THE HEAD of a charity which creates and sustains welcoming and affirming spaces for LGBT+ people within Christian communities has been approved for ministry training by the Methodist Church in Britain this week. This recommendation was confirmed at a meeting of the Methodist Conference, the governing body of the Methodist Church In Britain, on Wednesday 3rd July.

IN JUNE 2021 we asked Open Table community members and volunteers: ‘Imagine it’s Saturday 15th June 2024: We’re celebrating 16 years of the first Open Table community and 9 years as a network. We've achieved three years’ funding. What does OTN look like?’ Here are some of our members’ and volunteers’ responses, and what we have achieved three years’ on.

JUNE 3rd-9th 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.

AT OUR AGM on Tuesday 12th March 2024 we thanked one of our Co-Chairs and founding trustees of the Open Table Network as they stepped down from the role. Now we are delighted to announce that Revd Dr Alex Clare-Young has agreed to become the latest patron of the charity.

THIS SATURDAY, 17th May, is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia [IDAHOBIT]. This year’s theme is ‘No One Left Behind: Equality, Freedom and Justice For All. How are you planning to mark the day this year?

OTN Patron Revd Dr Barbara Glasson has edited a new book of prayers to empower church communities to focus more fully and publicly on matters of justice. These original prayers commissioned specifically for public worship were contributed by a diverse range of people including two from a founding member of the first Open Table community.

THE 2021 CENSUS was the first time residents aged 16 and over in England and Wales had been asked voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. A report from the BBC this week analysed data from the Office for National Statistics [ONS] which shows that while 3.2% of the general population identified as Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual or another minority sexual orientation (LGB+), only 1.7% of Christians identified as LGB+.

AT OUR AGM on Tuesday 12th March 2024 we welcomed FOUR new trustees to our board for the next three years. Our trustees are responsible for thinking through and putting into practice plans which will develop the Open Table Network (OTN).

THE RECTOR of Liverpool Parish Church, one of the most significant civic roles in the Church of England, announced on Sunday that he could no longer, ‘in good conscience’ represent the Church which ‘perpetuates bias and discrimination against sections of society on the grounds of sexuality, race and gender’.

REFLECTIONS from Open Table members and friends have come third in the FeedSpot 5 Best Queer Bible Podcasts ‘ranked by traffic, social media followers and freshness’. Do you have a story to share?

MOVING TRIBUTES to the Right Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham in the Church of England Diocese of Oxford, have been published following the announcement of his sudden death on Saturday. Bishop Alan actively advocated for LGBTQIA+ people and survivors of abuse for more than 20 years.

This year the Methodist Church in Britain has shared a prayer for this month by Pam Gold, coordinator of the Methodist LGBT+ Solidarity Circle. Pam was the former Co-Convenor of the Evangelical Fellowship of Lesbian & Gay Christians and founder of two Open Table communities.

BISHOPS are like buses: we wait ages for one then two come at once! On Sunday 21st January two Open Table communities are hosting their local Church of England leaders.

THANKS to 46 generous donors our Advent & Christmas Crowdfunder appeal raised more than £2,000! This was almost 82% of our £2,500 target. With these gifts, OTN can offer the #PromiseOfJoy to even more LGBTQIA+ people in 2024.

CHRISTMAS can be a difficult time for LGBTQ+ folk, let alone queer Christians. This Christmas Eve, PinkNews has shared ‘a special queer-inclusive Christmas message for LGBTQ+ people’ from Revd Sarah Jones, vicar at St John The Baptist church in Cardiff, the first person transgender person to be ordained in the Church of England.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND House of Bishops has approved the trial of a selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God's blessing for same-sex couples this week. The resources, known as Prayers of Love and Faith [PLF], can now be used in Church of England services for the first time from Sunday 17th December 2023.

28th NOVEMBER is Giving Tuesday - a day that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. As Advent approaches, we are excited to launch 'The Promise of Joy', which seeks to love, encourage, and support members of the LGBTQIA+ community here in the UK, through the Open Table Network [OTN].

AS GENERAL SYNOD, the Church of England's governing body, met for an extraordinary meeting this month, representatives of 18 inclusive Christian organisations have released a statement welcome Synod’s decision to back a trial of special services asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples.

KIERAN BOHAN is now Director of the Open Table Network (OTN). This is a change to how his role was previously described. Kieran became full-time coordinator of OTN in October 2020 and has been a key part of Open Table since its inception in 2008.

AS NATIONAL Christian traditions continue to argue over their stance on the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, the Student Christian Movement (SCM) and OneBodyOneFaith have joined together to publish a resource for churches who want to grow not only as allies to LGBTQ+ people but also in their own faith too.