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

Me and Christ Church: beauty and truth

Posted on May 13, 2022 by fluff35

Even those not in the bubble of Anglican Twitter are likely to have noticed that Christ Church has been back in the news this week, and no doubt this will continue as tomorrow it’s the unofficial farewell service for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Safeguarding | Tagged academia, Martyn Percy, Safeguarding, WATCH | 3 Comments

What do the bishops think? LLF and trans people

Posted on April 2, 2022 by fluff35

Somehow conversion therapy is still OK for trans people? Why can’t the Church of England be a beacon of welcome and support for a group of people who really need that? Continue reading →

Posted in Church of England and gender, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged bishops, House of Bishops, Living in Love and Faith, Next Steps Group, trans | 5 Comments

Church and the new normal

Posted on March 11, 2022 by fluff35

From one of my other blogs: some reflections, for the record, on where we are two years into the pandemic.

Posted in Shared Conversations | Tagged Covid, online church, risk | Leave a comment

General Synod, February 2022: what felt most bizarre

Posted on February 11, 2022 by fluff35

Traumatic? A revelation? Or both? Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Safeguarding | Tagged hybrid meetings, Paul Boateng, Questions, race, Standing Orders | 1 Comment

February 2022 General Synod – before it starts

Posted on February 1, 2022 by fluff35

What being on General Synod really entails…
Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Renewal and reform programme, Safeguarding | Tagged Archbishop of Canterbury, Gender and Sexuality, self-care, Setting God's People Free | 1 Comment

Bake a cake for Living in Love and Faith: how to make your response count

Posted on January 15, 2022 by fluff35

15 January 2022 (minor updates subsequently) The story so far: this blog began as a reflection on participating in the Shared Conversations, and then – because I was asked to join Living in Love and Faith’s History thematic group – … Continue reading →

Posted in Church of England and gender, Episcopal Teaching Document, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged homosexuality, Lambeth Conference, Living in Love and Faith, marriage, sexuality | 2 Comments

General Synod: feeling the weight of the Church of England

Posted on November 19, 2021 by fluff35

This is the established Church. Its weight is still crushing people. Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith, Renewal and reform programme, Safeguarding | Tagged abuse, Africa, Ghana, House of Bishops, John Smyth, Makin Review, sexuality | 8 Comments

Handing on the baton? Part 2

Posted on October 30, 2021 by fluff35

As we pass on the baton of LLF, it seems pretty clear who the losers are Continue reading →

Posted in Church of England and gender, Episcopal Teaching Document, General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged Changing Attitude England, gender, homosexuality, Lambeth Conference, marriage, Next Steps Group, Shon Faye, Tina Beardsley, trans | 2 Comments

Ghana, Anglicans and expediency:

Posted on October 27, 2021 by fluff35

Are LGBTQI+ Christians being sacrificed to keep the C of E pure enough for Lambeth?
Continue reading →

Posted in Episcopal Teaching Document, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged bishops, conversion therapy, Ghana, Justin Welby, Lambeth Conference, Portsmouth | 2 Comments

Back on General Synod after all these years…

Posted on October 12, 2021 by fluff35

Today I attended the online count on Zoom and discovered that I have been elected to the House of Laity of General Synod to represent Oxford Diocese for the next five years. It’s still sinking in… The elections work by … Continue reading →

Posted in Shared Conversations | Tagged General Synod | 4 Comments