THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S office for promoting its teaching authority, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has issued a statement in response to a question: ‘Does the Church have the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex?’ The answer is ‘Negative’, in more ways than one. The Open Table Network has issued this response.

AS THE Church of England is in the process of sharing its Living in Love and Faith (LLF) resources on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage, we offer these prayers for everyone involved, and those who feel unable to be involved.

AS IT’S LGBT+ History Month, our Network Coordinator Kieran Bohan was interviewed on BBC Radio Merseyside’s Breakfast programme this morning.

IN THE FOURTH of our Q&A webinars with our new Patrons, Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, theologian & reconciler, was in conversation with Kieran Bohan, Co-ordinator of the Open Table Network.

WE ARE DELIGHTED to be a founding contributor to this statement, developed in response to conversations following some divisive and harmful responses to the Church of England’s Living In Love & Faith resources on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.

THIS MONTH’S Two:23 Network meeting included an interview with Open Table Network Coordinator Kieran Bohan on his faith journey and the Open Table story. His husband Warren Hartley also shared a reflection inspired by his experience of supporting the first Open Table community in Liverpool, called: ‘Made in God's image: a person-centred spirituality‘.

IN THE THIRD of our Q&A webinars with our new Patrons, Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth, the first lesbian bishop in the Church in Wales, and in a civil partnership, was in conversation with Open Table Network Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs.

THANK YOU to all who took time to complete our survey and share what your Open Table community and the Open Table Network mean for you. Watch this space for updates.

IN THE SECOND of our Q&A webinars with our new Patrons. John Bradbury, General Secretary of the United Reformed Church, co-editor of Thinking Again About Marriage and co-founder of Open Table Cambridge, was in conversation with Open Table Network Coordinator Kieran Bohan.

IN ITS fabulously titled 'Get Up & Glow' e-news, Liverpool City Region Pride has featured an interview with our Network Coordinator, Kieran, to find out how we provide safe, supportive and affirming spaces for LGBT+ people explore beliefs and identities.

MORE THAN 370 religious leaders from around the world are calling for a ban on conversion therapy - the attempt to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - including three patrons of the Open Table Network.

A REVIEW of 2020 from Kieran our Network Coordinator, and an invitation to help us help you even more in 2021 by completing a short survey.

OTN TRUSTEES have prayerfully reflected on the publication of the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith resources on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage, and offer this response.

OUR CO-CHAIR Alex-Clare-Young has spoken to BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme about a video which personally attacked him and others who shared personal stories as part of the Church of England’s Living In Love And Faith project.

IN 2019 our Co-ordinator Kieran Bohan took part in the Journey of Hope, a six month leadership programme for people of faith to transform their communities. Kieran’s story is now a video case study as the Journey Of Hope recruits new participants for 2021.

IN THE FIRST of our Q&A webinars with our new Patrons. trans priest, poet, writer & broadcaster Rachel Mann was in conversation with our Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young, also a trans Christian minister.

WE ARE INVITED to take part in a research project by Peter Jones, a former member of Open Table Liverpool who is now a PhD Researcher at the University of Leicester. Peter is also queer and Christian.

STUDENT JOURNALIST Christopher Boyle has interviewed representatives of the Open Table Network as part of a report on those within the church who are fighting for inclusivity for all on a local level.

Open Table Network trustee Augustine Tanner-Ihm has written a powerful article for the Student Christian Movement magazine, in which he argues that ‘The rainbow cannot be a sign of joy and peace if it doesn’t recognize the missing colours. It ceases to be a rainbow’.

TODAY, thanks to funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, our Network Co-ordinator Kieran Bohan is starting full-time hours for the next six months to help our communities respond to the crisis and raise our online presence to reach more isolated LGBTQIA+ folk.