TODAY, the third Thursday in October, is Spirit Day, 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. What is Spirit Day? Spirit Day is an annual day held on the …
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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- 20th December 2025
- Christianity, Civil Partnership, Coming Out, Homophobia, identity, LGBT rights, Liverpool, marriage, Marriage Equality, Michael Causer, Open Table, relationships, sexuality, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Listening to the music of the soul: Canon in D
INSPIRED by 8 pieces of music, Listening to the Music of the Soul by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters. 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 third.
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- 19th December 2025
- Christianity, Civil Partnership, Liverpool, marriage, relationships, sexuality, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Listening to the music of the soul: Don’t give up
AS THIS ADVENT SEASON invites us to ponder the mystery of Jesus’s coming at Christmas, I’m sharing a series of reflections inspired by Listening to the Music of the Soul, the Archbishop of York’s Advent …
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- 18th December 2025
- Coming Out, identity, Mental Health, relationships, sexuality, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Listening to the music of the soul: Walk among them, I’ll go with you
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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- 17th December 2025
- Christianity, Christmas, identity, Open Table, sexuality, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Gifts that change us: An Advent reflection
6th December is the feast of St Nicholas, patron saint of children. In the Middle Ages, there was a tradition of electing a Boy Bishop – a reminder to hear the wisdom of the young.
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- 9th December 2025
- Appreciation, Christianity, Christmas, Gratitude, Kindness, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Called by name – A reflection for Trans Day of Remembrance
EACH YEAR, on 20th November, Transgender Day of Remembrance [TDOR] is observed in memory of trans people who have lost their lives through prejudice and violence during the past year. Last Saturday, as part of his training for ordination in the Methodist Church, I shared this reflection for TDOR in the college chapel.
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- 19th November 2025
- Bullying, Christianity, Hate Crime, Human Rights, identity, LGBT rights, Methodist, Open Table, Spirituality, Transphobia
- abravefaith
Faithful and humble: Living the Gospel when no-one’s watching
Every church has them – the quiet heroes. The ones who turn up early, serve faithfully, and never seek attention. In a world that prizes recognition, Paul’s letter to Timothy and Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector remind us of something different: that God values faithfulness and humility, even – and especially – when no one’s watching.
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- 1st November 2025
- Appreciation, Chaplaincy, Christianity, Gratitude, Kindness, Methodist, Spirituality, YMCA
- abravefaith
Make time for peace: A call to action
SEPTEMBER 21st is the United Nations International Day of Peace, created in 1981 as an opportunity for ‘commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.’ Two decades later, …
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- 21st September 2025
- Christianity, Coming Out, Hate Crime, Human Rights, identity, Kindness, Liverpool, Methodist, Open Table, relationships, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Garden of Peace: A reflection for the Season of Creation 2025
LAST SUNDAY, as part of my training as a Methodist minister, I shared this brief reflection on the Season of Creation, which runs from 1st September to 4th October, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment.
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- 2nd September 2025
- Christianity, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Transfiguration and Hiroshima: A reflection on peace
LAST SUNDAY, as part of my training as a Methodist minister, I shared this reflection on the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, which falls on the Feast of the Transfiguration (6th August).
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- 6th August 2025
- Christianity, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Encouraging words build community spirit
LAST MONTH, as part of my training as a Methodist minister, I shared this reflection about the inmportance of sharing encouragement when we can, not waiting until someone leaves or has died to say how we really feel.
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- 4th August 2025
- Appreciation, Christianity, Gratitude, Kindness, Meaning of Life, Methodist, relationships, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Joy, freedom, kindness: A spiritual exercise
LAST SUNDAY, as part of my training as a Methodist minister, I shared this reflection during an all-age service. The service included children and adults with learning difficulties. The readings for the day were Psalm …
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- 5th July 2025
- Christianity, Kindness, Methodist, Spirituality
- abravefaith
Oct 17
Did You Go Purple For #SpiritDay?
- By abravefaith in Bullying, Coming Out, Hate Crime, LGBT rights, Spirituality
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17th October 2013
- Advocate, Asher Brown, BBC, Billy Lucas, Brazil, Brittany McMillan, Canada, coming out, Gay community, Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, gender identity, GLAAD, homophobia, India, Iran, Justin Aaberg, LGBT, LGBT social movements, Mental health, Russia, Seth Walsh, Sexual orientation, sexuality, Spirit Day, spirituality, Stephen Fry, Tyler Clementi, Uganda, United States, USA, Wes Janisen, Youth
- 2 comments
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/10/17/did-you-go-purple-for-spiritday/
Sep 27
WATCH: Defriended over a wedding – A straight man gains perspective
- By abravefaith in Christianity, Civil Partnership, Coming Out, LGBT rights, Marriage Equality, Spirituality
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27th September 2013
WHAT MAKES the debate over same-sex marriage around the world really interesting is the power of empathy, when ordinary people who are not LGBT begin to see it from our point of view. Spare six minutes to hear this man say why he began to get what it’s like to be judged second-rate for who …
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- Christian, church, civil partnership, Civil union, coming out, current-events, England, Facebook, family, Gay community, Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, God, homophobia, Internet relationship, LGBT, LGBT social movements, Liverpool, Liverpool Echo, Marriage, Place of worship, Pope, Same-sex marriage, Sexual orientation, sexuality, Social media, Twitter, United States
- 1 comment
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/09/27/watch-defriended-over-a-wedding/
Sep 22
What does it mean to be an Inclusive Church?
- By abravefaith in Christianity, Liverpool, Spirituality
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22nd September 2013
LAST WEEKEND the church where my civil partner and I worship together celebrated Inclusive Church Sunday. Despite major building work which unexpectedly revealed the presence of asbestos, and has restricted access to the building during the week, last Sunday the doors opened for three special events to mark the occasion. The day was dedicated to Inclusive …
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- Anglican Communion, Christian, Christianity, church, Church of England, civil partnership, Civil union, creativity, current-events, disability, England, exclusion, exclusive, Gender, God, inclusion, inclusive, Jeffrey John, Jesus, LGBT, liberal, Liverpool, Mental health, mental well-being, outsider, Parable of Lost Sheep, Parable of the Lost Coin, Parable of the Prodigal Son, parish, pastoral care, Place of worship, progressive, race, Sexual orientation, sexuality, spirituality, Sunday, theology
- 1 comment
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/09/22/inclusive-church/
Sep 08
Not on our bus, Or, We don’t need no segregation
- By abravefaith in Bullying, Civil Partnership, Hate Crime, LGBT rights, Liverpool, Marriage Equality
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8th September 2013
WHEN I FIRST went to an LGBT social group in Bath in my late 20s, I met an older generation of gay men who would speak in code to each other to avoid ‘outing’ themselves to others who might overhear them. For example, when discussing another man and wondering if he were gay, they would say …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/09/08/not-on-our-bus/
Sep 06
The power of love: An LGBT history of Liverpool
- By abravefaith in LGBT rights, Liverpool, Michael Causer
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6th September 2013
Gaydio, the UK’s only radio station for the LGBT community, aired a documentary this week about the LGBT history of Liverpool. It’s a powerful and moving oral history told by members of Liverpool’s LGBT communities past and present. I was interviewed about my work with LGBT young people over the last eight years, and the impact of the …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/09/06/power-of-love-lgbt-history-liverpool/
Sep 03
UPDATE: The ultimate question – Have I found the answer?
- By abravefaith in Christianity, Civil Partnership, LGBT rights, Marriage Equality, Meaning of Life, Spirituality
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3rd September 2013
I BEGAN this blog a year ago after attending a seminar called ‘The Book You Were Born To Write’ by Nick Williams. Completing my 42nd year felt like an apt moment to do so, since 42 is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe and Everything! It’s been an interesting and eventful …
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- Christian, civil partnership, Civil union, communication, creativity, Douglas Adams, Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, God, homophobia, LGBT, LGBT social movements, Liverpool, Liverpool Pride, Marriage, Mental health, Merseyside, pastoral care, Personal development, Place of worship, Public Speaking, Same-sex marriage, Sexual orientation, sexuality, spirituality, theology, writing, Youth
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/09/03/the-ultimate-question-have-i-found-the-answer/
Aug 11
‘I am what I am’ – A reflection on identity
- By abravefaith in Christianity, Civil Partnership, Coming Out, LGBT rights, Liverpool, Marriage Equality, Spirituality
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11th August 2013
The following text is a reflection I presented today during Morning Prayer at the church I attend with my partner. The church chooses a monthly theme for its services – this month’s theme was Musicals! When my partner and I were asked to lead a service on the theme of musicals, at first I thought: …
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- Albin, barbara glasson, Birdcage, Catholic, Catholic Church, challenge stereotypes, Christian, church, Church of England, coming out, conservative parents, creativity, drag clubs, Gay community, Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, gender identity, Georges, God, homophobia, Ignatian, Jean-Michel, Jesuit, La Cage Aux Folles, LGBT, LGBT social movements, Liverpool, Marriage, Mental health, morning prayer, Personal development, Place of worship, Robin Williams, Roman Catholic Church, Saint-Tropez, Same-sex marriage, Sexual orientation, sexuality, spirituality, theology, writing, Youth
- 1 comment
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/08/11/i-am-what-i-am/
May 27
Waiting for the lovers – Why we can’t rewrite this love song yet
- By abravefaith in Bullying, Coming Out, Hate Crime, LGBT rights, Liverpool, Marriage Equality, Michael Causer
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27th May 2013
THIS HAUNTING AND POIGNANT SONG is dedicated to those who don’t feel free to love for fear of judgement, or even physical assault, by others who assume their love is wrong: They met across the dance floor just like many other lovers Each of them were caught within a trance And with the nervousness of …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/05/27/waiting-for-the-lovers/
May 19
‘No-one is silent though many are not heard’ – Why I work to change this
- By abravefaith in Civil Partnership, Hate Crime, LGBT rights, Marriage Equality
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19th May 2013
This quotation, from a poster called ‘How To Build Community‘, was part of the inspiration that led me to start this blog around nine months ago. I have written about my experience as a gay Christian, as part of the first same sex couple to register our civil partnership in a place of worship in the …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/05/19/idaho13/
Mar 02
‘He was killed because he loved another boy’ – Why I support LGBT youth
- By abravefaith in Bullying, Hate Crime, LGBT rights, Liverpool, Michael Causer
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2nd March 2013
MARCH 1st was the third anniversary of the first meeting of the Michael Causer Foundation. Michael Causer, from Whiston, Merseyside, died on 2nd August 2008 aged just 18 after being brutally assaulted and left for dead eight days earlier. The parents of the murdered gay teenager have set up a Foundation in his name to provide housing and …
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- Cheltenham, current-events, Gay community, Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, gender identity, hate crime, homophobia, human-rights, Joseph Lappin, LGBT, LGBT social movements, Liverpool, Mental health, Merseyside, Michael, murder, Murder of Michael Causer, North West England, Sexual orientation, sexuality, spirituality, suicide, transphobia, Whiston Merseyside, Youth
- 8 comments
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/03/02/building-on-foundation-for-lgbt-youth/
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