OneBodyOneFaith, formerly the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM), describes itself as "UK-based international Charity which challenges homophobia and transphobia, especially within the Church and faith based organisations".[1]

History

The Gay Christian Movement was founded in 1976 at St Botolph's Aldgate,[2] and the Revd Richard Kirker[3] was its first general secretary. In 1977, local chapters were organised, followed in 1978 by the Women's Group, the Evangelical Fellowship in 1979 and Young Lesbian and Gay Christians in 2000. The name was eventually changed to the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in 1987.[4] The twentieth-anniversary event, held on 16 November 1996 at Southwark Cathedral with John Gladwin, then Bishop of Guildford, as preacher, was the first Anglican cathedral service in Britain held for gay people. Over 2,000 people attended. About 50 local churches held vigils in protest.[5]

The Anglican churches in the British Isles are the main focus of LGCM activity, but its membership and interests are nonetheless entirely ecumenical and international.[6]

The movement has criticised Pope Benedict XVI over his statement that gender theory could lead to the "self-destruction" of humanity. The Reverend Sharon Ferguson, then chief executive of the LGCM, called the statement "totally irresponsible and unacceptable... When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way."[7] When Benedict visited the United Kingdom, the movement criticised secular protesters, urging people to "disagree with respect", calling the protests "unhelpful and counterproductive" and holding a prayer vigil.[8]

Present day

In June 2017, LGCM changed its name to OneBodyOneFaith. The current chief executive is Tracey Byrne. The movement's headquarters are located in Newark-on-Trent. The current Chair is the Venerable Peter Leonard, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight and the Vice-Chair is Jarel Robinson-Brown, Associate Chaplain of King's College London.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About". Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "1974-today". St Botolph without Aldgate. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Richard Kirker: A thorn in side of church establishment". The Guardian. 22 January 2000. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Lee Badgett, Mary Virginia (2007). Sexual orientation discrimination: an international perspective. Taylor & Francis. p. 218. ISBN 9780203086650.
  5. ↑ "Tea for two thousand". The Advocate. 24 December 1996. p. 18.
  6. ↑ Giltz, Michael (21 January 2003). "Good heavens". The Advocate. p. 33.
  7. ↑ "Pope attacks blurring of gender". BBC. 23 December 2008.
  8. ↑ Butt, Riazat (1 September 2010). "Gay and lesbian Christians criticise plans to disrupt pope's visit". The Guardian.


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