Author Archives: fluff35

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

February 2023 General Synod: sex, sin and separation

Posted on February 10, 2023 by fluff35

Here is the story of ‘my’ Synod experience, for the record. Sorry it’s long but there was a lot of it. My take-home points would be that it is clear that conservatives are now focusing on two battles: to defend … Continue reading →

Posted in equal marriage, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of London, Bishop of Reading, Safeguarding | 1 Comment

Would you Adam and Eve it?

Posted on February 8, 2023 by fluff35

I grew up in South London, not the East End, but I’m well aware of Cockney rhyming slang. ‘Adam and Eve’ = believe. Well, I don’t. I don’t believe the Genesis stories – plural, as the story appears twice, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Church of England and gender, equal marriage, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, marriage | Tagged Adam and Eve, Genesis, Peter Lombard | 8 Comments

Forty years of foreplay: before the February 2023 General Synod

Posted on February 5, 2023 by fluff35

I’ve just been packing my bag for the Synod sessions which begin tomorrow. I remembered to include sunglasses, in case the lights from TV cameras turn out to be too headache-inducing. I also packed some paracetamol to be on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Shared Conversations | 4 Comments

Who Do We Think We Are? Group Work in Church

Posted on January 28, 2023 by fluff35

(Updated 7 Feb 2023) As we prepare for the February meeting of General Synod, we now know that Living in Love and Faith will be turning up on three consecutive days. On the Monday, there will be a presentation – … Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, marriage, Shared Conversations | Tagged Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury, Bible, group work, pastoral principles | 1 Comment

The wisdom of Solomon (or, that was the week, that was)

Posted on November 18, 2022 by fluff35

‘What are you up to at the moment?’ When I’m asked that question by people unconnected to the Church of England, I tend to reply in a very vague way, because surely they don’t really want the details? But some … Continue reading →

Posted in equal marriage, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, marriage, Shared Conversations | Tagged Bible, College of Bishops, homosexuality, Judgement of Solomon, same-sex marriage, settlement | 10 Comments

The animal now exists: remembering the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women

Posted on November 10, 2022 by fluff35

On 11 November 1992, the Church of England voted in favour of ordaining women as priests. I was there, as a member of General Synod, sustained by the Bach Rescue Remedy passed along our row by a nun. It’s an … Continue reading →

Posted in Church of England and gender, General Synod | Tagged gender, ordination of women, women priests | Leave a comment

Living in Love and Faith: some thoughts on the Church Society’s report

Posted on October 25, 2022 by fluff35

This week General Synod members received a report sent to them from the Church Society, taking issue with the most recent documents from LLF. It was only a matter of time. It has been obvious, since the point at which the LLF process … Continue reading →

Posted in Episcopal Teaching Document, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged Church Society, questionnaire, sexuality, surveys | 3 Comments

Extending our search for the truth: reviewing Past Cases Review 2

Posted on October 5, 2022 by fluff35

Today PCR 2 – Past Cases Review 2 – was published by the National Safeguarding Steering Group. It describes itself as “the most extensive review of records ever conducted by the Church of England”. “There are no possible excuses, no rationalisations for our church’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Living in Love and Faith, Safeguarding | Tagged bishops, deference, IICSA, sexism | 4 Comments

Continuing the conversation: from either/or to both/and

Posted on October 3, 2022 by fluff35

How can we show generosity to those with whom we disagree? And are we sufficiently transparent to show true hospitality? Continue reading →

Posted in equal marriage, Living in Love and Faith, marriage | Tagged College of Bishops, hospitality, listening, transparency | 11 Comments

When the information flow stops: where is Living in Love and Faith?

Posted on September 20, 2022 by fluff35

The country, and the Church of England, return to normality today. I assume that means the country will return to the questions of economics, inequality, health and justice which have been put on hold. For the Church of England, among … Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged College of Bishops, discernment, gender, House of Bishops, sexuality, The Queue | 6 Comments