Our news
There’s always a lot going on both in and around the Open Table Network, and in other communities. Here are some which involve or interest us most right now. It’s good to know LGBTQIA+ people have a growing voice in so many areas of local, national and international life.
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LGBTQI+ Clergy research project: Call for interview participants
WHEN WE SING All are welcome, are we sure that we are welcoming of everyone? And how warm is our welcome? Sometimes it is those on the inside who are the best barometer of temperature, for they experience the Church in all its forms. Four LGBT clergy are looking for other LGBT clergy in England to share their experiences.
LGBT Q&A for Black History Month: Jide Macaulay from House of Rainbow in conversation with OTN trustee Augustine Tanner-Ihm
FOLLOWING the success of our recent Q&As with our Patrons (still available on our YouTube channel), in October our Q&A was a #BlackHistoryMonth special with Revd Jide Macaulay, founder and CEO of House of Rainbow in conversation with OTN trustee Revd Augustine Tanner-Ihm.
Telling stories, engaging with the Bible: Listen to OTN Co-Chairs in these podcasts
THE CO-CHAIRS of the Open Table Network, Alex Clare-Young and Sarah Hobbs, have each recorded two newly released podcasts - one each, and one together, newly published online.
'Open Table means everything to me' - Gail
MONDAY 11th October is #ComingOutDay - Will you #ComeOutForOpenTable by sharing and supporting our Crowdfunder? The Open Table Network helps make loving places where LGBTQIA+ people of faith belong safely. As more people hear of us, there’s much more work to do.
Safeguarding survey launched to find out how safe LGBT+ Christians feel in UK churches
AN ONLINE SURVEY is launched today on World Mental Health Day, to understand just how safe UK LGBT+ Christians feel in their churches, and what can be done to make them feel safer.
OTN Coordinator celebrates first fruitful year in full-time role
TODAY marks the first anniversary of the Open Table Network Coordinator taking on the role full-time. We look back on the impact the Open Table Network has made in the past twelve months.
Methodists, marriage & why it matters: OTN Patron Barbara Glasson in conversation with Mark Rowland of Dignity & Worth
FOLLOWING the success of our recent Q&As with our Patrons, in September our Q&A was a conversation between Barbara Glasson and Mark Rowland about the recent votes on marriage, conversion therapy and gender-neutral inclusive language at the Methodist Conference in June.
'Being gay is very fun and God loves me for me', says OTN trustee with an amazing story to tell
IN AN INTERVIEW with the Manchester Evening News this week, OTN trustee Augustine Tanner-Ihm, recently appointed as a curate at St James and Emmanuel Didsbury, shared his journey through poverty, racism, homophobia and conversion therapy.
Church in Wales approves blessing service for same-sex partnerships
SAME-SEX COUPLES will be able to have their civil partnership or marriage blessed in Church in Wales churches for the first time after new legislation was passed this week.
Meet our Co-Chairs - Alex Clare-Young and Sarah Hobbs in conversation
FOLLOWING the success of our recent Q&As with our Patrons (still available on our YouTube channel), in August the Open Table Network's Co-Chairs Alex Clare-Young and Sarah Hobbs had a dialogue around key issues that matter to them and the Open Table Network.
'It made me hate myself' - OTN trustee shares experience of ‘conversion therapy’
IN AN INTERVIEW with BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme on 15th August, Open Table Network trustee Augustine Tanner-Ihm explained why he sought conversion therapy at church in north-west England a few years ago.
Living in love and faith? The construction of contemporary texts of terror
A MEMBER of the Coordinating Group of Living In Love And Faith (LLF), the Church of England’s suite of resources on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage, has published an academic article drawing on professional expertise and lived experience to critique the LLF process.
Meet our Co-ordinator - Kieran Bohan in conversation with OTN Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs
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.
Bishop of Warrington renews commission for LGBTQIA+ lay leaders in Liverpool
TWO of the founders of the first Open Table community in Liverpool were re-commissioned as lay leaders in the Diocese of Liverpool last Saturday.
Online church: What's your experience?
YOU CAN HELP to make online church more inclusive and accessible. Open Table Network, Inclusive Church and OneBodyOneFaith, have come together to produce a consultation on inclusive online church.
Life as a trans non-binary minister - Mini-documentary with OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young
ON INTERNATIONAL Non-Binary People’s Day, The Times released a sensitive and beautifully-shot mini-documentary about Alex, a transmasculine non-binary minister in the United Reformed Church.
Methodist moves for greater justice, dignity and solidarity for all, especially LGBT+ people
LAST WEEK Methodist Conference, the governing body of the Methodist Church in Britain, passed significant resolutions with far-reaching consequences for its members, and the wider Christian community.
OTN patron Bishop Paul Bayes calls for same-sex marriage and announces retirement
THIS MORNING BBC Radio Merseyside spoke to Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes about his speech last week advocating a change to the laws of the Church of England to permit same-sex marriage. In the same week, Bishop Paul announced his retirement. He plans to step down in February 2021.
Open Table: LGBT Christians ‘need more support’
THIS WEEK's Church Times has a summary of our research into the impact on the well-being of Open Table communities on the well-being of LGBTQIA+ Christians.
OTN trustee secures visa just in time for first ordained role
OTN TRUSTEE Augustine Tanner-Ihm, who has trained for ministry in the Church of England but faced challenges in finding his first ordained ministry role, has been granted a UK visa just in time for his ordination this weekend.