‘God takes on flesh
and joins life in the struggle –
this is what radical solidarity feels like.’
Tag: Christianity
Dec 25
God in solidarity – A Christmas reflection
Oct 27
Who can be against us? Coming out as LGBT & Christian
THIS MONTH, as the Co-ordinator of the Open Table Network, I led the first of a new series of monthly online worship gatherings. We took the theme of ‘coming out’, as 11th October is marked around the world as ‘Coming Out Day’.
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Aug 13
Everyone’s Chapel – Plans to re-open creative worship space after 20+ years #YMCA175
SINCE January 2019, I have worked part-time as chaplain for the community at YMCA St Helens. There I discovered a hidden gem, of which many of the hostel’s residents and staff were unaware. The chapel, on the second floor of the early 20th Century building on North Road, has not been used regularly for more than …
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Apr 15
The possibility of life – The third step on the #JourneyOfHope
Sometimes the Church can be an inhospitable place for those presenting a minority report, especially on gender identity and sexual orientation.
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Dec 24
Live fully, love wastefully, be all you can be – A reflection for #Christmas by John Shelby Spong
AT A carol service this month, hosted by the Open Table inclusive Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the readings, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share. It’s an extract from a lecture called ‘Jesus for the non-religious’ by John Shelby Spong, a retired US Episcopalian Bishop: Suppose we change our …
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Dec 11
Welcome into the story! A reflection for the YMCA Christmas carol service
LAST WEEK the YMCAs in the Liverpool City Region gathered for a carol service in the city’s Parish Church, opposite the world famous Liver Building. As the chaplain for YMCA Liverpool, and just starting as chaplain for the YMCA in the neighbouring town of St Helens, I gave a reflection on the Christmas story and …
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Nov 18
The book I wish I had written – Queer and Catholic: A Life Of Contradiction by Mark Dowd
THIS BLOG began as I turned 42 in 2012, as: an attempt to be heard, not just for myself, but for other lesbian, gay and bisexual Christians who struggle with their sexual orientation in faith communities that judge them, at best, to be defective heterosexuals, rather than recognising and valuing the gifts and insights that embracing their …
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Oct 31
What Open Table means to me… Guest post by Jen
LAST WEEKEND Open Table – an ecumenical Christian worship community which offers a warm welcome to people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) and all who seek an inclusive Church – took part in a day conference called Gathering Voices – From Welcome to Affirmation. As part of that event …
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Oct 24
Just do it, for God’s sake! Reflecting on the Christian mission of the YMCA
LAST MONTH, I spent three days with colleagues from around a dozen other YMCAs at the UK Unify conference, a platform for YMCAs to share and reflect on the Christian mission of what is now the largest and oldest youth charity in the world. I was expecting the conference to be mostly chaplains and managers, …
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Aug 14
In & Out – A reflection on identity: Guest post by Claire
IN RESPONSE to a post I shared recently from my blog archive, ‘I am what I am’ – A reflection on identity, Claire, a member of the Open Table ecumenical Christian worship community for LGBTQIA+ Christians in Liverpool, wrote this response which I am happy to share: When I think about my identity, I often …
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