Author Archives: fluff35

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About fluff35

I blog on a range of subjects arising from various aspects of my life. On https://theretiringacademic.wordpress.com, I focus on my reactions to early retirement and think about aspects of teaching and research which I hope will be stimulating to those still working in higher education. On https://shared-conversations.com, I blog as an authorized lay preacher in a pretty standard parish church of the Church of England, who needs to write in order to find out what she thinks. I took part in the Oxford/St Albans/Armed Forces C of E 'Shared Conversations' in March 2016, worked on the Living in Love and Faith resources from 2017 and was elected to General Synod in October 2021, and continue to try to reflect on some of the issues. On https://mistakinghistories.wordpress.com I share my thoughts on various aspects of the history of medicine and the body. I have also written for The Conversation UK on https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-king-94923/articles

What colour should it be? ‘Furthering’ Living in Love and Faith

Posted on January 7, 2026 by fluff35

Pllaying with words is so much easier than thinking about the people whose lives are most affected by the continued inertia of the Church of England. Continue reading →

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The Third Province: Welcome to Mercia

Posted on December 29, 2025 by fluff35

Mercia? I wonder how many of those who read this blog realise that the ‘third province’ which some conservative evangelicals are promoting already has a name, even though it doesn’t exist? These conservatives say they are willing to remain in … Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘We need the theology’: what has now been released, and does it answer the real questions?

Posted on November 8, 2025 by fluff35

Unusually, with the next General Synod not until February, last Wednesday Synod members received the four key documents on Living in Love and Faith (LLF) which the House of Bishops had been sent before their 15 October meeting – the … Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Living in Love and Faith, October 2025: What’s changed?

Posted on October 28, 2025 by fluff35

Like many others, I have been reflecting on the 15 October House of Bishops announcement, which appears to say that Living in Love and Faith (LLF) has ground to a halt, with no change to the welcome given to lesbian and … Continue reading →

Posted in equal marriage, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

This week in Living in Love and Faith: On the Alliance Campaign Manual

Posted on October 16, 2025 by fluff35

It’s been quite a week for Living in Love and Faith news. Yesterday, an update from the House of Bishops putting everything on hold. It was clear when the staff team for LLF was modified a few months back, with the new … Continue reading →

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White smoke day: the new Archbishop of Canterbury

Posted on October 3, 2025 by fluff35

Because I am on General Synod, friends and family assume that I have some sort of hot line to the process by which the new Archbishop of Canterbury is chosen. Well, in a word, no. I have been as much … Continue reading →

Posted in Shared Conversations | 1 Comment

Is there a quorum in the House of Bishops?

Posted on September 4, 2025 by fluff35

Just when you’d have thought that the dust had settled from Dr Ros Clarke’s Private Member’s Motion calling for an independent governance and culture review of the House of Bishops, finally the minutes appear from the May 2025 meeting of the House; so, now, … Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged | 2 Comments

July 2025 General Synod: money talks

Posted on July 19, 2025 by fluff35

What really divides the Church of England? Not sex: money and how it should be distributed. Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Safeguarding | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Implementation? Another week, another Living in Love and Faith statement 

Posted on July 5, 2025 by fluff35

With my history, both with the production of the LLF resources and then on one of the earlier LLF Working Groups, I probably know as much about the history of LLF as anyone. But I still find out that there is information I had missed. 

That was the case again today. Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, Shared Conversations | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Ceasefire?

Posted on June 24, 2025 by fluff35

Is a ‘pause’ what the Living in Love and Faith process needs now? Continue reading →

Posted in equal marriage, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, Shared Conversations | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments