Open Table Network
@opentablelgbt.bsky.social
Partnership of #Christian communities across England & Wales welcoming & affirming #LGBTQIA people + our family & friends & anyone who wants to belong in an accepting, loving community.
www.opentable.lgbt
#ComeAsYouAre #MoreThanWelcome #FaithfullyLGBT
www.opentable.lgbt
#ComeAsYouAre #MoreThanWelcome #FaithfullyLGBT
#RoomAtTheTable Day 19:
'Open Table... is close to my heart, both as a bi woman and because every day people are hurt just for being who they truly are, often by churches. Safe space is so very needed - I want to be part of the church that is visibly affirming and welcoming.' - Aiyana, OTN Trustee
'Open Table... is close to my heart, both as a bi woman and because every day people are hurt just for being who they truly are, often by churches. Safe space is so very needed - I want to be part of the church that is visibly affirming and welcoming.' - Aiyana, OTN Trustee
December 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 19:
'Open Table... is close to my heart, both as a bi woman and because every day people are hurt just for being who they truly are, often by churches. Safe space is so very needed - I want to be part of the church that is visibly affirming and welcoming.' - Aiyana, OTN Trustee
'Open Table... is close to my heart, both as a bi woman and because every day people are hurt just for being who they truly are, often by churches. Safe space is so very needed - I want to be part of the church that is visibly affirming and welcoming.' - Aiyana, OTN Trustee
TODAY (18th Dec) on #InternationalMigrantsDay we hold in prayer those forced to flee - and those forced to stay in danger. Ivan’s story from Uganda shows why #RoomAtTheTable must stretch across borders. READ MORE: bit.ly/FearFaithResilience
December 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
TODAY (18th Dec) on #InternationalMigrantsDay we hold in prayer those forced to flee - and those forced to stay in danger. Ivan’s story from Uganda shows why #RoomAtTheTable must stretch across borders. READ MORE: bit.ly/FearFaithResilience
📣 WILL 2026 be the year the UK Government publishes a Bill to #BanConversionPractices?
Nearly 1 in 6 #LGBTQ+ young people in the UK have faced conversion practices.
As part of the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition we’ve written to the Prime Minister calling for action.👉 READ MORE: bit.ly/BCP2026
Nearly 1 in 6 #LGBTQ+ young people in the UK have faced conversion practices.
As part of the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition we’ve written to the Prime Minister calling for action.👉 READ MORE: bit.ly/BCP2026
December 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
📣 WILL 2026 be the year the UK Government publishes a Bill to #BanConversionPractices?
Nearly 1 in 6 #LGBTQ+ young people in the UK have faced conversion practices.
As part of the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition we’ve written to the Prime Minister calling for action.👉 READ MORE: bit.ly/BCP2026
Nearly 1 in 6 #LGBTQ+ young people in the UK have faced conversion practices.
As part of the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition we’ve written to the Prime Minister calling for action.👉 READ MORE: bit.ly/BCP2026
#RoomAtTheTable Day 18:
'A PLACE where I could be accepted, loved, respected and protected... Without Open Table and the safety therein, we simply wouldn’t be able to worship or take Communion together.' - Suzanne, Chester - READ MORE: bit.ly/AcceptedRespectedProtected
'A PLACE where I could be accepted, loved, respected and protected... Without Open Table and the safety therein, we simply wouldn’t be able to worship or take Communion together.' - Suzanne, Chester - READ MORE: bit.ly/AcceptedRespectedProtected
December 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 18:
'A PLACE where I could be accepted, loved, respected and protected... Without Open Table and the safety therein, we simply wouldn’t be able to worship or take Communion together.' - Suzanne, Chester - READ MORE: bit.ly/AcceptedRespectedProtected
'A PLACE where I could be accepted, loved, respected and protected... Without Open Table and the safety therein, we simply wouldn’t be able to worship or take Communion together.' - Suzanne, Chester - READ MORE: bit.ly/AcceptedRespectedProtected
THIS SUNDAY our first Open Table community in Liverpool is again hosting the parish carol service, with music led by Liverpool Rainbow Chorus, followed by soup, bread, mulled wine & mince pies Come early to get a good seat! See you there? READ MORE: bit.ly/OTcarols211225
December 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
THIS SUNDAY our first Open Table community in Liverpool is again hosting the parish carol service, with music led by Liverpool Rainbow Chorus, followed by soup, bread, mulled wine & mince pies Come early to get a good seat! See you there? READ MORE: bit.ly/OTcarols211225
'IT'S OFTEN NOT EASY as #LGBT folk to find places where we can be welcomed simply as we are and enabled to worship God, live lives of discipleship, witness to Christ's love and serve within the world.' - OTN Patron John Bradbury, URC General Secretary. #RoomAtTheTable
December 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
'IT'S OFTEN NOT EASY as #LGBT folk to find places where we can be welcomed simply as we are and enabled to worship God, live lives of discipleship, witness to Christ's love and serve within the world.' - OTN Patron John Bradbury, URC General Secretary. #RoomAtTheTable
#RoomAtTheTable Day 17:
'God didn’t make a mistake when making me... God doesn’t merely tolerate my existence but actively celebrates it.' - Roo, OTN trustee, in our #ThisIsMyStory podcast: bit.ly/otnwonderfullymade
'God didn’t make a mistake when making me... God doesn’t merely tolerate my existence but actively celebrates it.' - Roo, OTN trustee, in our #ThisIsMyStory podcast: bit.ly/otnwonderfullymade
December 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 17:
'God didn’t make a mistake when making me... God doesn’t merely tolerate my existence but actively celebrates it.' - Roo, OTN trustee, in our #ThisIsMyStory podcast: bit.ly/otnwonderfullymade
'God didn’t make a mistake when making me... God doesn’t merely tolerate my existence but actively celebrates it.' - Roo, OTN trustee, in our #ThisIsMyStory podcast: bit.ly/otnwonderfullymade
JOY is the theme of the third weekend in #Advent. We're delighted that our Open Table communities bring #joy to so many:
‘A wonderful sense of "family" and a joy in belonging to a growing network of folk relieved to have found a safe, spiritual space.’ #RoomAtTheTable
‘A wonderful sense of "family" and a joy in belonging to a growing network of folk relieved to have found a safe, spiritual space.’ #RoomAtTheTable
December 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM
JOY is the theme of the third weekend in #Advent. We're delighted that our Open Table communities bring #joy to so many:
‘A wonderful sense of "family" and a joy in belonging to a growing network of folk relieved to have found a safe, spiritual space.’ #RoomAtTheTable
‘A wonderful sense of "family" and a joy in belonging to a growing network of folk relieved to have found a safe, spiritual space.’ #RoomAtTheTable
#RoomAtTheTable Day 16:
'I GET ENOUGH hate and judgement in the rest of my life. At Open Table I get unquestionable God-given love. It’s that simple.' - Moon, Liverpool
READ MORE: bit.ly/ItWasThatSimple
'I GET ENOUGH hate and judgement in the rest of my life. At Open Table I get unquestionable God-given love. It’s that simple.' - Moon, Liverpool
READ MORE: bit.ly/ItWasThatSimple
December 16, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 16:
'I GET ENOUGH hate and judgement in the rest of my life. At Open Table I get unquestionable God-given love. It’s that simple.' - Moon, Liverpool
READ MORE: bit.ly/ItWasThatSimple
'I GET ENOUGH hate and judgement in the rest of my life. At Open Table I get unquestionable God-given love. It’s that simple.' - Moon, Liverpool
READ MORE: bit.ly/ItWasThatSimple
THE THEME of the third week of #Advent, the beginning of the Church’s year when we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas, is #JOY. This extract from a blog post on QueerTheology.com challenges us to claim our joy as beloved queer children of God: bit.ly/DefiantJoy #RoomAtTheTable
December 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
THE THEME of the third week of #Advent, the beginning of the Church’s year when we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas, is #JOY. This extract from a blog post on QueerTheology.com challenges us to claim our joy as beloved queer children of God: bit.ly/DefiantJoy #RoomAtTheTable
CHURCH OF ENGLAND research request: Former OTN trustee Gus Tanner-Ihm is researching psychological safety in the CofE.
How safe do people feel to speak honestly, ask questions, and be fully themselves in church life?
🕔 It only takes 5 minutes
📊 Your voice really matters
🔗 surveymonkey.com/r/SZBSVL5
How safe do people feel to speak honestly, ask questions, and be fully themselves in church life?
🕔 It only takes 5 minutes
📊 Your voice really matters
🔗 surveymonkey.com/r/SZBSVL5
December 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
CHURCH OF ENGLAND research request: Former OTN trustee Gus Tanner-Ihm is researching psychological safety in the CofE.
How safe do people feel to speak honestly, ask questions, and be fully themselves in church life?
🕔 It only takes 5 minutes
📊 Your voice really matters
🔗 surveymonkey.com/r/SZBSVL5
How safe do people feel to speak honestly, ask questions, and be fully themselves in church life?
🕔 It only takes 5 minutes
📊 Your voice really matters
🔗 surveymonkey.com/r/SZBSVL5
#RoomAtTheTable Day 15:
'IT'S BEEN a privilege to develop the first Open Table community not in a church but in an LGBT+ social space. A great things about being part of the Network is encouraging new communities which enable people to feel they're #MoreThanWelcome' - Andrew, OTN Co-Chair
'IT'S BEEN a privilege to develop the first Open Table community not in a church but in an LGBT+ social space. A great things about being part of the Network is encouraging new communities which enable people to feel they're #MoreThanWelcome' - Andrew, OTN Co-Chair
December 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 15:
'IT'S BEEN a privilege to develop the first Open Table community not in a church but in an LGBT+ social space. A great things about being part of the Network is encouraging new communities which enable people to feel they're #MoreThanWelcome' - Andrew, OTN Co-Chair
'IT'S BEEN a privilege to develop the first Open Table community not in a church but in an LGBT+ social space. A great things about being part of the Network is encouraging new communities which enable people to feel they're #MoreThanWelcome' - Andrew, OTN Co-Chair
THE THEME of the third week of #Advent is #Joy
May you know joy this week:
'If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it...
...don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.'
- Mary Oliver youtu.be/8tJn7TU1WhY
May you know joy this week:
'If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it...
...don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.'
- Mary Oliver youtu.be/8tJn7TU1WhY
December 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
THE THEME of the third week of #Advent is #Joy
May you know joy this week:
'If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it...
...don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.'
- Mary Oliver youtu.be/8tJn7TU1WhY
May you know joy this week:
'If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it...
...don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.'
- Mary Oliver youtu.be/8tJn7TU1WhY
WEEK 3 of #Advent takes the theme of #Joy.
This #AdventWreath prayer for joy is from our 2020 online carol service: youtu.be/7X3tMnoYOpM [46mins]
Litany: Revd Anna Blaedel, enfleshed.com [adapted]
#BSL & captions: Tom Pearson pearsonbsl.com
This #AdventWreath prayer for joy is from our 2020 online carol service: youtu.be/7X3tMnoYOpM [46mins]
Litany: Revd Anna Blaedel, enfleshed.com [adapted]
#BSL & captions: Tom Pearson pearsonbsl.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
WEEK 3 of #Advent takes the theme of #Joy.
This #AdventWreath prayer for joy is from our 2020 online carol service: youtu.be/7X3tMnoYOpM [46mins]
Litany: Revd Anna Blaedel, enfleshed.com [adapted]
#BSL & captions: Tom Pearson pearsonbsl.com
This #AdventWreath prayer for joy is from our 2020 online carol service: youtu.be/7X3tMnoYOpM [46mins]
Litany: Revd Anna Blaedel, enfleshed.com [adapted]
#BSL & captions: Tom Pearson pearsonbsl.com
TONIGHT 5-8pm 🎄 Mingle & Jingle with Open Table Warrington!
🍲 Mingle from 5pm - bring food to share
🎶 Jingle from 6:30pm - Christmas worship & communion
Come and celebrate with community leader Gail for her last OT Warrington gathering.
➡️ bit.ly/MingleJingleWarrington #RoomAtTheTable
🍲 Mingle from 5pm - bring food to share
🎶 Jingle from 6:30pm - Christmas worship & communion
Come and celebrate with community leader Gail for her last OT Warrington gathering.
➡️ bit.ly/MingleJingleWarrington #RoomAtTheTable
December 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
TONIGHT 5-8pm 🎄 Mingle & Jingle with Open Table Warrington!
🍲 Mingle from 5pm - bring food to share
🎶 Jingle from 6:30pm - Christmas worship & communion
Come and celebrate with community leader Gail for her last OT Warrington gathering.
➡️ bit.ly/MingleJingleWarrington #RoomAtTheTable
🍲 Mingle from 5pm - bring food to share
🎶 Jingle from 6:30pm - Christmas worship & communion
Come and celebrate with community leader Gail for her last OT Warrington gathering.
➡️ bit.ly/MingleJingleWarrington #RoomAtTheTable
TODAY Open Table communities meet in:
Bath, Canterbury, Chester, Colchester, Fareham, Haverfordwest, Horsham, Leyland, London: Bromley, Wanstead & Waterloo, Ormskirk, Sefton, Taunton, Warrington, Widnes & Wirral: New Brighton PLUS Nottingham. FFI: opentable.lgbt/our-communities
Bath, Canterbury, Chester, Colchester, Fareham, Haverfordwest, Horsham, Leyland, London: Bromley, Wanstead & Waterloo, Ormskirk, Sefton, Taunton, Warrington, Widnes & Wirral: New Brighton PLUS Nottingham. FFI: opentable.lgbt/our-communities
December 14, 2025 at 9:00 AM
TODAY Open Table communities meet in:
Bath, Canterbury, Chester, Colchester, Fareham, Haverfordwest, Horsham, Leyland, London: Bromley, Wanstead & Waterloo, Ormskirk, Sefton, Taunton, Warrington, Widnes & Wirral: New Brighton PLUS Nottingham. FFI: opentable.lgbt/our-communities
Bath, Canterbury, Chester, Colchester, Fareham, Haverfordwest, Horsham, Leyland, London: Bromley, Wanstead & Waterloo, Ormskirk, Sefton, Taunton, Warrington, Widnes & Wirral: New Brighton PLUS Nottingham. FFI: opentable.lgbt/our-communities
#RoomAtTheTable Day 14:
'I FOUND Open Table, and my heart, mind and soul began to see things in a new way. It was like a refreshing spiritual awakening to a life that I never knew could exist.' - Gail, Warrington
READ MORE: bit.ly/OTGailWarrington
'I FOUND Open Table, and my heart, mind and soul began to see things in a new way. It was like a refreshing spiritual awakening to a life that I never knew could exist.' - Gail, Warrington
READ MORE: bit.ly/OTGailWarrington
December 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 14:
'I FOUND Open Table, and my heart, mind and soul began to see things in a new way. It was like a refreshing spiritual awakening to a life that I never knew could exist.' - Gail, Warrington
READ MORE: bit.ly/OTGailWarrington
'I FOUND Open Table, and my heart, mind and soul began to see things in a new way. It was like a refreshing spiritual awakening to a life that I never knew could exist.' - Gail, Warrington
READ MORE: bit.ly/OTGailWarrington
STAND UP!
Take hold of that small pearl of faith
That God has given
You
And hold on.
So will the judging arrows of your fear-filled friends
Not harm
Though hurt and pain be real
And in bewilderment of storm
Be found rare gifts of peace
READ MORE: bit.ly/ComingOutPoem
#Advent #Peace
Take hold of that small pearl of faith
That God has given
You
And hold on.
So will the judging arrows of your fear-filled friends
Not harm
Though hurt and pain be real
And in bewilderment of storm
Be found rare gifts of peace
READ MORE: bit.ly/ComingOutPoem
#Advent #Peace
December 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
STAND UP!
Take hold of that small pearl of faith
That God has given
You
And hold on.
So will the judging arrows of your fear-filled friends
Not harm
Though hurt and pain be real
And in bewilderment of storm
Be found rare gifts of peace
READ MORE: bit.ly/ComingOutPoem
#Advent #Peace
Take hold of that small pearl of faith
That God has given
You
And hold on.
So will the judging arrows of your fear-filled friends
Not harm
Though hurt and pain be real
And in bewilderment of storm
Be found rare gifts of peace
READ MORE: bit.ly/ComingOutPoem
#Advent #Peace
WE'RE CELEBRATING a record-breaking fundraising milestone thanks to the #BigGive #ChristmasChallenge. OTN raised an incredible £11,785 in just seven days, exceeding its £10k target and doubling the impact donations will have in 2026. READ MORE: bit.ly/BigGiveThanks25 #RoomAtTheTable
December 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
WE'RE CELEBRATING a record-breaking fundraising milestone thanks to the #BigGive #ChristmasChallenge. OTN raised an incredible £11,785 in just seven days, exceeding its £10k target and doubling the impact donations will have in 2026. READ MORE: bit.ly/BigGiveThanks25 #RoomAtTheTable
#RoomAtTheTable Day 13:
'Early in my Christian journey I was deeply established in a conservative tradition. I experienced sincere and profound love but also damaging rejection. Now I endeavour to use this experience to motivate me to make a positive difference in the church.' - Calum, OTN trustee
'Early in my Christian journey I was deeply established in a conservative tradition. I experienced sincere and profound love but also damaging rejection. Now I endeavour to use this experience to motivate me to make a positive difference in the church.' - Calum, OTN trustee
December 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 13:
'Early in my Christian journey I was deeply established in a conservative tradition. I experienced sincere and profound love but also damaging rejection. Now I endeavour to use this experience to motivate me to make a positive difference in the church.' - Calum, OTN trustee
'Early in my Christian journey I was deeply established in a conservative tradition. I experienced sincere and profound love but also damaging rejection. Now I endeavour to use this experience to motivate me to make a positive difference in the church.' - Calum, OTN trustee
'MY GREATEST LESSON... was that peace and reconciliation start with me. If I don’t care for what hurts, wounds or angers me I'm more likely to repeat that pattern with others.' - In 2021 OTN Director Kieran spoke at #Peace vigil at Liverpool Cathedral: bit.ly/JusticeVigil0821 #Advent #RoomAtTheTable
December 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
'MY GREATEST LESSON... was that peace and reconciliation start with me. If I don’t care for what hurts, wounds or angers me I'm more likely to repeat that pattern with others.' - In 2021 OTN Director Kieran spoke at #Peace vigil at Liverpool Cathedral: bit.ly/JusticeVigil0821 #Advent #RoomAtTheTable
PRESSURE GROWS for ‘genuine inclusion’ of LGBTQ+ people in Church of England: More than 7000 people signed #InclusiveChurch open letter calling on House of Bishops to rethink plan for blessing same-sex couples at Lambeth Palace meeting next week: bit.ly/LLF111225
December 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
PRESSURE GROWS for ‘genuine inclusion’ of LGBTQ+ people in Church of England: More than 7000 people signed #InclusiveChurch open letter calling on House of Bishops to rethink plan for blessing same-sex couples at Lambeth Palace meeting next week: bit.ly/LLF111225
#RoomAtTheTable Day 12:
'To be part of a church family means to be actively involved in the life of the church; to be part of a family means to be seen; to be known; to be loved.' -Wendy, our most read blogger on her life as a lesbian Christian: bit.ly/OTNLesbianChristian
'To be part of a church family means to be actively involved in the life of the church; to be part of a family means to be seen; to be known; to be loved.' -Wendy, our most read blogger on her life as a lesbian Christian: bit.ly/OTNLesbianChristian
December 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 12:
'To be part of a church family means to be actively involved in the life of the church; to be part of a family means to be seen; to be known; to be loved.' -Wendy, our most read blogger on her life as a lesbian Christian: bit.ly/OTNLesbianChristian
'To be part of a church family means to be actively involved in the life of the church; to be part of a family means to be seen; to be known; to be loved.' -Wendy, our most read blogger on her life as a lesbian Christian: bit.ly/OTNLesbianChristian
'IT'S OUR JOB to make #RoomAtTheTable so everyone feels welcome.'
We all need safe spaces where we can feel loved unconditionally. OTN's Funding & Governance Advisor Sarah Jones argues that where church falls short of this, that’s why Open Table communities are needed: bit.ly/RoomAtTheTableOTN
We all need safe spaces where we can feel loved unconditionally. OTN's Funding & Governance Advisor Sarah Jones argues that where church falls short of this, that’s why Open Table communities are needed: bit.ly/RoomAtTheTableOTN
December 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
'IT'S OUR JOB to make #RoomAtTheTable so everyone feels welcome.'
We all need safe spaces where we can feel loved unconditionally. OTN's Funding & Governance Advisor Sarah Jones argues that where church falls short of this, that’s why Open Table communities are needed: bit.ly/RoomAtTheTableOTN
We all need safe spaces where we can feel loved unconditionally. OTN's Funding & Governance Advisor Sarah Jones argues that where church falls short of this, that’s why Open Table communities are needed: bit.ly/RoomAtTheTableOTN
#RoomAtTheTable Day 11:
'I found myself becoming more passionate about seeing the grace of God manifest through more inclusive Christian communities. I'm grateful for the practical expression through Open Table for this understanding of how the gospel of God is lived out.'
- Neil, OTN Secretary
'I found myself becoming more passionate about seeing the grace of God manifest through more inclusive Christian communities. I'm grateful for the practical expression through Open Table for this understanding of how the gospel of God is lived out.'
- Neil, OTN Secretary
December 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM
#RoomAtTheTable Day 11:
'I found myself becoming more passionate about seeing the grace of God manifest through more inclusive Christian communities. I'm grateful for the practical expression through Open Table for this understanding of how the gospel of God is lived out.'
- Neil, OTN Secretary
'I found myself becoming more passionate about seeing the grace of God manifest through more inclusive Christian communities. I'm grateful for the practical expression through Open Table for this understanding of how the gospel of God is lived out.'
- Neil, OTN Secretary