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TODAY, 7th October, is the feast day of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, who are among the earliest authenticated and most celebrated Christian martyrs. Their story includes one of the earliest known references to ‘brother-making’ - a celebration of a loving, life-long, Christian relationship between two men, ‘not by the bond of nature but by faith and the spirit’.

THIS OCTOBER, St Bride’s Church in Liverpool is celebrating the contribution of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) communities past and present. Celebrations kick off with a special communion service on Sunday 16th October at 6.30pm led by the Revd Dr Ash Barker.

TODAY marks the second anniversary of the Coordinator of the Open Table Network taking on the role full-time, thanks to the success of our first major funding bid. Here we review highlights of our last 12 months, thanks to your support.

THE final of Theology Slam 2022 - a competition to find engaging young voices who think theologically about the contemporary world - featured a talk on the body by Revd Alex Clare-Young, OTN Co-Chair and pioneer minister in the United Reformed Church.

EACH YEAR International Day Of Peace is observed on 21st September. The UN has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But achieving true peace also requires building communities where all members feel they can flourish, creating a world where all people are treated equally. This is what we aspire to do in our Open Table communities.

AUGUSTINE TANNER-IHM will share a short video to introduce the theme of this year’s conference on embracing diversity hosted by Gathering Voices, a collaboration of Christian organisations that encourage churches to be fully inclusive and affirming of all people without regard of gender and sexuality.

ON SUNDAY 11th September at Open Table Warrington, Warren Hartley, co-facilitator of our first Open Table community in Liverpool shared this reflection on ‘the price we pay for love’, which echoes the words of Queen Elizabeth II in a message of condolence to those affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

BILLED AS ‘the nice people’s pop festival’ when in began in 1974, Greenbelt is more subversive than it first appeared nearly 50 years ago. The annual celebration of art, activism and belief describes itself as ‘a festival that’s inclusive, open-minded, participatory and generous in spirit’. Moon from Open Table Liverpool shares this reflection on their first visit.

GREENBELT, the Christian festival of arts, faith and justice held annually in England since 1974, took place again last weekend. As part of this year’s OUT @ Greenbelt programme, OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young led an LGBTQ+-affirming communion service on Saturday evening. Here is their reflection.

THE STUDENT CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT (SCM) has launched a new campaign calling on all churches to be transparent about the welcome that LGBTQ+ people receive in their church, asking church leaders to reflect on what they teach, imply and model with regard to LGBTQ+ people.