[Jesus said] “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” John 16:32,33 (NRSV)
If you’ve arrived at this page looking for the Courage ministry (Courage UK), then you have come to the right place!
The “original” Courage UK—an evangelical Christian ministry founded by Jeremy Marks in 1988—was officially “retired” after almost 25 years, in September 2012. Since November 2012, the Two:23 Network has offered meetings in London five times a year that provide wonderful support for LGBTI Christians. My one-to-one pastoral work continues under the name “Post-Courage”.
What am I doing/offering today?
- Spiritual direction, primarily for (but not limited to) LGBTI Christian people.
- Engagement with churches and communities wanting to gain a greater depth of understanding of the pastoral care of LGBTI people.
- Consultancy—for those concerned about the damaging effects of so-called ”conversion therapy”.
- Support for group meetings (online and in-person) that provide a safe place for LGBTI Christian people.
- I am also writing articles on Substack – click here to view!
New Book Now Available
I’m delighted to share that my new book, If You’ve Seen Me, You’ve Seen the Father: Discovering God’s True Face in Jesus, is now published.
This book is written especially for those who have struggled with the picture of God they were given in church — a God of wrath, judgment, and exclusion. I explore how these toxic theologies, particularly around sexuality, have fuelled the church’s hostility to LGBTQ+ people and left many feeling unwelcome in the very place that should be their home.
Drawing on Scripture, theology, and my own pastoral journey, I invite readers to rediscover Jesus as the true revelation of God’s heart — a God who is not violent, punitive, or condemning, but radically loving, restorative, and inclusive.
Whether you are LGBTQ+ yourself, supporting someone you love, or simply seeking a faith that makes sense in today’s world, my hope is that this book will encourage and strengthen you. It offers a vision of Christian faith where grace is bigger than fear, where love triumphs over shame, and where God’s welcome really does extend to all.
Pastoral care for lesbian and gay Christians
Since September 1987 (from the age of 35), I have been working full time to provide pastoral care for lesbian & gay Christian people, most of that time under the ministry name of ‘Courage’ (my work is now referred to as “Post‑Courage”).
We all learn a very great deal through life’s experiences, in our case over a period of ministry experience extending over the best part of thirty years; all the more so in our fast-moving world in which there is an exponential growth of knowledge in every area of life. Whilst the Bible itself does not change, nor does its principles or standards, our understanding of how the Bible is to be interpreted most certainly does, because our life experiences create a context in which we have to wrestle with the Bible’s teaching.
My First Book
In 2008 I wrote the story of why we left the “ex-gay movement”, as it was known in the 1980’s & 90’s, and became a fully affirming ministry for LGBTI Christians. “Exchanging the Truth of God for a Lie” is available from Amazon in Kindle format.
If you prefer to hold a paperback in your hands, send me an email with your name and postal address and I will send you a copy along with details of how you can pay for it. Special offer £5 + £2 p&p (reduced from £8.99 + p&p)
Or you might like to check out my article Pastoral care for LGBT Christians on this website.
