‘All Are Welcome!’: How a surprising witness is inspiring a national church
Members of the Wesley Church Centre and Open Table Chester community preparing to march in the city’s Pride parade with a banner saying ‘All Are Welcome’. Two are carrying crosses painted in rainbow colours. PHOTO: Kate Matthews.
FEBRUARY is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary history. It was first celebrated in February 2005 - 2025 marks its 21st year.
The Methodist Church in Britain has published resources for LGBT+ History Month since 2022. This year the national church's Solidarity Circle for LGBT+, led by former Open Table community leader Pam Gold, chose as their theme for this month 'All Are Welcome!' inspired by the well-known hymn by Marty Haugen.
Members of the Wesley Church Centre and Open Table Chester marching in the Chester Pride parade past the front of the church where more community members are standing on the ramp to show support for everyone in the parade. PHOTO: Tim Macquiban.
When the Methodist Connexion communications team wanted to highlight a real-world example of this ‘all-inclusive love’ in action, they turned to the Open Table Network.
They were looking for a minister who could tell the story of a church that had walked the sometimes difficult journey to becoming truly inclusive and hosting an Open Table community. We knew exactly who to recommend: Revd Neil Stacey, the minister at Wesley Church Centre in Chester.
‘Oh God, the Church are here!’
This week, the Methodist Church published Neil’s story, titled ‘Oh God, the Church are here!’: A surprising witness to all-inclusive love.
In the blog, Neil reflects on Chester’s journey over the last ten years since they first decided to take part in Chester Pride in 2016. He speaks honestly about the ‘pain of growth’ the Church Council experienced in 2018 when first considering hosting an Open Table community.
“A truly inclusive church is not one that simply says “all are welcome” but one that actively seeks to remove the barriers that prevent people from feeling they belong.”
Today, that community is a vital part of the church’s life. Mark Gant, one of the leaders of Open Table Chester, describes how the boundaries between the LGBTQIA+ community and the wider church have become ‘porous.’ Open Table has become a ‘safer, narrower entrance’ for those who have been bruised by religion but are seeking a way back to faith.
A lighthouse for sanctuary
Neil also recognises the significant contribution of church member, former steward and now Centre Coordinator Kate Matthews, who highlights how the Wesley Church Centre now lives out its welcome through:
Visibility: Ministers and staff wear Progress Pride lanyards, and inclusive pledges are displayed prominently.
Action: Joining the Church of Sanctuary movement, recognizing that LGBT+ inclusion is part of a broader call to support all who are marginalized.
As Neil writes:
‘Our prayer is that our discipleship shows the world we believe in a God whose love knows no bounds - a God who invites everyone to the table, just as they are.’
A growing partnership
At the Open Table Network, we are delighted to see our communities and leaders being recognized as prophetic voices within their denominations.
With our Director, Kieran Bohan, now training for ordination for the Methodist Church, the links between the ‘Open Table’ (a concept deeply rooted in John Wesley’s belief that Communion is a 'means of grace' open to all) and the Methodist tradition are growing even stronger.
We are grateful to Pam Gold and the Methodist Solidarity Circle for LGBT+ for their leadership, and to all of the community at Wesley Church Centre, Chester for being ‘a lighthouse for those seeking sanctuary.’
