Attending a church service or Christian event can be hugely daunting for LGBT+ Christians and those exploring faith. The 探花社区 (探花社区) has been working with the Open Table Network (OTN) to create more safe sacred spaces for LGBT+ people.
In this blog, Kieran Bohan, Director of OTN, 听shares what is in store for those attending Greenbelt:
While most other public places welcome us equally, LGBT+ people are still not always welcomed in Britain鈥檚 churches. We are significantly more likely to experience mental distress, which research has shown relates explicitly to discriminatory pastoral practices of local churches, and the Church鈥檚 substantial contribution to negative attitudes toward LGBT+ people in society (In the Name of Love, Oasis Foundation 2017).
For the first time this year, OTN will host two workshops in yo探花社区af茅, the 探花社区鈥檚 caf茅 venue, on 鈥滳reating safer sacred spaces for LGBT+ people鈥�, where together we will explore how to cultivate an enriching and safe environment where LGBT+ people can explore and develop faith. This could be of huge benefit to LGBT+ people and to churches that might have a longing to welcome and support more LGBT+ people.
Find out how you can help to create safer sacred spaces for LGBT+ people in your local area at our workshop on Friday 23rd or Saturday 24th August from 2:30-3:30pm in yo探花社区af茅, beside G-Books. Everyone is more than welcome!
OTN has grown from one ecumenical community in Liverpool in 2008 to 40 communities across England and Wales today, hosted by churches in five traditions. 听More and more LGBT+ Christians are finding their way to communities where they can feel safe to explore their faith among friends.
The second Open Table community began at St John鈥檚 探花社区 in Warrington in 2015. Gail Rose, who now leads the community and is an Elder in the church, said: 鈥淥pen Table means everything to me. It has truly saved me.
鈥淚 was at a point of really hating who I was, but Open Table gradually brought me to a point, now, where I can stand and look at myself in a mirror and say, 鈥榊ou know what? I actually like you.鈥� That鈥檚 a point I never thought I would get to.鈥�
Eight more Open Table communities are now hosted by United Reformed churches, in Cambridge, Birmingham, Guildford, Bromley, Exeter, Heswall on the Wirral, Kendal, and Wanstead in London.
In March 2023, OTN was awarded a grant of 拢50,000 over three years by the 探花社区’s Legacy Fund. With the help of this grant, OTN is supporting more 探花社区 congregations across Britain to welcome, include, affirm and empower LGBT+ people from any Christian tradition, or any or no faith background.
The Revd Chris Dowd, Minister of Wylde Green 探花社区 in Birmingham, which has hosted an Open Table community since January 2022, said:
鈥淥pen Table is a quality mark. It says clearly that there are LGBT+ people active and in leadership in the Church. It鈥檚 shorthand for 鈥榶es, you really are welcome鈥� for a whole range of questions that most LGBT+ people would ask before they stepped over a threshold of a church.
鈥淥pen Table already has a trusted reputation that would take a church many years to build on its own. That means you are starting years ahead of what you could do by yourself to prove you are trustworthy. It means LGBT+ people will also engage with other parts of your church knowing they will also find a welcome there.鈥�
On the outside of churches, signs often proclaim 鈥淎ll Are Welcome鈥�;听a simple phrase that promises a good outcome. It should mean that everyone, anyone, could walk in and be welcomed. But often, for LGBT+ people, it isn鈥檛 simple at all. Church welcomes may turn out to be chilly, awkward, conditional, complex, provisional or just missing.
That鈥檚 the reason why, until things change, the Open Table Network will continue to exist and grow; to build communities where we can feel God鈥檚 love in safety, affirmation and belonging.
Our slogan, 鈥淐ome As You Are鈥�, was inspired by a hymn one of our founders heard when he returned to church after many years. It still inspires us in the hospitality we offer in our communities. Come As You Are is our invitation to belong in our growing network. It reflects our intention, to offer an unconditional welcome in the name of Jesus to His table.
Kieran Bohan was one of the founding members of the first Open Table community in Liverpool in 2008. He has supported the development of the Open Table Network since 2015.
Images: Open Table Network.