About
Affirm is a UK network of Baptist Christians working together for LGBT+ inclusion, founded in 2000. Our work is carried out by our Trustee team, who you can read more about below.
Our purpose is threefold:
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Social Justice:
We believe the inclusion and affirmation of all sexualities and gender identities is an issue of social justice, and champion it accordingly. It is our aim to promote the safeguarding of LGBTQ+ people in the life of Baptist communities, as well as seeking the inclusion of human sexuality and gender identity in the Baptist Union Social Justice streams. The foundation of this is our commitment to the pastoral support of LGBTQ+ people.
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Baptists Together:
It is our hope that we will continue to grow our relationship with those in leadership at Baptist House, encouraging them to pursue the affirmation of all LGBTQ+ people in the life of our faith. In partnership with this, we seek to work alongside local associations, in delivering training, offering insight, and engaging in intentional dialogue. We value the life of the wider Baptist family and seek to proactively work within this.
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Resourcing local Churches:
Local churches are the lifeblood of our Baptist identity, and we appreciate the complexities of local ministry, and fellowshipping with one another. Through our work we provide resources (including service liturgy and group study materials), access to events and training, and one-to-one expertise to truly enable inclusion and affirmation at a local level.
“After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.”
Revelation 7:9
Dawn
Cole-Savidge
Co-Director
Dawn has degrees in Art and in Theology. She is a an artist, a story teller and a community engager. Dawn identifies as pansexual, and is mum to twins. Currently residing in London and works at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church where she presided over the the first solemnised SSM in a UK Baptist Church. Dawn is also Tutor for LGBT+ Inclusion at Northern Baptist College, Manchester. Dawn has been involved in developing LGBT+ community projects like Soho Gathering and Christians at Pride. Her core belief is that God is Love and that where love is there also is God.
Andy
Fitchet
Co-Director
Andy has been a Baptist Minister for 8 years, previously a local councillor for nearly 10 years, and Chaired his local Labour party for 5 years. Andy currently serves as an Authorised Minister in the Methodist church as finding a church in the Baptist Union whilst being an openly gay man turned out to be impossible. He remains a Baptist at heart, and wants to do what he can to make the Baptist Union of Great Britain a safe place for LGBTQI+ people to be, and a place where people’s sexuality is no longer a bar for them from getting ordained or being called to local pastorate.
Nik Hookey
Trustee
Nik has served as an Accredited Baptist Minister with the Baptist Union of Great Britain since 1999, bringing over twenty‑five years of pastoral leadership, chaplaincy experience, and committed service within the Baptist tradition.
Nik has developed extensive experience in chaplaincy, offering specialised support in complex healthcare environments and working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. His work has centred on creating spaces where people of all backgrounds, identities, and faith journeys feel heard, valued, and spiritually safe. This commitment to inclusive practice continues to be a core expression of his call.
Nik is passionate about LGBTQ+ affirmation within the Baptist family and is committed to helping build churches where grace, welcome, and authenticity are not merely aspirations but embodied realities. His involvement with Affirming Baptists Together reflects his conviction that the Baptist movement is at its best when it honours freedom of belief, encourages honest conversation, and recognises God’s presence in the lives of all people.
Rachel Humphrey
Trustee
Rachel Humphrey is one of the team of ministers at Bonny Downs Baptist Church in East London. She is one of the leaders of Two:23, providing pastoral support to LGBTQ Christians particularly from evangelical backgrounds, and runs the Fruitful conferences supporting evangelical churches on their inclusion journeys. She is writing her PhD on charismatic worship culture through York St John University. She is married to Pippa.
Andreea Gherman
Treasurer
Andreea is currently on a career break and exploring the world, however, professionally, her most recent role was as Senior Engineering Manager building software for regulatory compliance. Her voluntary experience includes serving as Treasurer for Churches Together in Westminster and as a Deacon at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church.
Growing up in a conservative Baptist community in Romania, she was profoundly drawn to Bloomsbury's theology of radical inclusion. She is now eager to bring her financial and governance skills to support the mission of the organisation as its Treasurer.
Luke Dowding
Trustee, Project Director
Revd Luke Dowding is an ordained and credentialed Baptist minister with the Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms. He was formed for ministry at Spurgeon’s College, London UK, and then completed his MA in Biblical Studies with King’s College London. His ministry is at the intersections of faith and justice, with particular attention to marginalised groups such as LGBT+ people. He is married to Steven, currently lives in London, is a devout coffee snob, and an avid Trekkie. Luke infrequently writes on https://lukedowding.substack.com.
