Warren Bohan, who is originally from Sydney, Australia shared this unique and wonderful story about his faith and the journey it has led him on.
Warren has been living in Liverpool for almost 19 years having emigrated from Australia. With strong family links to Liverpool, Warren initially came over to travel. However shortly after moving to Liverpool, Warren met Kieran who became Warren’s partner and they are now happily married and Warren has made this British city his home. Kieran and Warren have a shared faith and it has been the foundation of their journey together. Warren describes Liverpool as a city that has been “very good to him” and a city that has been “life changing” .
Church had always been prominent in Warren’s life. When he was younger in Australia and described himself as “growing up in the church” and went on to work for an Australian theological college. However, whilst still in Australia, Warren had a “crisis of faith” for different reasons, left the church and considered himself an atheist for many years. In his late 20s, Warren began to explore faith again, and in the process started visiting an Anglo-Catholic Church in Sydney where he discovered a warm welcome.
When Warren travelled to the UK in 2006, he found St Luke in the City, a parish he is still a part of to this day. Warren describes it as a “wonderful and inclusive community to be a part of” and a community that has loved him since day one. In 2008, Open Table, a monthly Eucharist for the LGBT community and friends, started up at St Bride’s Church; Warren came along with Kieran as they were looking for somewhere to worship together as they are both members of different denominations. Warren being an Anglican and Kieran (at the time) being Roman Catholic, they had visited each other’s churches before but didn’t feel as if they could go there together as a couple. The Open Table Network is a growing partnership of communities across England & Wales which genuinely welcome and affirm people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, & Asexual (LGBTQIA) + families, friends & anyone who wants to belong in an accepting, loving community.
With the start up of Open Table Liverpool they felt as if this new thing could be something that would be perfect for the pair of them as it would allow them to worship together as it is so important for them to be practice to their shared faith together.
After being at Open Table Liverpool for about a year, the Vicar came up to Warren to ask him if he wouldn’t mind opening up, getting the place ready and making cups of tea for Open Table. Warren accepted this small responsibility and over the next 6 months Warren became increasingly involved with the running of Open Table. Warren found himself stepping more and more into leadership roles over the next few years. As a result of this added responsibility, Warren felt as if he was acting as a lay minister to this congregation. It wasn’t a title Warren wanted to necessarily accept due to personal history and he was reluctant to acknowledge that this was what he was doing. With being married to Kieran, licenced ministry was not possible for Warren in the Church of England and so as a result of that Warren just carried on doing what he was doing.
With some supportive encouragement from former Bishop of Liverpool, Bishop James helped Warren to see that what he was doing was ministry.
10 years ago, the Diocese of Liverpool began developing something called Local Mission Leaders. Again, Warren didn’t see himself as a leader but with deep encouragement from Bishop Paul, The Diocesan Mission and Director of Church Growth, he began to reflect on what it meant to do lay ministry. Warren also learnt that by becoming a Lay Missionional Leader, he would receive mentoring, peer support and a small training grant . The mentoring and support resonated with Warren as he felt that having that extra bit of support would be extremely meaningful for the future of Open Table Liverpool to develop this thriving ministry further. Warren and Kieran eventually decided to apply to both be Local Missional Leaders. The process of writing an application was a catalyst for Warren to reflect on what his calling was and to put it into words. When reflecting on the application process, Warren found the support he received from the diocese to be outstanding and described them as “deeply encouraging and affirming”.
When the archdeacon came along to commission Warren into the work he described it as being “nice to be recognised”. All of this helped his community to see that the diocese was supporting the ministry there and it wasn’t something hidden in the background. On the contrary Open Table Liverpool was a valued worship community as it allowed everyone to be included and the Diocese was seen to encourage this remarkable and beautiful community of people. Warren feels as if this move into becoming a Local Mission Leader was a huge turning point for Open Table in St Bride’s.
As the years passed, Open Table developed massively and now there are nearly forty 40 Open Tables across England and Wales which are all supported by people like Warren across the country. Kieran moved from being an LML to become Director of the Open Table Network charity which he established to co-ordinate the national of Open Table communities and continues in this role. Kieran is also now training for Methodist Ministry.
Warren’s story shows that the Diocese of Liverpool is a place where everyone can find a role, no matter your background, journey of faith, or sexuality. What matters is your calling and the willingness to step forward. With the phenomenal support of the diocese, its clergy, and its teams, there is guidance at every stage to help you explore that calling and grow into it.
For Warren, becoming a Local Mission Leader has not only affirmed his own ministry, but has also shown his community that there is space in the church for everyone to belong, serve, and flourish. His journey reminds us that whoever you are, if you feel called, there is a path for you.
For more information about Open Table Network visit www.opentable.lgbt
