Hi all!

Just a quick update to encourage you all – I just finished up my job on Iona, so I'm spending some time in London before I go to the States and then back to Brisbane (where I'll definitely look up the local F2b group, don't worry!)

While I'm in London I decided I would check out Oasis Waterloo, which is a Baptist church I heard about because its head pastor, Steve Chalke has just written an article about accepting gay people and same-sex relationships. I showed up for the service (which was wonderful) and met a group of folk afterwards who invited me to lunch. It just so happened most of them were gay, and when they found out I'm from Australia they said, "There's a group out there… Freedom2b or something? You should check them out!"

So it seems your reputation precedes you!

If any of you are ever in London I really encourage you to check out Oasis Waterloo. It's just down the road from Waterloo tube station so it's super easy to get there, and everyone was really friendly without being overbearing. I'd definitely worship there all the time if I lived in London!

Here's their website, if you're interested:

http://www.oasischurchwaterloo.org/

And the first part of Steve's article. Steve is one of the most recognisable evangelicals in Europe, so this article has raised more than a few eyebrows. Hopefully it will encourage other straight, evangelical allies to come out of the woodwork and change the tone of the discussion between the church and the LGBT community!

http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/sexuality/stevechalke.aspx

Just thought you'd like to hear about it! I'm due back in Queensland on the 16th of April… I landed a job as editor of Journey magazine with the Uniting Church – quite a leap for me professionally! Once I'm back I'll be in Brisbane for the foreseeable future.

All the best, and I'll see you soon!

I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Chalke about ten years ago now. Quality man right there.

Heycrunchking

Wow! Fantastic to hear that freedom2b is still travelling. I had inquiries from the UK a couple of years ago so I'm encouraged by that info. We look forward to having you back in oz! Hopefully we could meet when I visit Brissy later in the year

Warm regards

Michelle