Honouring the whole Body

To be a Christian is to be woven into a community of all the baptised. I can no more go it alone in my spiritual life than I can in my ordinary secular living. There, I can pretend to be sturdily independent, but in truth my food, my housing, my transport, my comfort, my clothing, …

Continue reading Honouring the whole Body

Prayers from Pride

Happy Valley Pride in beautiful Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, is a five day celebration of life and love and diversity. It was a huge privilege to be part of it this year. I was asked to speak in a Human Rights strand with the distinguished lawyer, Flo Krause, and found myself judging the Dog Show with …

Continue reading Prayers from Pride

Letter to General Synod Members before the July Synod

Dear Synod Member, Thank you for your contribution to the life of our church. I do not underestimate the amount of time that it takes for you to prepare for a Synod meeting, and to give up time for what is a very intense few days. I know too, from my time as a Rural …

Continue reading Letter to General Synod Members before the July Synod

Restoring Dignity in the Church of England

It is July. It is time for General Synod in York. This is the kick-back Synod. Time for sandals and open-necked shirts, strawberries and ice cream, and clergy not looking clerical, except for the ones who always do. But the external relaxedness masks some serious business. Three pieces of business around sexuality and gender issues …

Continue reading Restoring Dignity in the Church of England

A Prayer for the General Election

I know that the Church of England will put something out. Official C of E prayers are usually wordy, flowery, pious and rather cringe-worthy. I thought I would get ahead of the curve, and offer this effort. It is not elaborate, nor literary, but it maybe has the merit of being honest. Anyway, I shall …

Continue reading A Prayer for the General Election

On infidelity, broken promises and hounding: why Elaine Storkey is wrong.

In her comment on Fulcrum on the events in Sheffield diocese, Elaine Storkey writes: Five principles were drawn up to help the church move forward in our call to unity on women bishops. The first principle states that the Church of England is fully and unequivocally committed to all orders of ministry being open equally …

Continue reading On infidelity, broken promises and hounding: why Elaine Storkey is wrong.