Changes at Courage

by Jeremy Marks

Celebrating 25 years of Courage

On Saturday 15th September we will be holding a special service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for 25 years of Courage in London (see the flier here on the Home Page).

This event will mark the end of the Courage ministry as it currently operates.  In practice, this means that my role in organising regular meetings, retreats etc. (except for our mid-monthly Bible study which will continue for the time being) will finish.  However, I shall still retain a small Guildford-based office where I will be available to offer people a listening ear by phone, e-mail, Skype or one-to-one meetings—for consultations, spiritual direction and whatever support enquirers may need.  I shall also continue to be available for speaking engagements and to help churches/individuals with Courage-related pastoral issues.

All the same contact details will remain here for the foreseeable future. 

What’s New?

The really exciting news is that regular meetings and future events will be organised by a new ministry called the “Two:23 Network”, which has been set up by a number of long-standing Courage members who are determined to take the work further into the 21st Century with a new vision and a new way of operating.  I am so excited by this initiative, which has my full support.  I shall be backing the new work by providing ongoing pastoral care, behind the scenes (which the Two:23 organisers won’t have the capacity to take on, initially). 

For those who wish to keep in touch with me personally and follow what I am doing, there is a new “Post-Courage Blog” (see www.jeremymarks.me.uk ) and a new contact e-mail address himself@jeremymarks.me.uk.  This may replace the present Courage website eventually, although the existing site will remain here for a long time to come, so that the rich resources will still be available. 

Here is an introduction to the Two:23 Network from its members, with essential links for further contact:

Two:23 Network www.two23.net

Last year, Jeremy Marks (Courage) drew a number of individuals together, many of whom have been involved with Courage in the past, with the express purpose of talking and praying about a possible new ministry. This process has now led to the development of Two:23. This is a network of Christians connected by LGBT issues. Please go to the website www.two23.net for more information. We would love you to be involved, so please do register your interest on the website and e-mail your thoughts to two23@gmail.com .

The name Two:23 references a verse from the prophet Hosea, who uses his own life as an allegory for God’s promise to the outsider, the excluded, to those who don’t comfortably fit in … ‘I will say to those called ‘Not my people’, ‘You are my people’; and they will say ‘You are my God’.  Hosea 2:23

The launch meeting is in London on Saturday 24th November at St Mary Aldermary Church, Watling Street EC4M 9BW (near Mansion House tube); 2pm for a 2.23 start.

All are welcome, so please put this date in your diary.

Jeremy Marks, August 2012

What is Courage?

• Courage is a UK-based, not for profit, evangelical Christian ministry, founded in 1988.

Courage UK is not the Catholic ministry promoting chastity founded by Father John Harvey (based in New York, with other branches worldwide). If you are looking for that organisation, please go to www.couragerc.net. The UK branch of CourageRC (known as EnCourage) can be found at www.encouragetrust.org.uk.

Who is it for?

• Gay and lesbian Christians who are seeking a safe place of friendship in which to reconcile their faith and sexuality and grow towards Christian maturity
• Their partners and friends, parents and other family members
• Churches that need a resource to help them understand the issues and needs of gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) people
• Gay people without a faith who are seeking answers to life’s questions.

Our focus is:

• our relationship with God

And our objectives are:

• to work out our Christian discipleship together, in a way that is consistent with the teaching of Scripture, especially for those who are gay or lesbian
• to dialogue with our brothers and sisters in churches who find homosexuality difficult to understand or accept
• and to communicate the Good News to all who do not know Jesus Christ.