Ozanne Foundation Names New Chair
The Ozanne Foundation has named a new Chair to replace outgoing Chair, Bishop Paul Bayes.
The Dean of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, The Very Revd Joe Hawes was elected in a meeting of the Trustees on 19 January. Hawes is in a same-sex civil partnership.
The Ozanne Foundation advocates for full acceptance of the LGBT+ agenda within the Church of England.
Outgoing Chair, Bishop Bayes who retires as Bishop of Liverpool at the end of February was praised by Director Jayne Ozanne. She said:
“I am incredibly grateful to my mentor, friend and wise counsel, Bishop Paul, without whom we would never have set up the Foundation nor achieved all that we have done. His wisdom, grace, patience and encouragement have been instrumental to the success of the Foundation and indeed the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives. He has been an exemplary role model and ally of the LGBT community, and we owe him the very deepest debt of thanks. His retirement heralds in a new chapter for the Foundation, and it is fitting and right that we now have a LGBT+ clergy chair, which I’m thrilled Dean Joe has accepted. I am really looking forward to working with him.”
Hawes remarked on his appointment in a statement released by the Foundation.
“I am grateful and excited to take on this new role and humbled by the opportunity. I passionately share the Foundation’s vision of working with partners in this country and around the world to bring greater inclusion and acceptance for our LGBTI+ sisters and brothers, many of whom live daily in real danger of physical and mental harm, and to bring an end once and for all to the harmful and discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy”. As one who experienced as a teenager the bullying typical of former days, I am dedicated to working with the Ozanne Foundation to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of those who suffer such discrimination today.”
