Saturday 16th May 2026
St John’s Church, Friern Barnet
Scripturally-rooted conversations around LGBTQ+ inclusion in the life of the Church
Scriptural integrity is often pitted against the celebration of LGBTQ+ communities and their full inclusion in all aspects of church life. This tension is particularly apparent in current debates around the Blessing of same sex relationships within the Church of England.‘Reclaiming Belonging’ is a day conference for anyone wanting to explore how to maintain Scriptural integrity whilst championing the full participation of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the church.Together, we’ll be re-examining traditional interpretations of Scripture through an expansive and compassionate lens, to propose that celebrating and including LGBTQ+ people is what it means to be faithful to the God revealed in the Bible.
Jonathan is part of the Northern Baptist Team and is an ordained Anglican minister. He teaches New Testament and Greek at Luther King Centre. He is also the Research Programme Co-ordinator. His own research areas include how the Bible was interpreted and understood within the late antique context, and what that can teach us today.Jonathan is the author of Affirmative: Why You Can Say Yes to the Bible and Yes to People Who Are LGBTQI+
Doors open from 9.00am: Coffee and pastries available
9.30am: Welcome & Worship
9.45am: Keynote address from Jonathan Tallon
10.45am: Break
11.00am: Seminar Slot 1
12noon: Lunch (bring your own)
12.45pm: Seminar Slot 2
1.45pm: Coffee break
2.00pm: Panel discussion taking your questions
2.30pm: Final Prayer & Finish
Book your place now!