Helen King
@helenking.bsky.social
Sort of retired (not), Professor Emerita, The Open University. Classics, history of medicine/the body/gynaecology. Writer, blogger, C of E lay preacher, chair of Together on General Synod (formerly Gender & Sexuality Group). She/her. Likes flowers.
#CofEpeeps in two weeks’ time the nominations for election to General Synod open. Here’s Chantal of Inclusive Church to tell you more: www.facebook.com/share/r/1B9S...
facebook.com
‘Church August’ starts tomorrow. I’m still not sure why so much grinds to a halt, despite having written this in 2024 shared-conversations.com/2024/08/29/f...
Farewell August: time for the Church of England to wake up?
I’ve never really understood ‘Church August’. ‘Church January’? ‘Church post-Easter’? Sure: the rhythm of the Christian calendar means that there are point…
shared-conversations.com
Church of England safeguarding - there’s an excellent new review out which is a must-read: see my viamedia.news/2026/07/30/s...
Safeguarding: Still Not Trauma-Informed - ViaMedia
What the survivor most wanted from all of this was to be believed and heard, to be given an apology, “and to be able to engage in some form of restorative justice. The process denied her all of these....
viamedia.news
JUST PUBLISHED! Millais’ painting Christ in the House of his Parents provoked howls of ridicule from critics, including an enraged Charles Dickens. Our latest article analyses what their hostility tells us about Victorian attitudes to religion and art www.artinsociety.com/millais-char...
Robert Thompson writes on the interesting case of the disappearing bishops viamedia.news/2026/07/25/w...
Where’s My Bishop? - ViaMedia
What understanding of episcopal ministry leads so many bishops to conclude that, on one of the defining pastoral and theological questions of our generation, leaving no recorded public position is the...
viamedia.news
Pope Leo dealt robustly with SSPX following its recent unauthorised consecration of bishops: prompt excommunication. Why is suitable disciplinary action not being taken against CEEC and others responsible for irregular ('alternative') ordinations within the Church of England? #CofEPeeps
After the final General Synod of this 5-year period : viamedia.news/2026/07/21/t...
The End of the Synod: Grieving for Love - ViaMedia
by Charlie Bell, Fellow in Public Theology and Medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, Associate Vicar of St John the Divine, Kennington, in the Diocese of Southwark I will admit that the defeat at thi...
viamedia.news
Just released this statement on the failure of my Synod motion in the House of Bishops togethercofe.org.uk/a-statement-...
A Statement Following Helen King’s PMM at Synod July 2026 – Together for the Church of England
togethercofe.org.uk
@morwennaexe.bsky.social congratulations Morwenna! So well deserved
Another Church of England day, another failure to welcome and value LGBTQIA+ people in relationships shared-conversations.com/2026/07/13/s...
Synod At Home (3) – Long Monday
Why can’t the bishops agree to welcome people regardless of sexual orientation?
shared-conversations.com
2/2 Will is our first student to complete the ARU PhD pathway offered through Westcott House in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and the Cambridge Theological Federation. More info about Will's thesis & research can be viewed here: buff.ly/CodezXp
Some of the clematis have decided to have a second burst of flowers
This was a really fine and inspiring book so I recommend entering!
Wolfson History Prize@wolfsonhistory.bsky.social · last mo.WIN! This month we're giving you the chance to win a copy of 'Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade' by Hannah Durkin. 📚 To enter: head to this post on our Instagram page! Entries close 10/07/2026 10AM GMT. UK Only. bit.ly/4vErZYh
"I encourage all those that have a passion for peace and justice to join me in the Time To Act campaign. The time to act is now." ~ Bishop Rachel joins the 'Time to Act' campaign👉 gloucester.anglican.org/2026/bishop-... #gaza #israelpalestine
Bishop Rachel joins ‘Time to Act’ campaign – Diocese of Gloucester
We are the Church of England community in and around Gloucestershire, committed to sharing the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that people may know life in all its fullness
gloucester.anglican.org
If you had missed it, we had even more “ordinations” this month. Deacons whose names are not public, whose churches are not public, who therefore minister without proper scrutiny. And, for that matter, without proper support.
Helen King@helenking.bsky.social · 2mo agoDo we “risk losing confidence in the God whose creative love is capable of holding together difference itself”? viamedia.news/2026/06/20/a...
Do we “risk losing confidence in the God whose creative love is capable of holding together difference itself”? viamedia.news/2026/06/20/a...
Alternative Ordinations and the Fracturing of the Church - ViaMedia
by the Revd Robert Thompson, Vicar St Mary’s, Kilburn & St James’, West Hampstead; host of Open Table, London; member of General Synod I was brought up in rural north of Ireland, in the Church of Irel...
viamedia.news
During Pride month, one of Oxford's queer venues is boarding up windows and other businesses are closing because the Oxford union has chosen to platform a fascist and they need to keep staff sage. Will the Oxford union compensate businesses for lost profits? www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2619765...
Oxford pubs to close early with some 'bracing for unrest'
Pubs and businesses in Oxford city centre are closing today with some considering boarding up ahead of Tommy Robinson's visit this evening.
oxfordmail.co.uk
Rosamond McKitterick (1949-2026) A formidable scholar, an inspiring teacher, a generous spirit and a supportive colleague - truly, we have lost one of the great ones. @sidneysussex.bsky.social @camhistory.bsky.social @camedieval.bsky.social
You lovely people have got me up to 190 responses, so I'm going to keep going to 200! If you're an academic in UK HE who's had pastoral responsibility for students in the last 5 years under any title, please take 10 mins to share your thoughts about that work. Please do share to widen the pool.
The Role Of Interpersonal Relationships And Care In Personal Tutoring Within UK HEIS
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In his new book, Adrian Thatcher argues that we should start thinking of abusive theology as a category of theology and suggests the shape of a post-abusive alternative. 'Unflinching' yet 'hopeful': @helenking.bsky.social Order here for £24 off this month: scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/978033...
All this talk of church growth - how does that plays out in a smaller church? viamedia.news/2026/05/29/b...
Bruised Reeds and Mustard Seeds - ViaMedia
by the Revd Jody Stowell, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Harrow Weald and member of General Synod The book above has come out of a number of years of struggle and frustration as a parish priest o...
viamedia.news
Trans people have been around your whole life. You’ve been sharing bathrooms with them your whole life. They’ve been in your communities your whole life. They’ve even been playing sport your whole life. And you didn’t care *at all* till a few years ago when every right wing org decided you should
I have a piece in today’s Irish Examiner about a new AHRC project I’m proud to be involved in with @jcrangle.bsky.social & @tortietabby.bsky.social on a hundred years of diversity in Ireland www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Kieran Connell: Ireland has a long multicultural history. It's time to tell that story
Refugees from Hungary and Belgium; migrant workers from Poland and Germany; doctors from Africa and Asia — over the last century, Ireland was far more diverse than many of us seem to realise
irishexaminer.com