Telling stories, engaging with the Bible: Listen to OTN Co-Chairs in these podcasts
OTN Co-Chairs Alex Clare-Young & Sarah Hobbs
WATCH Alex’s intro video [2.5 mins]
WATCH Sarah's intro video [2.5 mins]
PODCASTS are like buses, we wait ages for one, then three come along at once!
The Co-Chairs of the Open Table Network, Alex Clare-Young and Sarah Hobbs, have each recorded two newly released podcasts - one each, and one together, newly published online.
Alex is a transmasculine non-binary minister with the United Reformed Church, and author of Transgender. Christian. Human, currently completing doctoral research into trans theology.
Sarah is a trans woman, a speaker and trainer, who leads a consultancy business.
Together they are Co-Chairs of the board of trustees of the Open Table Network.
In the podcast they recorded together, Alex and Sarah honestly and vulnerably share their stories of coming to terms with their identities, their transition, the reaction of their faith communities, and their evolving relationship with the Bible and the Christian faith. It’s a beautiful, honest, heartbreaking, inspiring, hopeful conversation.
Alex said:
Part of the confusion and pain around it is that the church gave me an identity before I’d chosen one for myself.
and:
Gender stereotypes need to end and we just need to be able to exist as who we are.
Sarah shared:
Every time I’d come out to anyone in a church context before, it had really always been because I wanted some help to try and not be who I felt like I was inside. Because that’s what you do in church – you resist that 'sin' of being trans.
and:
In what way – in any way at all – is a trans person hurting you? Are they affecting your life in any way? Are they causing you difficulty in any way? Absolutely not. And you can choose not to interact with people. And so why people are going out of their way to make life difficult for trans people - it just doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever. If you’re really that bothered, then just leave them alone and focus on something more positive in your life rather than trying to tear down a group of people who are just trying to survive and be happy.
LISTEN on the Nomad podcast website: Conversation starts at 21m 25s
Sarah’s second podcast was recorded for the My Faithful Ally series, which aims to enable Christians (from both the LGBT+ community and not) to have a positive discussion about how sexuality and gender identity impact people's faith, and their relationship with other Christians and non-Christians.
In this interview, Sarah discusses her faith, her coming out and her transition; which has led her to where she is today and her work with the Open Table Network. She said:
Sometimes you can have many moments of sadness, but God will lead you on a journey regardless.
LISTEN to My Faithful Ally on Spotify [28 mins]
Alex’s second podcast was recorded for Politics in the Pulpit, a resource for Christian ministers preparing to preach on the readings for the week in the lectionary (a book containing portions of the Bible chosen by the churches to be read on particular days of the year). Politics in the Pulpit aims to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. It is produced by the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), a partnership between the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, and the United Reformed Church, to help churches work together for peace and justice through listening, learning, praying, speaking and acting on public policy issues.
Alex discusses the lectionary readings for Sunday 24th October:
and explores how unpacking the justice issues present can help us to be good news in the world today.
