Megan Morris has been appointed to the new role of LGBT+ Advisor to the Bishop of Sheffield, in what is possibly a first for the Church of England. Megan’s role is to ensure that the real lives and experiences of LGBT+ people are shared with the Bishop, and that the love and faith of LGBT+ followers of Jesus is genuinely heard and considered.
Megan is a ‘missionary kid’, a bible college graduate, a cat parent to a lovely black and white feline called Luna. She professed her own faith when she was around 12, though she grew up in a Christian household. She is a part of the LGBT+ community and in this new role she will advise Bishop Pete as he continues to lead a diverse Diocese.
Meet Megan, in her own words:
I’m excited to get started!
I think it’s a role that’s really needed. I feel valued that the Bishop is happy to have this role. I met with Bishop Pete and it turned out there were a number of things we have in common, including having lived in India when we were younger. Even the fact that my Uncle, Professor Hugh Williamson, had taught Bishop Pete!
I’ll be helping to advise Bishop Pete on LGBT+ issues
Listening is a key part of this new role. I want to help formulate the right words and communicate things that are happening across the diocese in a way that’s an honouring of who Bishop Pete is, but at the same time is also aware of how words can matter.
One of the podcasts I’m into (The Rest is Politics) has a big thing about disagreeing agreeably. They’ve actually got more in common than they do in differences. For me, that’s something that’s really important; there may be theological things that we don’t agree on, but it’s how do we handle that and how do we keep talking to each other? How do we make sure that how we communicate with each other is not cruel or angry? How do we keep listening?
I’m not here to change anybody’s mind
I’m here to be a person in the room so that when people make decisions, they go, “I wonder how that would affect Megan, or I wonder how that would affect this person?” It’s being a presence. I’ve seen and heard how that’s made a difference just in other lives -just the fact they know somebody has completely made them rethink how they communicate and how they act around somebody they know, appreciate and love.
I’ve always been part of the church
I grew up in a Christian family and was a missionary kid. My dad came from a brethren background, and the mission organisation they were part of was nondenominational and very progressive of its time.
Growing up, we went to evangelical Anglican churches, but we lived part of my childhood in India, and I think living outside of your own culture just helps you see things slightly differently. When I was around 19 I decided to go to Bible school. I wanted to find out more about what my faith was all about. It was a really interesting time and insightful.
My faith has been an ongoing journey
There’s a lot more to faith than just going to church. When I was 12 or 13, I went to a Billy Graham event and it sounds corny but I went up the front and sort of professed my faith.
There’s never been some kind of lightning bolt or transformation, but just an ongoing growth and understanding in times of doubt and times of uncertainty. I always know that God’s holding on to me, even if I don’t know what I’m doing.
I hope people will listen to each other
Sometimes you can be in a meeting and you’re listening to hear for the break when you can speak; you’re not necessarily listening to what people are saying. I hope we stop doing that and start listening to each other more. Where are the points we can agree with each other?
It’s also about having that clarity on what people believe. Pin your colours to the mast. That’s all I want and a lot of what LGBT+ people want. It’s just clarity. Where can I go that I will be loved and accepted. I think there’s a lot of fear about being clear. It’s something Bishop Pete agreed with me on – having that clarity and saying “this is what I believe”, but word it in a positive way.
I’d love to have some conversations where everybody gets around the table and says, “what do we agree on? What can we say that 100% of our churches in the Diocese agrees on?” Let’s find out the positives.
We need to stamp out homophobia
Words really do matter. Just because you disagree with me it does not give you the right to be cruel or use language that’s very angry. Be kind and loving. The Pharisees and Sadducees liked to follow Jesus around to try and catch him out; it sometimes feels like we’re in a state where people think they can follow you around to see how you live your life – to find out if they can spot the mistakes you’re making or the ways you’re doing things differently that they disagree with. There’s so much more we should be doing as Jesus’ followers, as Christians.
I hope people don’t try and make judgements on people, and the same is true for me. I can be upset with people, but I don’t know what’s in their heart. God does. You can contact Megan at LGBTAdvisor@sheffield.anglican.org