Cathedral holds National Memorial Service for Excluded LGBT+ People
People who have suffered exclusion from Christian communities because of their sexuality or gender identity will be commemorated at a national service this month.
The service, at Llandaff Cathedral, will remember those who have lost their lives to suicide, or been harmed as a result of exclusion, and will also look forward to reconciliation.
It is organised by OneBodyOneFaith, the UK’s oldest Christian LGBT+ members’ network, in partnership with The Gathering, an LGBT+ church in Cardiff, and supported by Church in Wales bishops,
Guests will be invited to lay white flowers and hold a minute’s silence before taking part in an act of reconciliation, where purple flowers will be laid to signal hope for the future. There will also be a memory book where names of loved ones can be written. Prayer and pastoral support will be available for those who need it.
The Bishop of Llandaff, Mary Stallard, who will open the service with a welcome and prayer, says, “I am delighted that this service is happening in Llandaff Cathedral. We value our calling to be an inclusive church, and this work underlines this. It is my firm hope that this service will offer a way-marker on an important journey of healing and transformation, both for those who take part and for our wider church and faith communities.”
The Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, who will give the memorial homily, says, “As the Church reassesses its attitude towards LGBT+ persons, we have to recognise not only discrimination, but also real harm caused to individuals. This service is intended to contribute something towards acknowledgement of that harm, and to take a step in the direction of healing.”
This will be the second national memorial service organised by OneBodyOneFaith. The first was held in London last April.
Luke Dowding, Chief Executive Officer at OneBodyOneFaith, says, “This memorial service is a bold opportunity to speak truthfully about the harm LGBT+ people continue to experience, but also of a future where the Christian church is no longer complicit in this. We are grateful for traditions like the Church in Wales who demonstrate clear leadership on this.”
Everyone is welcome to attend the service. It takes place at Llandaff Cathedral (photo attached) on Sunday 26th May at 5.30pm.
To book your place and reserve a seat, see EventBrite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/memorial-service-tickets-763324021697