Steve Chalke, Baptist minister and founder of charity Oasis, has taken to social media to post statements made by Sir Elton John about welcoming LGBT people into churches. 

The first of his three-part post quoted the iconic singer, reading in part: “The failure of many Churches to welcome, accept and include LGBTQ+ people creates stigma, loneliness, fear, and denial, causing lasting damage to their wellbeing and mental health."

The quote continued: "We need safe and affirming churches as places of sanctuary for all. I applaud all that organisations such as Oasis are doing to champion real inclusion and to engage church leaders and others with the issues of safeguarding LGBT+ people.

"This work is urgent to protect all those who are vulnerable because of their sexual or gender identity- Sir Elton John."

The tweets were met with some backlash, with one X user commenting: "Did I miss his confession of faith and baptism?"

Another said: "You affirm sin, it's as simple as that. There is nothing "good" in affirming that."

Chalke also voiced his support for Pride month, posting a photo of a woman holding up a Pride flag accompanied with the caption "It’s #PrideMonth & @Oasis_UK is proud to be an inclusive movement of supported housing, Church, school, family, children’s, youth & community workers, & thousands of volunteers. We are all in! Let’s celebrate!"

The post also quoted Maya Angelou: “In diversity, there is beauty, and there is strength.”