Helen King
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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.
Pinned
If you fancy reading something about the history of women’s bodies, and about what has been taken as defining a ‘proper woman’ (and how dodgy that is)… a reminder that my book came out in paperback last month! Immaculate Forms, Profile Books profilebooks.com/work/immacul...
Immaculate Forms - Profile Books
profilebooks.com
Reposted by Helen King
The Widow’s Last Meal: Choosing Who Deserves to Eat
open.substack.com/pub/misogyno...
The Widow’s Last Meal: Choosing Who Deserves to Eat
The widow of Zarephath was preparing to die.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 AM
www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/2560198... Blessing boats = absolutely fine. Blessing same sex couples’ relationships, not.
Bishop blesses 144-year-old Cornish lugger at Newlyn
Barnabas, recognised as an operational flagship for 2025 by National Historic Ships UK, received her blessing from Bishop David at Newlyn's Old Quay.
www.falmouthpacket.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Is doctrine “something generally static, generally serene, a quiet lake in which even its dynamism is limited to the occasional wave breaking on the shoreline of its boundaries”? Er, no, says Fr Thomas Sharp viamedia.news/2025/11/10/a...
A Response to “The Nature of Doctrine and the Living God: a Report of the Faith and Order Commission” (GS Misc 1429) - ViaMedia.News
Fr Thomas Sharp is a priest theologian based in the South East of England and is also Provincial Secretary of the Society of Catholic Priests We can now see the legal advice and theological briefing w...
viamedia.news
November 10, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I’ve tried to bring out the key points from the load of documents about Living in Love and Faith which Synod members received on Wednesday… shared-conversations.com/2025/11/08/w...
‘We need the theology’: what has now been released, and does it answer the real questions?
Unusually, with the next General Synod not until February, last Wednesday Synod members received the four key documents on Living in Love and Faith (LLF) which the House of Bishops had been sent be…
shared-conversations.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Another November dahlia #bloomscrolling
November 4, 2025 at 9:09 PM
#bloomscrolling - November and the dahlias are still going strong
November 3, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Did a podcast with the excellent Fr Alex Frost youtu.be/KdnwcpoPKQ0?...
Church of England halts plans for standalone same-sex blessing services - A God Cast discussion
YouTube video by The God Cast with Fr Alex Frost
youtu.be
October 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Wrote something about where we are now on Living in Love and Faith - and where we could be shared-conversations.com/2025/10/28/l...
Living in Love and Faith, October 2025: What’s changed?
Like many others, I have been reflecting on the 15 October House of Bishops announcement, which appears to say that Living in Love and Faith (LLF) has ground to a halt, with no change to the w…
shared-conversations.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Mark Oakley’s sermon today… m.youtube.com/watch?v=LLM_...
The Dean's Sermon
YouTube video by Southwark Cathedral
m.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I’m getting into the new Philip Pullman and am delighted to find a scintillating scotoma reference - I feel seen!
October 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM
#CofEpeeps those of you who’d like to support the liberal/inclusive/progressive campaign for the next Synod elections, head to www.justgiving.com/campaign/inc...
The Inclusive Synod Election Campaign
We're fundraising with Inclusive Church to support the election of inclusive people to the General Synod of the Church of England in the 2026 elections. This will help the Church to be more diverse a...
www.justgiving.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Helen King
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...
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
Superb title for the next book in my reading pile…
October 21, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Wow, this is where some of America is now.
#NoKings event in Fairhope, Al.
A woman was arrested for "lewd conduct" because she was dressed in penis suit with a sign that said "No dick-tator"
3 cops on a 53 yo woman.
October 19, 2025 at 7:03 AM
C of E peeps - there’s an excellent article by Simon Butler over on Inclusive Evangelicals. A handy reminder that not all who’d describe themselves as ‘evangelicals’ think the same way on LGBTQIA+ inclusion. www.inclusiveevangelicals.com/post/crumbs-...
Crumbs of Comfort: Standing together for Standalone Services
Canon Simon Butler was for some years one of the most senior priests in General Synod and a member of the Archbishops' Council. He is Rector of Holy Trinity & St Mary’s Guildford .The crumbs of Living...
www.inclusiveevangelicals.com
October 19, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Reposted by Helen King
Together trustee Charlie tells Radio 4 that the HOB decision is political, not theological.

LGBTQ+ Christians have waited years for progress - only to face yet more hurdles.

📻: Listen in full here, from 02:38:50 - www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

📸: Anna Shvets, Pexels

#EqualMarriage #BBCRadio4
October 17, 2025 at 11:18 AM
CofE peeps… On that Alliance document with its plans to make sure PCC members are ‘sound’ in their opposition to civilly-married gay clergy and to blessings for same sex couples: shared-conversations.com/2025/10/16/t...
This week in Living in Love and Faith: On the Alliance Campaign Manual
It’s been quite a week for Living in Love and Faith news. Yesterday, an update from the House of Bishops putting everything on hold. It was clear when the staff team for LLF was modified …
shared-conversations.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Today I am #bloomscrolling another unbelievably gorgeous one from Waterperry Gardens in Wheatley, where the gardeners were pruning them in hope of yet more blooms!
October 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Just remind me how much in cost in money - and tears - for the C of E to spend 9 years thinking about sexuality just to reach this point? www.churchofengland.org/media/press-...
Update on Living in Love and Faith, October 2025 | The Church of England
The House of Bishops has made a series of key decisions on the future direction of the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith process, which explores questions of relationships, sexuality and ma...
www.churchofengland.org
October 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Lots of anger in the media re new exhibition at Canterbury cathedral (not open yet, so rants from JD Vance and Elon Musk rather premature). There is currently just one piece of graffiti (not real graffiti, not actually painted direct on to the building, obvs!) by the entrance - thought it was superb
October 13, 2025 at 9:46 PM
So tomorrow I’m excited to be off to Canterbury to interview Mary Kells at her book launch for ‘God Beyond Gender’!
October 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM