A Christmas message from Luke Dowding
Season’s greetings from the whole OneBodyOneFaith team: staff, trustees, patrons, and volunteers!
2023 has been an immensely rewarding year for us as a charity, not only growing our staff team – but also our sense of vision for the future. I would be remiss for not saying welcome again to both Andrea and Lee, joining us as part-time staff members, and thank you to them both, as well as Katie, recently promoted to Head of Operations, for all their hard work. Thank you to our trustees, Co-Chairs Jarel and Mark, Treasurer David, Adélard, George, Hannah, Jo, Lisa-Jayne, and Pam, and our patrons, Brandan, Daniel, Dawn, Jide, Lauren, and Peter.
I began the year taking a sabbatical, which was enabled by the support of staff and volunteers alike. I noted at the time that these opportunities for those of us who slip through the chasms of inequality in our denominations and traditions, are incredibly rare. OneBodyOneFaith exists to challenge that inequality, and enable our members, friends and partners to bring about changes in our churches. Taking time to rest is an essential part of not just surviving, but thriving – and LGBT+ Christians so rarely get the chance. Thank you to all those who kept the show on the road in my absence, and here’s to a future where such practices are not the exception, but the norm.
In many ways it has been a standout year for us, we are financially stable, our governance is some of the strongest I’ve seen in the sector, and we’ve delivered landmark events and partnerships.
The first national memorial service for the loss of LGBT+ lives, as well as the harm experienced, in faith contexts, is a shining example of this. Since then, with the hard work of Andrea, Katie, and many others, we are now planning regionalised services in both Wales and Scotland, with Northern Ireland to follow. This speaks to our commitment to not only acknowledge and reflect on the past, but act for a future that is full of hope.
Our efforts in developing authentic LGBT+ community and spirituality, around prayer and a commitment to one another, is evident in that which Lee and others have been nurturing through Rhythm. With plans for more retreats, both online and offline in 2024, and grant-funding to support this work, we’re encouraged that this offering to help LGBT+ Christians to thrive is being so well received.
In 2023 we’ve also expanded our reach, both across impact in Christian traditions and denominations, and also politically. We have enjoyed robust dialogue with Labour, and the SNP, and look forward to continuing building relationships with the Liberal Democrats. Sadly, the current Government and the office for Equalities has not been so forthcoming, and we have all witnessed attacks on the most vulnerable in our movement – often encouraged by Westminster. We have consistently tried to engage with the Minister for Equalities on important issues such as safeguarding, but with little success. This could not be further from the truth with other significant political parties, and opportunities for robust partnership in 2024 are present and exciting.
We know that being LGBT+ around the world is challenging, and alarmingly, increasingly so even in the UK. As a leader in pursuing change in the Christian church for LGBT+ people, our wisdom and experience are increasingly being called upon internationally. As part of our 2023-2026 strategy, we are investing heavily in this need, and successfully began a programme of leadership development and global networking in both Canada and the United States in October of this year. We have more grant funding applications in the pipeline to ensure this work can be completed, but if you would like to find out more about how you can donate to specific projects, or indeed encourage others to do so, go to www.onebodyonefaith.org.uk/donate.
The generosity of our members and supporters has also been gratefully felt as we have received several legacies that have a significant impact on our work – we are so very thankful for those that think of us in this way, and if you’d like to talk to someone about how you might do the same, our Treasurer, David, is delighted to do so.
It remains a blight on our collective faith that still, in 2023, church traditions in the UK bicker and squabble about who is in, and who is out, who is loved, and who is not, who CAN love, and who cannot. We privilege our role as critical friend to many of the traditions for whom the loving inclusion of LGBT+ people remains a live issue, including the Church of England, and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. We have spoken directly into processes of conversation and prayer that shape how LGBT+ people are received, and whilst we are not there yet, we are committed to holding our leaders to account.
Finally, OneBodyOneFaith would not exist without you, our members and supporters. Since our founding, it has been through the grassroots movement of individuals, partnerships, and churches, that we have focussed our energies, and you remain essential to our work. Through your committed support, prayerfully and financially, you have enabled us to be your advocate, to push for change, and to nurture LGBT+ Christians. Thank you.
Throughout the year we have been able to offer times of gathering for our members, through retreats, Rhythm prayer, our AGM, and our end of year Christmas gathering – which this year we hosted in Cambridge. It was such a wonderful day, not only sharing our hopes and vision for OneBodyOneFaith, but sharing bread and wine together, and belting out a few Christmas carols too. It was wonderful to see so many faces there this past weekend, both faithful regulars and some new faces too – thank you for being there with us, if you were able to do so.
As we leave 2023 and enter 2024, perhaps with more than a little uncertainty around us, may you know the peace of the Christ-child, Word made flesh, God incarnate. May you feel that you are loved, held dearly by the Divine. And may you hold strong amid pain and hatred, knowing that God is for you, not against.
Thank you again for your generous support, and I pray that the year ahead we can continue to be grateful for that.
God bless and keep you this Advent and Christmastime, and in the months ahead.
Peace.
Luke Dowding, CEO
