Today sees the start of my third leg of pilgrimage. I'm well into the French part now, and I hope to get to Sainte-Foy-la-Grande over the next ten days. But getting deeper into France makes for slightly more complicated journeys to pick up the trail. Ready to go Getting home I will leave from Bordeaux, …
Category: Church of England
Inching Forwards?
Supporting Synod members as they work to make the Church of England a safe, welcoming and inclusive church for everyone in the country is a huge exercise in patience, and the exercise of faith and hope over mistrust and despair. There is nothing I can actually do: I am parked firmly on the sidelines as …
Bishop Alan Wilson
This is a comment I wrote to mark the death of Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Bucking ham, who died unexpectedly on 16th February 2024. Alan was a great support to so many people - but in particular to LGBT+ Christians, and survivors of church sexual abuse. He will be deeply missed. "Alan Wilson was …
Threatening the CEEC
It is some time now since the meeting of General Synod in mid-November. At that gathering the Synod decided to endorse the issuing of the Prayers of Love and Faith, and, through an amendment to the main motion moved by the Bishop of Oxford, to allow the Archbishops to commend for experimental use 'stand-alone services' …
On Vocational Awe
Vocational Awe is not my idea, but comes from an article by the librarian Fobazi Ettarh written in 2018. She was writing as a librarian for librarians, and she describes what she means thus: Vocational awe describes the set of ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in notions …
This is nuts, isn’t it?
Today I was due to do a two hour session as a voluntary chaplain in the Minster. It is perfectly clear that this is a pastoral role towards visitors and others coming into the building. It is very light touch. I get my collar and cassock on and don a badge and a lanyard, and …
From The Quire 