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thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
@thomasmsharp.bsky.social
960 followers 430 following 490 posts
Franciscan | Anglican | #actuallyautistic | LGBwiththeT | Tutor in Pastoral Theology St Augustine's College | Currently researching Safeguarding & Pastoral Care |@younganglicantheo.bsky.social

https://seasonalreflectivedisordered.wordpress.com/
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thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Preparing some slides for a lecture on Saturday, and I am struck again by this comment on the CofE's commissioning of safeguarding reports & the tension between wanting to know and not wanting to know. Gardner was #safeguarding advisor in Bath & Wells when Peter Ball's abuse become publicly known ✝️⚓️
On reports as deceptive strategy: 'The difficulty is that not resolving the tension results in a ‘fudge’. The reluctance to find out the truth might expose shadow aspects of the institution and uncover deeper malaise, and so one way of managing and avoiding this discovery is repeatedly to reframe the presenting problem by commissioning reports, inquiries and reviews as if some new insight or plan might solve the problem. This is then just another form of deception' (Fiona Gardner, “Safeguarding: why policies, training, lessons learned reviews and even good intentions are not enough” in Theology, 124 (2021), pp.173-181, p.177)
November 17, 2025 at 10:29 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Hot marmite. The ultimate losing-ones-voice cure.
Ikon of virgin mary top left. Ikon of st clare top right. White mug of black liquid in centre.
November 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Death by Bodley in Cardiff for tomorrow’s mass. Lovely to be in a church that just feels like a church. Very excited to be preaching at St German’s!
The interior of st germans cardiff. Pulpit on left, high altar and reredos behind. Organ top right.
November 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Gluten free baking. When you try a tested recipe but with a new type of flour substitute… and the chemistry says no.
Sad flat lifeless shortbread on brown baking paper.
November 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
My response to the third FAOC report... on clergy exemplarity and Same-Sex Marriage.

"Indeed, with the concept of ‘communally regulative understanding of doctrine’, the bishop is rendered powerless, and the bishops as a House are disempowered utterly."

⚓️✝️ #CofEPeeps

viamedia.news/2025/11/12/a...
This report does not meaningfully engage with the theology produced by or read by LGBTQIA+ Anglicans, or people who hold an inclusive theology. Simply directing us to the LLF Resources does not constitute theological engagement (§100). This report is not balanced or representative. It should not have represented itself as being such. However, it is lengthy and technical, and gives a very good sense of being comprehensive, even whilst it utterly fails to present or even really take into account the voices of those most affected by its subject matter. This is a shamefully inadequate Report whose omissions (wilful or otherwise) have potential to mislead its readers. In order to make this meandering and confusing report more intelligible, my response to it comes under six headings: 1 Make doctrine a moving target 2 “Communal regulation”, discipline and toxic theologies of power 3 Are the clergy a special case? 4 Leading us to think we are talking about sex whenever marriage is mentioned 5 Despite divorce, we really do still hold to the traditional doctrine of marriage 6 Disempower the Bishops
November 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
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...
This was the second report which briefed the House of Bishops before they made their decisions in October about Living in Love and Faith (LLF). This is another extraordinary document, with which I imagine many of the members of the Faith and Order Commission will not have been entirely content. At least, I hope they would not be. Its purpose is to determine ‘whether and how the Church’s public use of these prayers coheres with, realises new boundaries for, or departs from its established teaching on marriage’ (§1). It does not do this, as we shall see. But it does present a case, or perhaps more accurately talk around the assumption, that the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) (let alone equal marriage) would constitute a departure from the traditional doctrine of marriage. It does this around four general themes: 1 - public perception and theological significance of the PLF; 2 - ecclesial condoning of “life choices”; 3 - disagreement and liturgical diversity; 4 - the Church’s traditional teaching on marriage.
November 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Beginning and end of the day. A really superb day with superb students. Time to decompress on the train, cook dinner, and pass out in a warm bed.
The pilgrims chapel at West Malling Abbey The pilgrim chapel at west malling abbey as night falls.
November 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Back in Southwark for the licensing of lay ministers. Bernard Mizeki, pray for us. Lancelot Andrewes, pray for us!
Ikon of Bernard Mizeki centre, tomb of Lancelot Andrewes to the right and the corner of the High Altar of Southwark cathedral to the left.
October 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I will be praying the rosary on 7th October as a member of the Society of Catholic Priests, praying for peace in the world. Join us in prayer for peace wherever you are and whenever you can.
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY 7th Oct 2025 Anytime Join members of the Society of Catholic Priests in praying the rosary for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary with a special intention for peace in the world. www.societyofcatholicpriests.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:51 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Forsythia in the ground. Salvia in the ground, replacing a bush that we hate. Offspring of the bush that we hate potted and preserved for next season to provide ground cover in a bit of the garden we can’t see.

Now for a deep breath.
Forsythia (centre) next to a shed (right) with an acer in front of the shed and a passion flower (left). Twiggy stump of salvia in centre, clay in foreground and leaves behind. Little plants in black pots on grey flagstones.
September 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Its a contender for worst selfie ever, but please pray for these graduates of St Augustines who were licensed as Readers at Canterbury Cathedral tonight!
A group of people smiling in surplices.
September 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I received my inheritance from my Grandma today. Emotional going through some things that were meaningful for her and are for me. Here a portrait from before the premiere of Vaughan Williams’ Concerto Grosso, for which she played.
Adrian Boult (?) and Ralph Vaughan Williams
September 27, 2025 at 6:27 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Please pray for these wonderful graduates of St Augustine's who were licensed as Lay Ministers in the Diocese of Chichester last week.
September 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Tis the season to get bulby…
Table covered in bags of bulbs.
September 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
It was great to welcome the first batch of new students to St Augustine’s last week. Please pray for the other batch being inducted (induced?) tonight.
A lot of people in front of the tower of malling abbey (centre) and a lawn in front.
September 12, 2025 at 11:53 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Microtheology.
Word magnets on fridge. Down with power things Only Jesus things There is one God Bless the father the son the holy spirit And rejoice Not power but trust For life and light Gods only is the kingdom Go rejoice
August 27, 2025 at 2:55 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Slumming it at work today. You have been prayed for.
West malling abbey The interior of the sisters chapel, West Malling Abbey.
August 27, 2025 at 12:56 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Good to see new books going on library shelves!
Stefan Silber, Postcolonial theologies Renie Chow Choy, Ancestral Feeling Kwok Pui-Lan, Postcolonial Politics and Theology Noel Leo Erskine, Black Theology & Black Faith The Cambridge Companion to Black Theology
August 27, 2025 at 11:07 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Zeffirelli's Francis of Assisi was historical trash but theological gold. Giving a lecture tonight on Bonaventure and the Cross, and just cannot resist getting these visuals in!
Text from the Major Legend of St Francis by Bonaventure Thus the servant of the Most High King was left naked that he might follow his naked crucified Lord, whom he loved. Thus the cross stregthened him to entrust his soul to the wood of salvation that would save him from the shipwreck of the world. Released now from the chains fo all earthly desires, this scorner of the world left the town and in a carefree mood sought the secret of solitude that alone and in silence he would hear the mystery of divine eloquence. On the right, a film poster of Zeffirelli's Brother Sun Sister Moon in which the naked francis stands facing out into green fields, framed by the arch of a city gate, his body in the shape of the cross.
August 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Preparing a chapter and some lectures on the Theology of Safeguarding. Hard subject matter, but surprisingly lifegiving.

That article title though. Ouch. Spot on.

#CofEpeeps ⚓️
Cover of article Billeneds, Harper, Sewell & Scores, “The Post Office at Prayer? Auditing Risk and Practice: A Safeguarding Appraisal”
July 18, 2025 at 9:02 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Last year I had about 12 leucanthema flowers. Just deadheaded 192 of them! 🌱
Leucanthema flowers (daisies) with yellow seadheads Only the living flowers remaining.
July 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I have no words for how I feel. This has been an unholy yoke and a stumbling block since my baptism. Gone. 🏳️‍🌈
The private members motion removing Issues in Human Sexuality from the vocations process and replacing it with the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy
July 15, 2025 at 11:55 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Use an app rather than just having a program we can all have on our computers, they said. It’ll be more efficient, they said.

That’s four hours of work down the drain. Time to start again at 6pm on a Sunday.
Screenshot of Microsoft 365 app with error message. Cant open file. The file appears to be corrupted.
July 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
How have I still not read this book cover to cover? Here goes.
Nick Walker, Neuroqueer Heresies
July 8, 2025 at 7:40 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I reckon we will be good for mint tea this winter.

Thats the first half of the harvest.
White Door with Yellow Wall, and three big bunches of green peppermint and sweet mint tied hanging from it.
July 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM