Loving from the bottom of the heap – A gay Christian reading for Christmas

At a carol service last Sunday, hosted by Open Table, an LGBT Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the readings, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share: The most powerful place from which to renew the face of the earth is the bottom of the heap. I often think of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/12/24/loving-from-the-bottom-of-the-heap-a-gay-christian-reading-for-christmas/

Diversity Role Models – Challenging prejudice one story at a time

A YEAR AGO I trained as a volunteer with Diversity Role Models, a charity which offers workshops in schools featuring positive LGBT or straight ally role models who speak directly to young people about their experiences, to challenge bullying by promoting empathy. They began in London in 2011 and are now expanding across the UK, including …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/12/22/diversity-role-models/

Speak OUT: Fight back against homophobia and transphobia

Wednesday 10th December is Human Rights Day. In celebration, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is launching Speak OUT: 5 ways to fight back against homophobia and transphobia. Watch and share the video with your friends and family. Unchecked prejudice often leads directly to discrimination, violence and the denial of basic human rights to lesbian, gay, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/12/10/speak-out-fight-back-against-homophobia-and-transphobia/

Would Jesus save the railways?

The name Jesus in graffiti on the side of a train

LAST WEEK a YouGov survey won the booby prize for the most stupid question in an opinion poll: Do you think Jesus would support or oppose renationalising the railways, so they are run in the public sector rather than by private companies? It’s unlikely Jesus would have held a view, given that public transport had not been …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/12/05/would-jesus-save-the-railways/

‘You gotta have faith’ – Diva magazine debate on faith & sexuality

Tonight in Liverpool, Diva magazine editor Jane Czyselska chaired a debate between veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, Christian commentator and musician Vicky Beeching, Rose Neelam, a muslim and Faith Communities Officer at UK Black Pride, and lesbian Rabbi Ariel Friedlander, as part of the annual Homotopia LGBT arts festival. Read Peter Tatchell: My journey to Humanism Read …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/11/12/you-gotta-have-faith-diva-magazine-debate-on-faith-sexuality/

A very extraordinary synod

Early in the morning of Sunday 19th October I received a text message from the lay reader at our Anglican parish church, who was away for the weekend. This was unusual – what could be so urgent that she would text so early in the morning while she was on holiday? The text read: ‘Dear …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/11/10/a-very-extraordinary-synod/

Bringing all of yourself – LGBT Christian retreat day

OPEN TABLE, the monthly service for Liverpool’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* (LGBT) community at St Bride’s Liverpool, held its first Retreat Day last weekend. Twelve regular participants in the Open Table service came together at the Cenacle Convent in Liverpool for a time of reflection on where we have come from as individuals and what …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/10/11/bringing-all-of-yourself-lgbt-christian-retreat-day/

Reflect on the week – Friday guided meditation

LAST YEAR, on pilgrimage to Bardsey Island with St Bride’s Church, Liverpool, I led night prayer each evening based on the spiritual practice known as the Examen, created by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. From this came the request to offer this practice regularly at St Bride’s, in the form of a guided meditation …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/09/28/reflect-on-the-week-friday-guided-meditation/

Facebook reinstates homophobic ‘awareness’ page

RECENTLY I wrote about Heterosexual Awareness Month, a campaign against LGBT rights and marriage equality which is spreading ignorance and prejudice on Facebook. I discovered their Facebook page in May and reported some of its content, which I considered to be blatantly homophobic. At first Facebook responded to say these posts didn’t violate their Community Standards, even …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/08/30/facebook-reinstates-homophobic-awareness-page/

Are you proud of your heterosexuality?

DID YOU KNOW that July is becoming known as ‘Heterosexual Awareness Month’? Now that the month has passed, are you more aware of your own, or other people’s, heterosexuality? I’m guessing the answer is no – and I’m guessing that most of you probably don’t feel the need for a particular time to be proud …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2014/08/01/are-you-proud-of-your-heterosexuality/

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