WE HAVE MOVED to a new office this month, thanks to support from the United Reformed Church.

FORMER BISHOP OF LIVERPOOL the Right Revd Paul Bayes has won an award for his advocacy for LGBT+ people across Merseyside and beyond. On Thursday 6th April Bishop Paul, who retired in February 2022, was honoured with the LCR Pride Foundation Award.

IN A LOCAL newspaper interview published this week, the leader of the Open Table Warrington community has shared how, after years of ‘self-loathing’, she has learned to accept herself.

FIVE YEARS since the UK Government first promised to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’, dozens of LGBTQ+ organisations, survivors and support providers have called on the Prime Minister to make its pledge a reality at last.

TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY (TDoV) on 31st March is a day to show your support for the trans community. To mark the day this year, OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young has published trans-affirming worship resources, and a call to public action for trans allies.

A CHARITY which affirms and empowers lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people to build communities hosted by welcoming and understanding churches has received a large cash boost from one of Britain’s national churches.

AT OUR AGM on Thursday 2nd March we welcomed FOUR new trustees to our board for the next three years. Our trustees are responsible for thinking through and putting into practice plans which will develop the Open Table Network (OTN).

LAST SATURDAY, 16-year-old trans girl Brianna Ghey was found with stab wounds in a village park near Warrington, and sadly died. Two 15-year-olds have been charged with her murder. Our Open Table community leaders grieve for her loss and offer support to the town’s LGBTQIA+ community.

BRITAIN’S FOURTH LARGEST Christian denomination has hosted an online event to explore how to safely welcome LGBT+ people in its churches. Among the speakers was OTN trustee Revd Dr Augustine Tanner-Ihm, who spoke passionately about the intersection of being LGBT+ and from an ethnic minority background.

FEBRUARY 1st is the feast of St Brigid of Kildare, a prophetic figure to whom the church where the first Open Table community began is dedicated. Today we are sharing the story of Brigid and her ‘soul friend’ and claiming them as patrons of our growing partnership of LGBTQIA-affirming Christian communities.

THANKS to 86 generous donors our Advent & Christmas Crowdfunder appeal raised more than £3,000! This was almost two-thirds (65%) of our £5,000 target.

MORE THAN 170 LGBT+ affirming organisations have signed a statement in support of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which the UK Government is attempting to block. OTN is one of the signatories urging the PM to treat trans people with respect.

AS AN LGBT+ affirming Christian charity, we welcome the news that the Irish government intends to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ which attempts to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. We have worked in partnership with others to call on the UK Government to do the same, and will continue to do so.

THIS CHRISTMAS, for the first time, the Open Table Network worked in partnership with other LGBT+-inclusive organisations and churches to bring Big Queer Carols to four cities across England and Wales.

THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS, which includes all serving bishops in the Church of England, held its second three-day meeting this week to continue discerning a way forward on questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. They were joined by members of the Living In Love & Faith Reference Group, including OTN Co-Chair Sarah Hobbs.

A VIDEO featuring six senior religious leaders has been released to promote six Safeguarding Principles that aim to ensure the safety of LGBT+ people in religious communities.

TODAY YOU CAN HELP support LGBTQIA+ people to find a safe, welcoming community where they can thrive. We're launching our Advent Appeal, following the four weekly themes - Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

THIS CHRISTMAS, the joy is too much for London to contain and Big Queer Carols is getting bigger, with three new partner churches in England and Wales. The churches we're working with are committed to fairness, equity, and affirmation - and we're inviting you to join us!

AS A PARTNERSHIP of inclusive Christian organisations, we welcome the publication of Together in Love and Faith by the Bishop of Oxford and acknowledge the step forward that it represents in the journey towards full inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people in the Church of England.

THE TITLE of this article came from one of the 18 community consultations we’ve hosted since October 2021 with churches exploring the need for an Open Table community in their area. During these meetings we ask what are the qualities of the experience they would want to share with others if they host an Open Table community.