Category Archives: General Synod

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

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

A Synod Divided: York Minster on Sunday

Posted on July 16, 2022 by fluff35

Is it too much to expect everyone on General Synod to be an Anglican? Continue reading →

Posted in General Synod, Living in Love and Faith | Tagged York Minster | 2 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

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

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

Counter-cultural Cranmer?

Posted on October 7, 2021 by fluff35

As a historian, I am disturbed by the email’s statement that “Cranmer wrote these prophetic words: ‘What the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies’”.

Because, quite simply, he didn’t. Continue reading →

Posted in Church of England and gender, General Synod | Tagged elections, General Synod, Thomas Cranmer | 3 Comments