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 …

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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, …

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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 …

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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 …

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