OTN Director celebrates first year in role
OTN Director Kieran Bohan (right) with OTN trustee Revd Rosemary Hill and Archbsihop of Wales Most Revd Andrew John at the Open Table East Cardiff community in July 2024.
OCTOBER 1st marks the first anniversary of the Director of the Open Table Network taking on the role.
Thanks to the charity’s first grant from a national church, Kieran Bohan became the charity’s first Director on this day in 2023.
During the last 12 months, we:
supported six new communities to launch, and one to relaunch after being unable to meet for more than two years.
consulted with three other churches about whether they might host an Open Table community.
began working with more than 30 more churches exploring how to be more inclusive and affirming for LGBTQIA+ people.
supported three communities which have stopped meeting.
published 27 news articles, 36 blog posts, and one new personal story on our website, reflecting the diversity of issues and experiences we face across and beyond our Network.
shared nine reflections on our This Is My Story podcast, which was ranked third in the Top Five Queer Bible Podcasts in March 2024.
published 35 new videos on our YouTube channel, including a lecture on why trans theology mattters, and a new lyric video for the hymn Come As You Are, which has become the anthem of the Open Table Network.
hosted communion services hosted by senior church leaders including the Bishops of Manchester and Liverpool, and the Archbishop of Wales (pictured).
worked in partnership with other LGBT+-affirming organisations, including the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, Inclusive Church, Modern Church, OneBodyOneFaith, OUT At Greenbelt, Positive Faith, Quest and the Student Christian Movement.
trained Open Table community leaders in radical hospitality, inclusive and expansive worship, and creating safer, braver space.
led workshops in creating safer, braver space for LGBTQIA+ Christians at the Greenbelt festival.
delivered a workshop for on embodiment, gender and sexuality for trainee spiritual directors in a CofE diocese.
gave an interview to the BBC on how census data shows that LGBT+ people are more likely to be drawn to minority religions,
celebrated with Christians At Pride at the cathedrals in Liverpool and Manchester.
co-hosted an LGBT+ Christian retreat.
raised more than £2000 thanks to the generosity of donors to our Advent and Christmas appeal, and £3000 from the Open To All touring exhibition thanks to the generosity of artist Elizabeth Gray-King and those who bought her artworks.
OTN Director Kieran Bohan said:
“It’s been an extraordinary year - on behalf of the trustees of the Open Table Network, we’re grateful to all our members, volunteers, supporters, donors and funders who have made all this - and more - possible. Thank you!”
FROM 1st October 2024, Kieran will continue as Director of OTN, working 21 hours a week while training for ordination in the Methodist Church. READ MORE.
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