Author Archives: fluff35

Unknown's avatar

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

Too many adjectives?

One of my husband’s pet hates when we eat out is when a menu has too many adjectives, to the point that you almost lose sight of what it is you’re eating: ‘smoky deep-fried maple-cured lightly chopped British bacon’, that … Continue reading

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

Correcting the Record: Safeguarding

(addendum added 20 June) OK, this is going to sound technical, but it matters, particularly as this concerns safeguarding. First, the context. Once you are on General Synod, all sorts of strange things happen. You have the opportunity to ask … Continue reading

Posted in Shared Conversations | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Revenge of the Sticky Notes

[image: ProjectManhattan, Sticky Notes on the Wall, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sticky_Notes_2.jpg%5D The Church of England does love its sticky notes: the paper ones, not the online version. On my Parochial Church Council we are still living with the results of a sticky-note exercise … Continue reading

Posted in equal marriage, Living in Love and Faith, Shared Conversations | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

February 2023 General Synod: sex, sin and separation

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 , , , | 2 Comments

Would you Adam and Eve it?

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 , , | 8 Comments

Forty years of foreplay: before the February 2023 General Synod

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

(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 , , , , | 2 Comments

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

‘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 , , , , , | 11 Comments

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

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 , , | Leave a comment

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

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 , , , | 3 Comments