Tag: writing

The book I wish I had written – Queer and Catholic: A Life Of Contradiction by Mark Dowd

THIS BLOG began as I turned 42 in 2012, as: an attempt to be heard, not just for myself, but for other lesbian, gay and bisexual Christians who struggle with their sexual orientation in faith communities that judge them, at best, to be defective heterosexuals, rather than recognising and valuing the gifts and insights that embracing their …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/11/18/the-book-i-wish-i-had-written-queer-and-catholic-a-life-of-contradiction-by-mark-dowd/

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 …

Continue reading

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

How little did I know – Blogging five years on

FIVE YEARS AGO today I began this blog – little did I know then that: having ‘come out of the church‘ in 2011, I would return to a different church where my husband and I would be accepted, encouraged and authorised as lay leaders (though still with limitations because we are married) little more than …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2017/08/31/how-little-did-i-know-blogging-five-years-on/

Somewhere under the rainbow – Messages of love, thanks, wishes and prayers from Liverpool Pride

THE LAST two posts have told the experiences of members of the This post was inspired by the words of the visitors to the Open Table stall who left messages of love and thanks, wishes and prayers. Our aim with the community stall (see photo 1) was to create a safe sacred space in the festival marquee, …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2016/08/29/somewhere-under-the-rainbow-messages-of-love-thanks-wishes-and-prayers-from-liverpool-pride/

One flesh: The play – #LGBTHM review part 7

In Interfaith Week, November 2015, the LGBT Foundation in Manchester held an event called ‘Believing In LGBT Young People‘, which was the inspiration for the Divine Love event I facilitated in Liverpool in LGBT History Month this February. At this event I met a young playwright and director who was promoting her new play, One Flesh, …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2016/05/17/one-flesh-the-play-lgbthm-review-pt-7/

UPDATE: The ultimate question – Have I found the answer?

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 …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/09/03/the-ultimate-question-have-i-found-the-answer/

‘I am what I am’ – A reflection on identity

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: …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/08/11/i-am-what-i-am/

A photo a day kept inspiration at play – Now can we be married and gay?

WHEN I STARTED this blog I aimed to write a short post each week. I managed for about six weeks, but some of the posts were not so short as I was writing about issues and experiences that had been on my mind for months and years. But life began to take over and I …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2013/01/01/photo-a-day-inspiration/

Photo A Day – November 11: Sunday night #FMSphotoaday

SUNDAY NIGHTS have a new routine for me – we usually have a hearty soup and fresh bread, then I retreat to my desk and work on the next chapter of The Artist’s Way, ‘a course in discovering and recovering your creative self”. Author Julia Cameron suggests taking an hour or so to read the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2012/11/11/photo-a-day-nov11-night/

Photo A Day – November 8: Every day #FMSphotoaday

EVERY MORNING for the last nine weeks I have sat at the dining table, lit a candle, played some reflective music and written three sides of A4, know as ‘Morning Pages’. Inspired by The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, a 12 week self-help programme for ‘creative recovery’, Morning Pages clear the mind at the start of the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2012/11/08/photo-a-day-nov8-every-day/