCH Sarah's intro video [2.5 mins].

Kieran answered a wide range of questions, including:

• You were raised an Irish Catholic in London, did faith surrounded you from a young age? How has that influenced your life?

• How early did you know you were gay and did this make it difficult to come out?

• Originally, you planned to go into the priesthood, but decided against it in the end. Why was that and what is your reflection on the journey the Catholic church has taken since?

• Much of your career has involved working with children and young people - do you see a changing attitude towards and among LGBT+ young people?

• How did working with LGBT+ young people professionally affect your relationship with church at this time?

• You are married to Warren. Can you tell us the story of how you met and fell in love? Now you are married, but you have been through a lot to get to this point. Can you give a sense of the journey you have gone through?

• What was the media attention around your civil partnership like?

• Identity, sexuality, relationships, and marriage are under discussion in the Church of England now, and the Methodist church has moved significantly on these issues, do you think the Church of England will follow suit?

• One of the fascinating ministries God has called you to is that of reconciliation. What have you have learned as you are launching into that ministry?

• How did Open Table begin?

• How has it changed over the years?

• OTN recently commissioned research, consulting with members, leaders, partners looking at where they would like to see us develop - what were your key takeaways from that research, and what's your hope and radical longing for OTN in the next three years?

• How can OTN equip younger queer people in leadership within Open Table communities?

• Is there a danger than OTN could become a ‘spiritual ghetto’? Should people also be part of another local church community too?

• Should we welcome people from non-Christian faiths into Open Table communities?

• We know there are lots of people who think that to be LGBTQIA+ is to be sinful, and that marriage between one man and one woman is the only right way to live. How do you reconcile your faith and your sexuality when some would see them as in conflict?

• Mental health is important and something you have been open about struggling with over time. How do you make sure that you keep yourself mentally healthy?

• How have you found people to reach out to when you needed support?

• Is there one significant glimpse of God's glory that Open Table has shown you?

• How can we sit at an open table with people who disagree with or exclude us?

• If you could choose to sit around a table with anyone, who would it be?

Catch up with Kieran in conversation with Sarah Hobbs, OTN Co-Chair (60 mins):