We spoke to Hannah about why bringing inclusivity and activism is so needed in the Church
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES PROVIDED AND BY FRANCES MARSHALL (ON THE RIGHT)
OneBodyOneFaith is a UK-based charity advocating for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA people in Christian communities. Rooted in both faith and social justice, it works to challenge discrimination within churches, support LGBTQIA individuals navigating religious spaces, and promote theology that is inclusive and affirming. With a mix of activism, education, and pastoral care, the organisation aims to create a church that is truly welcoming to all – without compromise or caveats.
OneBodyOneFaith’s trustee board is made up of diverse individuals bringing lived experience, professional expertise, and a shared commitment to inclusion, ensuring strong, accountable governance aligned with the charity’s mission.
DIVA spoke to Hannah about why she became a trustee of OneBodyOneFaith.
How did you get involved with OneBodyOneFaith?
I’ve known about OneBodyOneFaith (and its predecessor, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, founded in 1976) for a long time. The first time I heard about it was at a Christian festival when someone ran up to me and my girlfriend to tell us about a service LGCM were running after they saw us holding hands – it was cute and a bit alarming!
As a Quaker, I’m lucky to be in a faith community that embraces LGBTQIA freedoms. Quakers were one of the first faith groups to affirm same-sex marriage, so in some ways I didn’t use to feel like I needed to be part of OneBodyOneFaith (1B1F) myself. Then in 2019, I faced discrimination when I was prevented from taking on a major role with an ecumenical organisation (different churches working together) because of my marriage to Annie. That experience put me in touch with lots of great LGBTQIA advocacy groups and made me want to do more to support those who experience far worse in the name of religion.
Why is being a trustee of OneBodyOneFaith so important to you?
There are lots of amazing churches in this country that celebrate queer love, but that’s not the case for all. Oppressive groups are often also very vocal, so it seems like exclusion is the only story. Even churches that are affirming don’t always say so, so we’re left guessing whether it’s safe to be “out” in those communities. That’s why we need 1B1F: to be a haven for queer Christians and to work to transform the whole church’s attitude.
For me, the heart of the Christian message is love, unequivocally, and I believe that’s the only future for the church. 1B1F believes that LGBTQIA people should not just be surviving in Christian communities (which, with practices like conversion therapy still happening, isn’t a given), but thriving in them too. We focus on joy as well as safety. That seems like the right approach to me, so I want to support the work in any way I can.
What are some of the best parts about being a trustee for OneBodyOneFaith?
First up, the team’s great! I’ve learnt a lot about running a small charity through working with them, and about the many people trying to make a difference for LGBTQIA people in the UK. It’s pretty inspiring.
Perhaps most of all, it feels like I’m part of a group making a difference. I went to a homophobic church when I was young and it drove me away. Queer people should be able to live a full life – including finding meaning in a spiritual journey shared with others if we want to. Being involved in 1B1F is my part in making that a reality.
How does OneBodyOneFaith help support and connect the community?
Loads of ways!
For those who want to be with other LGBTQIA folk but don’t feel comfortable in their local church, we have an online and in-person community called Rhythm which gets together to pray on Zoom and also holds regular residential retreats. We work with lots of partners, including in supporting Christians at Pride, and to run a personal favourite of mine – the annual Big Queer Carols!
We help churches to become places where LGBTQIA people find belonging. Recently, we ran memorial services in London and Cardiff to remember those LGBTQIA folk who have been harmed, or lost their lives, because of prejudice encountered in church.
We’re currently running some research asking LGBTQIA leaders in Christian contexts where their unmet needs are (working with researchers at the University of Nottingham). With the data, we’ll produce a report showing what positive change might look like.
We speak up in the media and connect with LGBTQIA Christians all over the world, work behind the scenes with parliamentarians and LGBTQIA leaders, and support members making change in their own communities.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming a trustee?
It’s a really important time to get involved in LGBTQIA advocacy in the church; there are lots of opportunities for progress and as 1B1F we’re involved in many different initiatives making change happen (like the Ban Conversion Therapy coalition), so it’s a great time to join in.
Of course, there are many threats to our community in wider society at the moment, as well as within faith groups, especially for our trans, non-binary and gender nonconforming siblings. The solidarity I feel being with other queer folk, and some wonderful allies, who are committed to using a bit of their spare time to do something about it, feels good. So come and have a chat with us! We need all sorts of skills, experiences and interests, as well as folk representing different parts of the LGBTQIA community. More dyke energy is particularly welcome.
To continue the innovative and impactful work of OneBodyOneFaith, we are looking for trustees to join our Board to help shape and govern our charity as we step into the next chapter – particularly as we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2026. We are especially keen to find candidates who might have experience in fundraising, public relations, accountancy, and safeguarding; however, we would encourage you to apply if your skills are elsewhere. OneBodyOneFaith is an exciting charity to volunteer for, and we can offer the opportunity to serve a well-placed and ambitious charity with an experienced staff team and an exciting vision. If joining the Board of Trustees of OneBodyOneFaith is something you’d like to consider, please email your interest to hello@onebodyonefaith.
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