Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool, preached this sermon when the Open Table LGBTIQ Christian community celebrated its seventh anniversary at St Bride’s Church.
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Arriving back from a six-week European Trip – and a brief respite from blogging – I find it most refreshing to discover, this morning, on the ‘Thinking Anglicans’ (UK) web-site, this eirenic sermon, preached by Bishop Paul Bayes (Liverpool) to a special ‘Open Table’ gathering of LGBTQ people at Saint Bride’s Church, in his Church of England diocese.
Having met up, again, in the U.K. with people like Savitri Henson, an occasional contributor to the published debate on LGBTQ affairs in England, I now realise the gathering momentum in the Church of England for change in attitudes towards the Gay Community, and those whose gender-sexuality identity is different from ‘the norm’.
There are still very few bishops in the Church of England willing, or brave enough, to voice their own particular views on the Church’s treatment of ‘outsiders’, so that it is more than encouraging to people who really believe that the LGBTQ community has a place in God’s plan for the world; that I’m glad to report on this particular issue today.
Off to Mass now!
Father Ron Smith, Christchurch, New Zealand
Kiwianglo's Blog 
Thank you very much for your feedback – it was indeed encouraging to hear a bishop being so humble and generous.
Thanks, Kieran. Maybe this will encourage other bishops to open up to LGBTIQ people in the Church