Belonging Conference - Speakers and Panellists announced!
Single people need more nuanced and compassionate responses from other Christians - about their life experiences, how this is relevant to our faith journeys and most importantly, what we can do to be more understanding and welcoming in our church contexts.
The Belonging Conference will be a thought-provoking day of insightful talks, panel discussions and mini workshops all on single ministry as part of mission, the nuances of faith relationships, church challenges, single people's stories, what it takes to be a single friendly church, and much more. This is event is to explore how we can change the culture around singleness in churches across denominations.
We are thrilled to announce more information about our guest speakers for our keynotes and panels - see below for more information! We are so looking forward to hearing their stories, sharing wisdom and faith as we explore what it means to change the culture around singleness to be more inclusive in Christian spaces.
You can see the rest of the Belonging Conference programme here, including more about our 6 workshops, messages of support, and more.
Belonging Conference - Keynote Speakers:
Sorcha Connell
Sorcha is our Director of the Single Friendly Church Network, and her career so far has been mainly with faith-based organisations, individuals and charities. Sorcha has studied Theology, Interfaith and Religious Studies at three universities, is a qualified Spiritual Director, and has a passion for living in intentional communities with an ecumenical ethos.
Jackie Elton
Jackie Elton is the founder and Chair of Single Friendly Church Network. Jackie was the founder and for over 20 years the Managing Director of Christian Connection, the UK’s largest Christian dating site, and also a founding Director of the Online Dating Association. Jackie was educated at Cambridge University and has an MBA from London Business School.
Rev Kate Wharton
Kate is Vicar of St. Bartholomew's Church in Roby, Liverpool, and a member of Church of England General Synod. She is the author of 'Single Minded: Being single and whole and living life to the full" and Trustee of St Mellitus College and Single Friendly Church Network.
FIRST PANEL More than a Season: A Panel Discussion on Singleness and Community - Hosted by Sorcha Connell
Warren Nettleford
Warren is a Royal Television Society award-winning broadcaster who has built a career telling stories for some of the UK’s leading broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4, 5 News, ITV News). He is also a trustee of Single Friendly Church Network.
Sarah Brier
Sarah manages the digital communications and social media for Single Friendly Church Network. Sarah has also worked in a comms role at a large Anglican church for the past 6 years, and attends an Assemblies of God church. She is a single mum and is passionate about church being a place where everyone feels welcome.
Bhanuka Warnasooriya
Bhanuka is currently training for ordination in the Church of England at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He has previously served in leadership within the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace, and served as a chaplain to the College of Bishops. Bhanuka is currently writing a thesis on desexualising intimacy through Johannine theology, asking what intimate friendship might offer in an age of epidemic loneliness. 
Dawn Hobson
Dawn is Head of Partnerships and Signposting at the bereavement charity At A Loss. Loss and Hope is it’s church-focused project, with the goal to equip UK churches of every denomination to reach out to their communities in bereavement support for social transformation, wellbeing and mission.
Emily Smith
Emily belongs to the Orthodox Church in Clapham. For the past year she has lived in a contemporary monastic community in New Zealand, was an assistant in the local L'Arche community, and is now a carer. Emily is interested in care ethics and making friends.SECOND PANEL Dreaming the future where all single people are welcomed in churches - Hosted by Liz Dunbar
Dave Pickett
Dave is the Assistant Pastor at The Hub Church, Hitchin in Hertfordshire. Dave loves football and music and is passionate about creating spaces where people can encounter God whatever their story or background.
Laura Evans
Laura is the Pioneer Mission Worker at St Matthew’s and St Luke's, primarily based around outreach in the local area, especially with those in their 20s and 30s. Laura is passionate about fostering community and discipleship. She also loves helping people get to grips with the Bible. In her spare time, Laura loves watching and talking about films/TV.
Dave Hunt
Dave is a member of one of the churches in our network: All Saints, Woodford Wells in Essex and teacher of Economics and Business in Secondary school in East London. Dave is passionate about seeing churches equip and encourage men and women to live out their Christian calling and grow into all that God has called them to be in Christ.