PHOTO: Kate Matthews.
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary history first celebrated in 2005.
The Methodist Church in Britain has published resources for this season since 2022. This year the national church’s Solidarity Circle for LGBT+ chose as their theme for this month ‘All Are Welcome!’ inspired by the well-known hymn of the same name.
They asked: What does it really mean for the church to embody truly inclusive love? To answer that they ask me, as Director of the Open Table Network, to connect them with a minister who could tell the story of a church that had walked the sometimes difficult journey to becoming truly inclusive and hosting an Open Table community.
I put them in touch with the team at Wesley Church Centre, Chester, where I am based during my part-time training for ordination in the Methodist Church.
When the Methodist communications team asked them to share how their welcome came to life, they shared a reflection called ‘Oh God, the Church are here!‘ – a powerful phrase that captures both surprise and gratitude.
They wrote honestly of the ‘pain of growth’ that can come when a congregation chooses to move beyond slogans and ‘ticking boxes’ into visible, active welcome of LGBTQIA+ people – and others on the edges of church and community.
What began as a small step of courage – showing public solidarity at the city’s Pride festival – has become a witness they have now shared with the national church.
It’s a reminder that genuine inclusion takes intention, humility and change. But it also bears fruit: deeper belonging, stronger partnership, and a clearer reflection of God’s boundless hospitality.
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