‘Will you love the “you” you hide?’ – Inspired by John Bell
Our Co-Chair Alex Claire-Young reflects on the experience of interviewing OTN Patron John Bell, whose inclusive music and lyrics have been a profound inspiration
Charity Commission says ‘Yes’ to LGBT-affirming Christian network
OPEN TABLE NETWORK (OTN), a growing partnership of church communities hosted by and for LGBTQIA+ people, has just been awarded charitable status.
Meet our Patrons: John Bell in conversation with Alex Clare-Young
IN THE SIXTH of our Q&A webinars with our new Patrons, John Bell, hymn-writer, Church of Scotland minister, and member of the Iona Community, a dispersed Christian community working for peace, social justice, rebuilding community and renewal of worship, was in conversation with our Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young, also a trans Christian minister.
Gail: ‘Who I am needs no excuse’
‘It was like a refreshing spiritual awakening to a life that I never knew could exist. Through Christian spiritual counselling, and in the safety of Open Table, I came to see the scriptures in a new, true light.’
Matt: ‘My comfort place, where I feel very safe’
‘I was brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness since the day I was born. I found the religion tough and strict. Some of the rules I was not happy about. One rule was we were never allowed to like the same sex. This is my experience of coming out as bisexual.’
Moon: ‘God created me. So God loved me. It was that simple’.
‘I get enough hate and judgement in the rest of my life. At Open Table I get unquestionable, God-given, love. It is that simple.’
Words really do matter – Conversion therapy and ‘appropriate pastoral support’
Last month the Director of the Evangelical Alliance wrote to the Prime Minister to defend 'religious freedom' in calls to ban conversion therapy. Our Trustee Neil Rees helped OTN produce a response. Now an ITV journalist has shared a reply from Boris Johnson, Neil writes a personal response.
A meal for everyone – Interview with OTN Coordinator in United Reformed Church magazine
THIS MONTH’s issue of Reform, the United Reformed Church (URC) magazine, features an interview with Open Table Network Coordinator Kieran Bohan, since the URC is one of five national church traditions whose churches host our Open Table communities.
‘Times are troubled, people grieve’ – A song of lament for today
Our Coordinator Kieran reflects on how a song he sang in church as a young adult came to be a call for him to ministry with and for LGBTQIA+ Christians which has become the Open Table Network
