A NEW academic year is bringing new opportunities and challenges for one of OTN’s trustees, as she starts studying theology and ministry this term. Sarah Hobbs, Co-Chair of trustees of OTN, learned in June that the Church of England Diocese of Leeds recommended her for training in preparation for ordination as a priest, and she became an ordinand.

MORE THAN 240 organisations supporting the human rights of refugees, women and LGBTQ+ people, including the Open Table Network, have written to the Prime Minister asking him to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to protect LGBTQ+ people and women around the world, following comments by Home Secretary Suella Braverman last week.

OCTOBER 1st marks the third anniversary of the Coordinator of the Open Table Network taking on the role full-time. Thanks to the success of our first major funding bid, Kieran Bohan began a six-month contract on this day in 2020. Further grants, plus one-off and regular donations, have enabled him to extend this until 2025.

GOD’S LOVE for each of us - and all of us - is at the centre of a painting exhibition which is touring cathedrals and town centre churches. Fine artist and theologian Elizabeth Gray King will be showing 13 intriguing and affirming canvases, exploring the equality and inclusivity of God’s love, starting in St James’ United Reformed Church, Newcastle this week.

WOULD YOU be willing to share a little of your story, about a challenge you’ve faced and how you have dealt with it? Or an ongoing challenge, and how you are learning to cope? OTN is a wonderfully diverse bunch, and there will be many in the network who will be encouraged by your experience, or learn something new.

THREE Open Table members on Merseyside have been nominated by the public on a list celebrating the contributions of LGBTQ+ people to their community.

THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (URC) has voted in support of a resolution to recognise the inherent worth of people with diverse gender identities, at the annual meeting of its governing body this month. Two of the three ministers who brought the proposal to the URC General Assembly support local Open Table communities.

WEAR A T-SHIRT that supports LGBTQIA+ inclusion in our churches! The Open Table Network (OTN) has just launched an e-shop where you can order merchandise to raise funds for the charity and the growing network of communities we support.

AS GENERAL SYNOD, the Church of England's governing body, concluded on Tuesday, representatives of 18 inclusive Christian organisations published an open letter to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, in favour of ‘a Church of England in which it is possible for same-sex couples to marry in church’.

EQUAL: the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England, has renewed a call to action for LGBTQIA+ Anglicans and allies to write an encouraging card to their bishops to let them know that there are members of their dioceses who support the proposals of the Living In Love And Faith process on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage, and want them to continue.

The Open Table Network (OTN) has a proud history of supporting LGBTQIA+ people. This year, the charity celebrates 15 years since its first community began in Liverpool in 2008. In our newly published 2022 annual report, you’ll discover the words of more than 250 people explaining what Open Table means to them, and much more.

TWO PATRONS of the Open Table Network (OTN) sent messages of support, encouragement and hope for the charity’s national gathering on Saturday 10th June.

JUNE 1st-7th is Volunteers’ Week - a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our communities and say thank you. The Open Table Network wouldn’t - and couldn’t - exist without the volunteers who give energy, time and talents.

AN ARTIST who creates images inspired by theological and social issues is working in partnership with the Open Table Network to host an exhibition touring cathedrals and town centre churches.

WE HAVE MOVED to a new office this month, thanks to support from the United Reformed Church.

FORMER BISHOP OF LIVERPOOL the Right Revd Paul Bayes has won an award for his advocacy for LGBT+ people across Merseyside and beyond. On Thursday 6th April Bishop Paul, who retired in February 2022, was honoured with the LCR Pride Foundation Award.

IN A LOCAL newspaper interview published this week, the leader of the Open Table Warrington community has shared how, after years of ‘self-loathing’, she has learned to accept herself.

FIVE YEARS since the UK Government first promised to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’, dozens of LGBTQ+ organisations, survivors and support providers have called on the Prime Minister to make its pledge a reality at last.

TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY (TDoV) on 31st March is a day to show your support for the trans community. To mark the day this year, OTN Co-Chair Alex Clare-Young has published trans-affirming worship resources, and a call to public action for trans allies.

A CHARITY which affirms and empowers lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people to build communities hosted by welcoming and understanding churches has received a large cash boost from one of Britain’s national churches.