New Appointments
Building on our renewed focus during the pandemic to ensure LGBT+ Christians thrive, not just survive, the Board of Trustees and staff team began an extensive strategic review, which has culminated in a dynamic strategy for the next three years.
This strategic review has demonstrated that we are best placed to deliver in some essential areas, particularly linked to safety and wellbeing. Our leadership and experience are being asked for, and we have shifted our staffing model to acknowledge the increased demand.
It is therefore with great delight that we announce the appointment of Andrea King to the role of Director, Safeguarding and Strategy. Andrea has served on the Board for the last year, and prior to that was a strong partner of OneBodyOneFaith as the Chair of the Creating Sanctuary initiative. Andrea will be joining us for one day a week, developing our safeguarding and leadership offerings – all of which are in high demand in the political, church, and third-sector spheres.
This of course meant that following Andrea’s resignation from the Board, so that she might apply for the role, we needed a replacement Co-Chair to work alongside Jarel until the AGM in 2024. The Board and staff team are exceptionally grateful for that Mark Rowland has stepped up to that role – offering his skills and wisdom to help lead our charity. Mark is a long-term trustee of OneBodyOneFaith and advocate for equality in the Methodist Church in Great Britain – serving as a trustee for Dignity and Worth as well.
Such appointments are indicative of our commitment to evolve as a charity, responding to the need that we are presented with. Mark says:
Alongside this we have also been able to recognise the extraordinary contribution of our existing staff. Luke Dowding’s passion and vision, first as a trustee and then as Executive Director has enabled us to drive our work forward and to imagine and reimagine the contribution that OneBodyOneFaith can make. We have promoted Luke from Executive Director to Chief Executive Officer and look forward to Luke’s continued leadership of our charity and all the possibilities that lie ahead.
The strategic review has also presented us with a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and stalwart presence of Katie Marsh. Katie has worked for the charity for 8 years and has demonstrated her commitment and ability on uncountable occasions. During this strategic review we agreed to promote Katie to Head of Operations, with a more deliberate oversight on UK operations and membership.
In addition, our review highlighted the need for dedicated staff resourcing to support our members more directly. Fr Lee Taylor has been volunteering with us developing the Rhythm initiative, and in addition has increasingly stepped up showcasing a commitment to you, our members. He has often taken on the role of pastoral support via phone and email and has been instrumental in developing our retreat programme – which started last week. Lee then applied for the new role of Member Care and Chaplain to Rhythm, and the Board were chuffed to appoint him.
These new roles have been appointed thanks to legacies we have received from members, and we’re incredibly grateful for them. If you’d like to talk to someone in our team about how a legacy can support the work of OneBodyOneFaith, please email our Treasurer, David, via treasurer@onebodyonefaith.org.uk.
Congratulations to everyone on their new roles!
