Category: identity

Grace before agreement: What living ecumenically has taught me

What does it mean to practice Christian unity today? Drawing on my own journey across Christian traditions and the story of the Open Table Network, I explore unity, grace, and the courage to stay at the table – especially when we don’t agree on everything.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2026/03/02/grace-before-agreement-what-living-ecumenically-has-taught-me/

‘All Are Welcome!’: How a surprising witness is inspiring a national church

Members of the Wesley Church Centre and Open Table Chester marching in the Chester Pride parade past the front of the church where more community members are standing on the ramp to show support for everyone in the parade. PHOTO: Tim Macquiban.

FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary history. This year the Methodist Church in Britain asked me 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.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2026/02/22/all-are-welcome-how-a-surprising-witness-is-inspiring-a-national-church/

Standing together in the gap: Migration, identity, and the search for home

AS PART of my training for ordained ministry in the Methodist Church in Britain, I have been invited to situate my own experience of migration within global theological perspectives, particularly those emerging from African and Latin American contexts. Engaging with migration studies has revealed my story as part of a much larger global, political and theological pattern of power, privilege, and displacement. Migration, therefore, is not an abstract concept for me; it has shaped my family, my childhood, and my ministry.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2026/02/18/standing-together-in-the-gap-migration-identity-and-the-search-for-home/

Listening to the music of the soul: The grandest and rawest outcry

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my eighth and final musical moment.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/24/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-the-grandest-and-rawest-outcry/

Listening to the music of the soul: I wanna see you be brave

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my seventh.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/23/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-7-i-wanna-see-you-be-brave/

Listening to the music of the soul: Wisdom in secret things

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my sixth.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/22/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-6-wisdom-in-secret-things/

Listening to the music of the soul: Standing at the crossroads

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my fifth.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/21/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-5-standing-at-the-crossroads/

Listening to the music of the soul: True Colors

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chaptersinspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my fourth.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/20/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-3-true-colors/

Listening to the music of the soul: Don’t give up

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my second.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/18/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-dont-give-up/

Listening to the music of the soul: Walk among them, I’ll go with you

A collage of screenshots showing people engaged in reflective and worshipful activities: lighting candles at home and in a church, reading or praying at a table, walking barefoot on a beach, standing outdoors with arms raised, tending a fire, walking a garden labyrinth in winter, and quiet domestic scenes with books, icons, and candles. The overall mood is contemplative and spiritual, with varied indoor and outdoor settings.

Inspired by eight pieces of music, Listening to the Music of the Soul by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into eight chapters. The author also invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my first.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/17/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-walk-among-them-ill-go-with-you/

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