Faithfully Present: LGBT+ Chaplaincy at the Heart of the Church

Across the UK, LGBT+ Chaplains are creating space for healing, celebration, and belonging. In these two reflections, from Rev Sam Mackie and Rev Emma Duff, we hear how chaplaincy rooted in faith and queerness is transforming lives, communities, and the Church itself:

I started my role as LGBTQ+ Chaplain in a parish in Southend, just weeks before the Supreme Court ruling to determine the legal status of trans* and intersex people. This has radically changed the landscape of everyday life for trans* people, and by proximity many of the LGBTQ+ community.

There is no blue-print for this time, or for this role. I can count on one hand how many I know of in a similar position, across Christian denominations. As with all chaplaincy roles, this is a ministry of presence, of being not only visible but viable to people. Existing in the midst of people’s pain, and responding to everyday injustices.

I feel very blessed to have started here with a breadth of chaplaincy experiences, having worked within university and school chaplaincy, as well as placements in hospice and prison. These are the places I have felt closest to God, and the Spirit moving in ways I have only ever seen on the margins. It will never get old to see those once believing they were unlovable, feeling valuable and sacred to God.

While in schools, I previously worked with young people in areas where LGBTQ+ adults are not visible, and journeyed with LGBTQ+ children who have not been able to see a future for themselves. As a trans priest, I bring together two things once considered impossible. I have had to take seriously that my mere existence says something. As well as take seriously the work I am being compelled to do, even when not feeling enough to do it. We can often feel others are best placed to do the work we feel deeply called to.

Among many other reasons, this has led me to this role. A role that boldly asserts that the intersectionality of Christian and LGBTQ+ belong together. And that the church, the Body of Christ, is only complete with you in it. That God is powerfully moving in these spaces. The great and late Marcella Althaus-Reid says it best in her book, Queer God:

“Our task and our joy is to find or simply recognise God sitting amongst us, at any time, in any gay bar or in the home of a camp friend who decorates her living room as a chapel and doesn’t leave her rosary at home when going to a salsa bar.”

In practice here, it has been about consistently showing up, about being available, and unflappably non-judgemental. It’s been about opening our church doors when every LGBTQ+ venue is forced to close. About church not only being safe, but reflective of the community. We have opened after protests, hosted Pride events, met for community organising, book clubs, and boardgames. We offer space for hope and liberation, as well as healing and lament.

If the once large and looming walls of church and religion can not only come down, but become one of the local LGBTQ+ spaces of sanctuary and celebration, what else then feels possible? What else can change in a time where those who by definition are intended to protect us, but create legislation and policy to segregate and harm? 

I finish with words I spoke at our Rainbow Service here in Southend, a time of worship to about the Wedding in Cana:

“Jesus was breaking down the boundaries between us. This is the transformation we are called into: water into wine. Otherness into oneness, isolation into community. Selfishness into sharing. Lives hidden, into lives glowing. Divisions into doorways. … The freedom and courage [to be ourselves] scares people, but it is the path that leads to liberation - for all of us.”

Rev Sam Mackie, LGTBQ+ Chaplain, St Marks Church, Southend on Sea

 

In July 2024 I saw an advert for a Lead Chaplain to set up an LGBTQI+ Chaplaincy in my home Diocese of Newcastle. I was both delighted such a post was being created; and very clear that I would not be applying! But as often happens, God had other ideas, and somewhat to my surprise I was offered the job, and found myself excited and energised about what was ahead.

That sense of excitement has not gone away. I’m proud that we have created our LGBTQI+ Chaplaincy on different terms from other Dioceses. Unusually, my role is paid (albeit part time) and our Chaplaincy has broader aims than some. Not only do we offer pastoral support to LGBTQI+ people and their loved ones, we also aim to work with Churches who would like to become more inclusive of LGBTQI+ communities, and to talk with anyone who has questions around gender, sexuality and faith. 

I had thought that most of my time would be taken up with one-to-one conversations, and indeed there have been many of these, from LGBTQI+ Christians struggling in their context to those wishing to understand more about the impact of the Supreme Court judgement. What has astonished me though is the range of invitations to speak or lead workshops I have received; from Deanery Synods and Chapters, colleges in Durham and Cambridge, individual parishes both liberal and conservative, to the LGBT+ team in the Cabinet Office! I have found in parishes that there is an appetite to talk about LGBTQI+ inclusion, but often leaders do not feel sufficiently knowledgeable to lead discussions. We have organised one training day for leaders in the Diocese to find out more about our communities which was over-subscribed; we will need a bigger venue for our next training day in November. I am well supported by our senior staff and Diocesan services.

Until I began this role, I had not fully appreciated the importance of presence and visibility. A number of Diocesan LGBTQI+ leaders have said to me that the creation of the Chaplaincy made them feel more secure and included, even though they had had no direct contact with us. Until now I have been the only Chaplain, but we have recently appointed two Volunteer Chaplains who will be commissioned at a special Evensong in Newcastle Cathedral on 21st September. (If you’re within striking distance of Newcastle please do join us – details are on the “What’s On” page of the Cathedral’s website.) I’m very pleased that with three of us, we will be more visible, and I know our new Chaplains will bring fresh energy, knowledge, ideas and insight to our work. I am very much looking forward to being part of a team and finding out where God is leading us next, and expect to be as surprised in this next season as I have been in this one.

Rev Emma Duff, Lead LGBTQI+ Chaplain, Diocese of Newcastle