October Together In Prayer Reflection
Jo Harris – Finance Administrator
As September rolls around I find my reflecting on the Summer that I have just had. For me this summer has been filled with memories and laughter and a whole lot of pink!
Usually at the end of August you will usually find me volunteering at Greenbelt, spending time with friends both old and new, catching up with them over the year that we’ve had and discussing the change in the world that we hope to see. However, this year I spent my august bank holiday weekend at Leeds Festival with my best friends.
One of the things I sound myself thinking repeatedly is “Jesus would have loved this”. Now, I don’t mean the underage drinking, drug use or the awful remainder of litter left on site, (all of which the festival and the festival goers have a lot to answer for,) what I mean is the overwhelming sense of fellowship amongst the people there. The people who band together to help each other, to dance together and whom all share a true love and passion for the same thing.
The highlight of my weekend was undoubtedly seeing Chappell Roan. Chappell Roan, for those of you who might have never heard of her before, is a female pop artist who writes music about her experiences as a young gay feminist woman. Her music inspires and acts as a lifeline for so many young people across the world who find it difficult to express themselves.
So, let’s talk about this title: “Jesus would have loved gay feminist pop.” At first, it might sound surprising, even provocative—but when you unpack both the connections between them shine.
Throughout the Gospel, Jesus shows radical inclusivity and prophetic resistance. He consistently sought out the marginalised in his community—the poor, the sick, women, outsiders, and those considered “unclean”. He created spaces where they were seen, safe, and loved. He was an advocate and tore down barriers of exclusion and shame, offering belonging where the world had denied it.
Jesus was also a prophet who spoke truth to power. He didn’t shy away from confronting oppressive systems, his message often disrupted the status quo because it centred compassion, justice, and human dignity.
This is exactly what gay feminist pop embodies. Artists in this genre use music as a vehicle for empowerment, resistance, and joy—especially for those who have been silenced by patriarchy, heteronormativity, or rigid gender expectations. Much like Jesus’ taught us, gay feminist pop insists that all people deserve love, freedom, and the chance to celebrate who they truly are.
Chappell Roan is a perfect example of this! Her music brims with love, liberation, and unapologetic self-expression, that echo of radical love of Jesus’ own teaching: “The greatest commandment is this: love your neighbour as yourself.” And when you take away all the years of arguments about what the bible means and what it says you’ll find that the core is love. Unashamed, unfiltered, messy love that is at the core of gay feminist pop too.
So, when you consider all of this, I think it would be a fair assessment to say that Jesus would have truly loved all gay feminist pop would have to offer.
In reflection, I thought that the lack of Greenbelt energy would have left me feeling like I’ve been missing a crucial part of my spirituality, but I left Leeds festival feeling refreshed and fulfilled in my faith with a truly renewed sense of fellowship and love for Chappell Roan.
Here is a playlist of 20 songs to listen to get you feeling the vibe:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/47xSFu9utxANRgjqSUcnHr?si=6ec985d10c224262