Pastoral Council

Our LGBT+ Ministry is under the oversight of Middlesbrough Diocese's Episcopal Vicariate for Christian Discipleship, and entrusted by the Bishop to the pastoral care of a Ministry Coordinator. The Episcopal Vicar and Ministry Coordinator work with a Pastoral Council to support and develop the LGBT+ Ministry. The Council meets approximately four times a year.

Pastoral Council members (2019 - )

Dr. Johan Bergström-Allen (Chair)
Johan came to York as a student in 1997, and apart from a couple of years down south has lived here ever since. It was at university that he came out as gay, thanks to the support and welcome of the university chaplaincy and his fellow students. He works as Communications & Outreach Manager for the British Province of Carmelites. He has a doctorate in medieval English literature. He confesses to having something of an addiction to RuPaul's Drag Race. Email Johan.

Johan

Dr. Chris Godfrey-Murphy (Secretary)

Jenni Howard
Jenni writes of herself: "I see myself as a gay woman who sits on the left wing of Catholicism and, as such, I do not belong to any particular parish. I became a Catholic later in life and it was the women contemplatives that drew me in. I also came out in the LGBT community later in life, having spent many decades camouflaging myself for social reasons; I married when I was young and have three adult children. My background is in creative therapy and teaching but now, being in training as a Spiritual Accompanier, I hope to offer this creativity to help people explore their own spirituality."

Jenni

Fr. Tony Lester (LGBT+ Ministry Coordinator)
Father Tony hails from Lancashire, but has been in Yorkshire since the 1990s in retreat and chaplaincy ministries. He is Parish Priest of Our Lady's Church in the York suburb of Acomb. For a number of years Tony was involved in the Soho Masses in London, and has also been involved in retreats and a wider ministry to the LGBT+ Community. Bishop Terry has asked Tony to take the lead in helping the diocesan LGBT+ Ministry to become established. Tony lives with a beautiful dog called Ben. Email Tony.

Very Rev. Canon John Lumley, EV (Episcopal Vicar for Christian Discipleship)

Rosemary Phizackerley

Anne Stokes

Anne Woodhouse
Anne writes of herself: "I am married and live in Wakefield in the parish where I grew up. Our son is gay and lives with his civil partner in the north east, and our daughter is married; we all enjoy a close relationship. I used to work for a charity as a helpline support worker and, since retiring, I have volunteered supporting women’s mental health and well-being, and also for the local NHS trust. Pope Francis urges us to “Call people by their name, as the Lord does with us, and to give up using adjectives”. His message resonates deeply with me, as the Catholic mother of a gay man. I feel privileged to attend Mass at the Bar Convent and support the outreach ministry for the LGBT+ community. The Masses are welcoming, prayerful and illuminating, thanks to the community who come together in prayer, and the thoughtful and sensitive ministry of Father Tony and Canon John."

Awaiting appointment: Trans rep.
​If you identify as trans, are a regular attender at our Masses, and would like to volunteer for this role, please contact Johan.