Ruth Harley
@ruthh.bsky.social
Vicar in Newcastle. PhD student at York St John: feminist ecclesiology and women's vocations. Apparently I'm "surprisingly orthodox"!
Pinned
LLF Open Letter – Inclusive Church
www.inclusive-church.org
I've signed this open letter. #CofEpeeps, lay or ordained, if you want the church to become more fully affirming of LGBTQ+ folks, please read this letter from Inclusive Church and consider signing it.
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
Sometimes parish ministry is just really fun. This morning I got to run away and join the circus! One of our local schools is celebrating an Outstanding report from Ofsted with a whole school circus day, and I was invited. I learned to balance a peacock feather on my nose and spin a plate. #TinyJoys
November 12, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Sometimes parish ministry is just really fun. This morning I got to run away and join the circus! One of our local schools is celebrating an Outstanding report from Ofsted with a whole school circus day, and I was invited. I learned to balance a peacock feather on my nose and spin a plate. #TinyJoys
@thomasmsharp.bsky.social's clear and careful critique of these documents is a gift, and I hope it will be widely read and engaged with. Such flawed reports cannot be accepted uncritically as shaping the church's life.
#CofEpeeps
#CofEpeeps
My response to the second FAOC report, this time on the Doctrine of Marriage, which led to the Living in Love and Faith decision of the House of Bishops is out on Via Media.
⚓️✝️
viamedia.news/2025/11/11/a...
⚓️✝️
viamedia.news/2025/11/11/a...
November 11, 2025 at 8:31 AM
@thomasmsharp.bsky.social's clear and careful critique of these documents is a gift, and I hope it will be widely read and engaged with. Such flawed reports cannot be accepted uncritically as shaping the church's life.
#CofEpeeps
#CofEpeeps
Embarking on a second, more careful (and less angry) reading of the latest papers relating to LLF. It's not a good sign that in the one-page introduction to the first of them, I have already said out loud "well, that's a bit of an unfounded assumption". Twice.
a woman says i think you 're reaching to a man
ALT: a woman says i think you 're reaching to a man
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Embarking on a second, more careful (and less angry) reading of the latest papers relating to LLF. It's not a good sign that in the one-page introduction to the first of them, I have already said out loud "well, that's a bit of an unfounded assumption". Twice.
Sometimes I just need to go and stare at the sea for a long time. Even when it's murky and drizzly, it is deeply good for my soul. #TinyJoys
November 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Sometimes I just need to go and stare at the sea for a long time. Even when it's murky and drizzly, it is deeply good for my soul. #TinyJoys
Saw my very excellent spiritual director, and felt very much better for it. Started my Christmas shopping. Ate some excellent chips. Listened to an interesting audio book. Watched fireworks. Finished writing 3 different articles, only one of which was overdue. Not a bad (almost) day off! #TinyJoys
November 5, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Saw my very excellent spiritual director, and felt very much better for it. Started my Christmas shopping. Ate some excellent chips. Listened to an interesting audio book. Watched fireworks. Finished writing 3 different articles, only one of which was overdue. Not a bad (almost) day off! #TinyJoys
Typing out liturgy for Remembrance Sunday, my fingers automatically type 'kind' instead of 'king'. Every time.
"God save the kind."
"God save the kind."
November 4, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Typing out liturgy for Remembrance Sunday, my fingers automatically type 'kind' instead of 'king'. Every time.
"God save the kind."
"God save the kind."
A wonderful evening listening to the fabulous @sarahjonestoo.bsky.social sharing wisdom, insights, stories, and more than a few laughs along the way. Great to see the Newcastle Diocese LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy organising and promoting this sort of event.
November 3, 2025 at 11:20 PM
A wonderful evening listening to the fabulous @sarahjonestoo.bsky.social sharing wisdom, insights, stories, and more than a few laughs along the way. Great to see the Newcastle Diocese LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy organising and promoting this sort of event.
6 services in 2 days, 4 and a half of them accompanied by varying degrees of migraine. And a not-insignificant amount of pastoral heavy-lifting alongside. But it all comes back to this: rejoicing with all the saints in the presence of Jesus. Perfect end to a full All Saints/All Souls weekend.
November 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
6 services in 2 days, 4 and a half of them accompanied by varying degrees of migraine. And a not-insignificant amount of pastoral heavy-lifting alongside. But it all comes back to this: rejoicing with all the saints in the presence of Jesus. Perfect end to a full All Saints/All Souls weekend.
Reposted by Ruth Harley
Are you a teacher in a C of E school? Do you need more than just half term to rest and be refreshed? The APR offers bursaries to help teachers to go on retreat. Find out more on promotingretreats.org/bursary #teaching #retreat #funding
October 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Are you a teacher in a C of E school? Do you need more than just half term to rest and be refreshed? The APR offers bursaries to help teachers to go on retreat. Find out more on promotingretreats.org/bursary #teaching #retreat #funding
A few days away with extended family for an early Christmas (!) = lots of #TinyJoys. We don't put photos of the niblings on social media, so you'll have to take my word for it that this giant leaf heap contains my 7 year old niece, about to jump out and startle people at the park! 🤣
October 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
A few days away with extended family for an early Christmas (!) = lots of #TinyJoys. We don't put photos of the niblings on social media, so you'll have to take my word for it that this giant leaf heap contains my 7 year old niece, about to jump out and startle people at the park! 🤣
Reposted by Ruth Harley
I’ve signed it too. If you agree with this letter, please sign it.
I've signed this open letter. #CofEpeeps, lay or ordained, if you want the church to become more fully affirming of LGBTQ+ folks, please read this letter from Inclusive Church and consider signing it.
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
LLF Open Letter – Inclusive Church
www.inclusive-church.org
October 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I’ve signed it too. If you agree with this letter, please sign it.
Here endeth the tomato season. (Except for the cherry tomatoes which have for some reason decided to start flowering again 🤔)
October 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Here endeth the tomato season. (Except for the cherry tomatoes which have for some reason decided to start flowering again 🤔)
I've signed this open letter. #CofEpeeps, lay or ordained, if you want the church to become more fully affirming of LGBTQ+ folks, please read this letter from Inclusive Church and consider signing it.
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
LLF Open Letter – Inclusive Church
www.inclusive-church.org
October 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I've signed this open letter. #CofEpeeps, lay or ordained, if you want the church to become more fully affirming of LGBTQ+ folks, please read this letter from Inclusive Church and consider signing it.
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
There's still time to book your (free) tickets for the WATCH Not Equal Yet Roadshow at Newcastle Cathedral this Saturday!
If you're concerned about the restrictions on women's ministry in the Church of England, come along and get involved.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
If you're concerned about the restrictions on women's ministry in the Church of England, come along and get involved.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
Not Equal Yet Roadshow - Newcastle
Come and learn more about how and why women are still #NotEqualYet in the Church of England - and what we can do to change that.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 10:17 AM
There's still time to book your (free) tickets for the WATCH Not Equal Yet Roadshow at Newcastle Cathedral this Saturday!
If you're concerned about the restrictions on women's ministry in the Church of England, come along and get involved.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
If you're concerned about the restrictions on women's ministry in the Church of England, come along and get involved.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
Reposted by Ruth Harley
"Whatever kind or well-intentioned words may be said, what is felt and known and experienced as the lived reality is a deeply damaging theology of power, which tramples over the lives and loves and the very humanity of LGBTQ+ folks."
Excellent piece by @ruthh.bsky.social
Excellent piece by @ruthh.bsky.social
Grateful for the opportunity to share a few thoughts about the latest developments in the LLF process, and what it might mean to really pay attention to power in this context.
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
Living in Love and Faith: Where is the Power? - ViaMedia.News
by Revd Ruth Harley (Vicar, Cowgate and Priest in Charge, Newbiggin Hall) Back at the start of the Living in Love and Faith process (LLF), one of the more useful resources to be produced was the ‘Past...
viamedia.news
October 21, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"Whatever kind or well-intentioned words may be said, what is felt and known and experienced as the lived reality is a deeply damaging theology of power, which tramples over the lives and loves and the very humanity of LGBTQ+ folks."
Excellent piece by @ruthh.bsky.social
Excellent piece by @ruthh.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth Harley
"There are thousands of clergy currently forced to act against their conscience, myself among them. We act against our conscience every time we explain that we can’t marry a same-sex couple who wish to celebrate their love and commitment in the presence of God."
Grateful for the opportunity to share a few thoughts about the latest developments in the LLF process, and what it might mean to really pay attention to power in this context.
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
Living in Love and Faith: Where is the Power? - ViaMedia.News
by Revd Ruth Harley (Vicar, Cowgate and Priest in Charge, Newbiggin Hall) Back at the start of the Living in Love and Faith process (LLF), one of the more useful resources to be produced was the ‘Past...
viamedia.news
October 21, 2025 at 1:48 PM
"There are thousands of clergy currently forced to act against their conscience, myself among them. We act against our conscience every time we explain that we can’t marry a same-sex couple who wish to celebrate their love and commitment in the presence of God."
Grateful for the opportunity to share a few thoughts about the latest developments in the LLF process, and what it might mean to really pay attention to power in this context.
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
Living in Love and Faith: Where is the Power? - ViaMedia.News
by Revd Ruth Harley (Vicar, Cowgate and Priest in Charge, Newbiggin Hall) Back at the start of the Living in Love and Faith process (LLF), one of the more useful resources to be produced was the ‘Past...
viamedia.news
October 21, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Grateful for the opportunity to share a few thoughts about the latest developments in the LLF process, and what it might mean to really pay attention to power in this context.
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
viamedia.news/2025/10/20/l...
Reposted by Ruth Harley
The #NotEqualYet Roadshow is coming up at Newcastle Cathedral!
Inspired and encouraged by the @watch-notequalyet.bsky.social AGM this morning - celebrating what has been achieved and gearing up for what is still to do.
Now looking forward to the #NotEqualYet Roadshow, coming to Newcastle in a couple of weeks: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
Now looking forward to the #NotEqualYet Roadshow, coming to Newcastle in a couple of weeks: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
October 19, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The #NotEqualYet Roadshow is coming up at Newcastle Cathedral!
What a week to be preaching on persistence and the steadfast love of God. #CofEpeeps
I don't really 'do' church politics from the pulpit, but I am mentioning the latest on LLF, as part of a wider picture of considering how we respond faithfully to persistent injustice.
I don't really 'do' church politics from the pulpit, but I am mentioning the latest on LLF, as part of a wider picture of considering how we respond faithfully to persistent injustice.
October 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
What a week to be preaching on persistence and the steadfast love of God. #CofEpeeps
I don't really 'do' church politics from the pulpit, but I am mentioning the latest on LLF, as part of a wider picture of considering how we respond faithfully to persistent injustice.
I don't really 'do' church politics from the pulpit, but I am mentioning the latest on LLF, as part of a wider picture of considering how we respond faithfully to persistent injustice.
Just one week to go until the @watch-notequalyet.bsky.social Roadshow at Newcastle Cathedral on Saturday 25th October. Check out the blog below about why we still need to be talking about gender justice, and book your free tickets for the Roadshow here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
October 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Just one week to go until the @watch-notequalyet.bsky.social Roadshow at Newcastle Cathedral on Saturday 25th October. Check out the blog below about why we still need to be talking about gender justice, and book your free tickets for the Roadshow here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-equal-...
Mass and shared lunch for St Luke. Small in number, but cracking conversation over curry and sandwiches: holiness, healing, why it is comforting to know that St Paul got annoyed with people and left his cloak behind, cats, the miners' strike, pensions, addiction recovery... Life in all its fullness!
October 18, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Mass and shared lunch for St Luke. Small in number, but cracking conversation over curry and sandwiches: holiness, healing, why it is comforting to know that St Paul got annoyed with people and left his cloak behind, cats, the miners' strike, pensions, addiction recovery... Life in all its fullness!
So #CofEpeeps is *anyone* happy with the HoB statement on LLF??? Gafcon is not happy. The Alliance is not happy. Anyone who wants progress towards justice for LGBTQ folk is really not happy. Presumably those hoping it would keep the peace are not happy, since it demonstrably isn't. So... anyone?!?
October 16, 2025 at 9:29 PM
So #CofEpeeps is *anyone* happy with the HoB statement on LLF??? Gafcon is not happy. The Alliance is not happy. Anyone who wants progress towards justice for LGBTQ folk is really not happy. Presumably those hoping it would keep the peace are not happy, since it demonstrably isn't. So... anyone?!?
Look, two cats on the same bed! And they were purring! I think we can declare cat introductions successfully completed. ##TinyJoys
October 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Look, two cats on the same bed! And they were purring! I think we can declare cat introductions successfully completed. ##TinyJoys
A blog by me for @watch-notequalyet.bsky.social about why it matters that women are still #NotEqualYet in the Church of England, and why this isn't just a 'women's issue' but an essential matter for the whole church.
www.womenandthechurch.org/blog/b2jbirm...
www.womenandthechurch.org/blog/b2jbirm...
#NotEqualYet: is this really a conversation we still need to be having? — WATCH
“Do we really need to still be talking about this stuff here? We’ve got a female bishop, two female archdeacons, two female canons at the cathedral. Is this still a conversation we need to be having?”...
www.womenandthechurch.org
October 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM
A blog by me for @watch-notequalyet.bsky.social about why it matters that women are still #NotEqualYet in the Church of England, and why this isn't just a 'women's issue' but an essential matter for the whole church.
www.womenandthechurch.org/blog/b2jbirm...
www.womenandthechurch.org/blog/b2jbirm...
Reposted by Ruth Harley
'A church which accepts women’s inequality as either desirable, inevitable, or a price worth paying is always going to reflect a distorted image of the God who loves all people equally & calls people to all varieties of ministry, irrespective of gender...' www.womenandthechurch.org/blog/b2jbirm...
#NotEqualYet: is this really a conversation we still need to be having? — WATCH
“Do we really need to still be talking about this stuff here? We’ve got a female bishop, two female archdeacons, two female canons at the cathedral. Is this still a conversation we need to be having?”...
www.womenandthechurch.org
October 13, 2025 at 1:37 PM
'A church which accepts women’s inequality as either desirable, inevitable, or a price worth paying is always going to reflect a distorted image of the God who loves all people equally & calls people to all varieties of ministry, irrespective of gender...' www.womenandthechurch.org/blog/b2jbirm...