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

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

Another one bites the dust: resignation, LLF … and murder?

Posted on June 7, 2025 by fluff35

updated (bits in bold) 15 June 2025 Friday 6 June was ‘interesting’, in the ‘may you live in interesting times’ sense. I wasn’t at home but my phone kept registering messages. The first was drawing my attention to the Church … Continue reading →

Posted in Living in Love and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Living in parched places: February 2025 General Synod

Posted on February 16, 2025 by fluff35

I’m just back from a five-day Synod in central London. And, not for the first time, I’m wondering what the point of it all is. That’s exacerbated by being aware of some blatant attempts at manipulation, with the days and … Continue reading →

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

Option 3 or Option 4? No, it’s Option 3.5

Posted on February 14, 2025 by fluff35

So, for anyone who was wondering how my making-my-mind-up went for the Safeguarding debate at this February Synod, here’s an update. Discussion of safeguarding at Synod began with the debate on the Makin Report on Monday, where I moved an … Continue reading →

Posted in Shared Conversations | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Trusting in Love and Faith? A January 2025 Update

Posted on January 21, 2025 by fluff35

Another day, another LLF-related meeting… I’ve been to many of these over the years, several with whichever bishops were designated ‘lead bishop’, and one memorable gathering with Justin Welby when he was Archbishop of Canterbury. There’s usually a cup of … Continue reading →

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

David Tudor: the lessons we should have learned already

Posted on December 17, 2024 by fluff35

Another day, another safeguarding mess. And another independent safeguarding review “to ensure lessons are learnt from this case” (Church of England statement on David Tudor, 15 December). I’d like to make one very simple point: that the lessons needing to … Continue reading →

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Yet another autumn of Living in Love and Faith

Posted on October 16, 2024 by fluff35

I am running out of titles, as another year of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process approaches its end; in last year’s autumn update I shared some of the dates but it has all become far more complicated … Continue reading →

Posted in equal marriage, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Farewell August: time for the Church of England to wake up?

Posted on August 29, 2024 by fluff35

I’ve never really understood ‘Church August’. ‘Church January’? ‘Church post-Easter’? Sure: the rhythm of the Christian calendar means that there are points when everyone needs some down time after a burst of particularly intense activity. But in August, for purely … Continue reading →

Posted in Living in Love and Faith, Safeguarding | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment