Gary Hopkins
Hello, I’m the founder of Holyvity, and have a passion for helping people encounter God and deepen their faith. I started my faith journey over twenty years ago when I discovered the teachings of Jesus through my Gideon’s New Testament. I found a Methodist church and after having my heart ‘strangely warmed’ responded to God’s call to serve others through music and preaching.
I graduated from Birmingham University with a BA in Theology and became an accredited Local Preacher in 2009. I worked in education for fifteen years, including ten years as a senior leader, where I was deputy headteacher of a primary school and assistant headteacher of a secondary school. During this time, I also completed an MEd in Leadership and Management. I continue to take an active role in education as vice-chair of a school governing body.
I’m passionate about the church being inclusive and justice-seeking and was national coordinator of Outcome, which for many years was the LGBTQ+ organisation in Methodism. I’ve also penned a few hymns, including Thanks for friends who keep on loving (Singing the Faith, 619).
I’m part of the core leadership at Inclusive Gathering Birmingham, where I lead the band and take a keen interest in worship and queer spirituality. I currently work for the Methodist Church* where I support lay ministries and chaplaincy.
I’m currently enrolled on the DTh at Roehampton University, exploring John Wesley’s spirituality and his model of small accountability groups, and how that might help shape a queer spirituality of ‘watching over one another in love’.
I founded Holyvity with a vision to help people discover the love of God and a deeper spirituality, providing resources for an inclusive and justice-seeking faith, and a platform for people to share with others what they’re noticing about God at work in the world.
*this website is independent to the Methodist Church and does not represent its views