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THERE WERE so many attempts at the Church of England’s General Synod to amend the House of Bishops’ motion on blessing same-gender relationships that not everyone got to speak in the main debate. One of those unheard speeches was from Andy Salmon, Rector of the church which hosts our Open Table community in Salford, who is grateful for what has been achieved.

IN RESPONSE to a proposal that prayers for blessing same-gender relationships ‘should not be contrary to… the doctrine of the Church of England’, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Rector of the parish where the first Open Table community began, examined the assertion that the Church of England’s teaching on marriage has not changed, and should not change.

OTN PATRON Rachel Mann used elements of this text in her speech at General Synod in response to a proposed amendment which requested ‘further legal, theological, and practical consideration’ before introducing prayers for the blessing of same-gender relationships and pastoral guidance.

ON SUNDAY 5th February, Open Table Cambridge held a celebratory service to mark the start of LGBT+ History Month. OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young led a creative Communion service, with OTN Patron, Bishop of Monmputh Cherry Vann, as the guest speaker. This is Bishop Cherry’s reflection on this year’s LGBT+ History Month theme: ‘Behind The Lens’.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND has published draft Prayers of Love and Faith ‘asking for God’s blessing on same-sex couples as they give thanks for their civil marriage or civil partnership’. Gareth Rayner-Williams compares them with Church In Wales liturgy & asks what do they mean by ‘blessing’?

FEBRUARY 1st is the feast of St Brigid of Kildare, a prophetic figure to whom the church where the first Open Table community began is dedicated. Today we are sharing the story of Brigid and her ‘soul friend’ and claiming them as patrons of our growing partnership of LGBTQIA-affirming Christian communities.

THIS SONG was recorded recently by PhD researcher Peter Jones, whose research features stories of Open Table members. Peter is a queer, trans person within the discernment process for ministry in the Church of England.

ON SUNDAY 15th January, the Archdeacon of Liverpool, Ven Mike McGurk, came to Open Table Liverpool. Mike reflected on the account in the Gospel [John 1:29-42] of Jesus being baptised by John, and his response to John’s followers to came to follow him.

THANKS to 86 generous donors our Advent & Christmas Crowdfunder appeal raised more than £3,000! This was almost two-thirds (65%) of our £5,000 target.

MORE THAN 170 LGBT+ affirming organisations have signed a statement in support of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which the UK Government is attempting to block. OTN is one of the signatories urging the PM to treat trans people with respect.