Category: Liverpool

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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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/10/31/what-open-table-means-to-me-guest-post-by-jen/

Heartwarming responses to LGBT+ bullying #SpiritDay #ItGetsBetter

SINCE 2010, the third Thursday in October has been marked as #SpiritDay, when millions of people wear purple and change their social media profile pictures to help create a world in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) young people are celebrated and accepted for who they are. It began in 2010 when Canadian high school student Brittany McMillan created …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/10/18/heartwarming-responses-to-lgbt-bullying-spiritday-itgetsbetter/

The power of story – Guest post by Warren for National Coming Out Day

ON Sunday 14th October 2018, Warren Hartley, co-facilitator of Open Table in Liverpool, was invited to speak at the Open Table community service at St John’s United Reformed Church Warrington. As 11th October is now marked around the world as National Coming Out Day, Warren took ‘coming out’ as his theme: I love stories. They …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/10/15/the-power-of-story-guest-post-by-warren-for-national-coming-out-day/

In & Out – A reflection on identity: Guest post by Moon

IN RESPONSE to a post I shared recently from my blog archive,  ‘I am what I am’ – A reflection on identity, Moon, 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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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/08/14/in-out-a-reflection-on-identity-guest-post-by-moon/

Liverpool’s Stonewall moment – A reflection on the 10th anniversary of Michael Causer’s murder

THIS is my reflection at the Post-Pride Chillout Service in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral to mark the end of Liverpool Pride on Sunday 29th July 2018: The death of Michael Causer was Liverpool’s Stonewall moment. My name is Kieran, and I’m the coordinator of the growing network of Open Table communities, which began …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/07/31/liverpools-stonewall-moment-a-reflection-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-michael-causers-murder/

Come As You Are – LGBT+ Christians celebrate ten years of inclusive welcome

A CHRISTIAN community which warmly welcomes people who are LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning, Intersex and Asexual), their friends and family, is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Liverpool this month. The inclusive celebration, hosted by the community known as ‘Open Table’, will take place on Sunday 17th June 2018, at St Bride’s Church on …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/06/06/come-as-you-are-lgbt-christians-celebrate-ten-years-of-inclusive-welcome/

Just love for all – Bishop speaks out against inequality and harm for LGBTI Christians

LAST WEEK, at the launch of a new charity whose aim is to tackle prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender in religious organisations, Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes spoke of his ‘pain and regret’ at the rejection and harm many LGBTI+ people have experienced personally and institutionally from Christians. More than 100 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/04/21/just-love-for-all-bishop-speaks-out-against-inequality-and-harm-for-lgbti-christians/

Liverpool LGBT-affirming church studies ‘Queer Virtue’

This Lent, our inclusive church in Liverpool city centre offered a six-week course to explore the ‘queerness’ of the Christian tradition. Participants read and discussed Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ People Know About Life and Love and How It Can Revitalize Christianity (Beacon Press, 2016), written by the American Episcopal priest Elizabeth Edman. At the launch of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/04/08/liverpool-lgbt-affirming-church-studies-queer-virtue/

Who gives a toss? You can! A Lent reflection

This was what I put on a poster to invite residents of YMCA Liverpool (where I am part-time chaplain) to come and make pancakes last week. The aim was to bring people together for a simple food making activity to mark the beginning of Lent, the time of preparation for the Christian festival of Easter …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/02/22/who-gives-a-toss-you-can-a-lent-reflection/

Is there room? – A poem for Christmas Eve

AT A carol service last Sunday, hosted by Open Table, an inclusive Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the readings, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share. Is there room? There rarely is when people are desperate and search for shelter. Is there room? There seldom is when people are …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2017/12/24/is-there-room-a-poem-for-christmas-eve/

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