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

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

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

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Trusting in Love and Faith? A January 2025 Update

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

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David Tudor: the lessons we should have learned already

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

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

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

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

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The c-word: what happened in those London churches?

And so it goes on; ‘it’ being the reaction in one section of the Church of England to what are called “the faithless LLF proposals”, produced by the “unorthodox” House of Bishops, aka our “compromised leadership”, etc etc. This really … Continue reading

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Milestone Day or Groundhog Day?

July Synod is over. Another long meeting, which was extended by having a separate meeting of the House of Laity before ‘Synod proper’. This time around, we had earlier starts (8.45), shorter meal breaks, and one evening session scheduled to … Continue reading

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July Synod 2024: one more sleep

Usually when I go to the July Synod I take up the offer of a lift with one of the other Oxford members. It’s useful to chat through the agenda, and just to catch up. But this time we have … Continue reading

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LLF: Moving Forward as One Church

For those who don’t have the time or the inclination to read the latest document and the latest motion arising from Living in Love and Faith, which come to Synod in July – both in the 31-pages of GS2358 – here’s my … Continue reading

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Removing the fiction: wrangling bishops

It’s one thing to say that we respect our different theological convictions, but it’s quite another to say what you believe or who you are when you know you are going to attract criticism; and when you are the one without the power, and the person to whom you are speaking has all the power. Continue reading

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