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
Ruth Harley
@ruthh.bsky.social
· Oct 23
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...
Not saying I'm tired but I've just tried to load drawing pins into the stapler.
a sloth is yawning while sitting on a towel .
Alt: a sloth is yawning while sitting on a towel .
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Not saying I'm tired but I've just tried to load drawing pins into the stapler.
Cycling to the local community garden to collect some apple juice... and spotted a random chunk of Hadrian's Wall outside Kwik Fit. Unexpected encounters with bits of Roman archaeology in everyday locations is one of my favourite #TinyJoys of living in this area.
November 25, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Cycling to the local community garden to collect some apple juice... and spotted a random chunk of Hadrian's Wall outside Kwik Fit. Unexpected encounters with bits of Roman archaeology in everyday locations is one of my favourite #TinyJoys of living in this area.
Second full day on zoom for Mental Health First Aid training, and I have found a box of jaffa cakes at the back of the cupboard - perfect timing!
November 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Second full day on zoom for Mental Health First Aid training, and I have found a box of jaffa cakes at the back of the cupboard - perfect timing!
#PhDlife Me, trying to whittle down my 14-page 'shortlist' of relevant quotes from my research participants to a number appropriate for the slides for a half-hour presentation:
a woman says they are all so good with her hands folded
Alt: a woman saying "they are all so good"
media.tenor.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:35 PM
#PhDlife Me, trying to whittle down my 14-page 'shortlist' of relevant quotes from my research participants to a number appropriate for the slides for a half-hour presentation:
Cracking bit of Geordie hymnody this morning, as we sang 'Rejoice, the Lord is King' at both churches:
"the keys of death and hell
are to wor Jesus given".
#TinyJoys
"the keys of death and hell
are to wor Jesus given".
#TinyJoys
November 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Cracking bit of Geordie hymnody this morning, as we sang 'Rejoice, the Lord is King' at both churches:
"the keys of death and hell
are to wor Jesus given".
#TinyJoys
"the keys of death and hell
are to wor Jesus given".
#TinyJoys
Reposted by Ruth Harley
CALLING #ChurchOfEngland members: Deadline for signing #InclusiveChurch's open letter to the #HouseOfBishops calling for leadership, direction and clear support for #LGBTQ+ people is midnight THIS SUNDAY 23 November. Please sign & share: inclusive-church.org/llf-open-letter #LLF #PLF
November 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
CALLING #ChurchOfEngland members: Deadline for signing #InclusiveChurch's open letter to the #HouseOfBishops calling for leadership, direction and clear support for #LGBTQ+ people is midnight THIS SUNDAY 23 November. Please sign & share: inclusive-church.org/llf-open-letter #LLF #PLF
Reposted by Ruth Harley
The deadline for signing @inclusivechurch.bsky.social's Open Letter to the House of Bishops calling for leadership, direction and a clear demonstration of support for LGBTQ+ people is this Sunday, 23 November.
dlted.substack.com/p/living-in-...
Please share.
dlted.substack.com/p/living-in-...
Please share.
November 21, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The deadline for signing @inclusivechurch.bsky.social's Open Letter to the House of Bishops calling for leadership, direction and a clear demonstration of support for LGBTQ+ people is this Sunday, 23 November.
dlted.substack.com/p/living-in-...
Please share.
dlted.substack.com/p/living-in-...
Please share.
11 people at mass and shared lunch to celebrate St Hilda. Listening in to a conversation between a frail retired priest and our most recently baptised member, about what they love about church, and what church is for, was a highlight. Several hours and a PCC meeting later I'm still smiling #TinyJoys
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
11 people at mass and shared lunch to celebrate St Hilda. Listening in to a conversation between a frail retired priest and our most recently baptised member, about what they love about church, and what church is for, was a highlight. Several hours and a PCC meeting later I'm still smiling #TinyJoys
Whatever you think the church's position on same-sex relationships should be, the decision-making of the House of Bishops shouldn't be informed by advice which tries to claim a consensus which doesn't exist, even among the theologians quoted supposedly in support of it.
Any #CofEpeeps following the sorry saga of #LLF should read this powerful response by Professor Mike Higton to the "misappropriation" of his work in the recent Faith and Order Commission paper on doctrine, intended to inform the House of Bishops decision-making. viamedia.news/2025/11/17/c...
Cries of Suffering: A Response to ‘The Nature of Doctrine and the Living God’ - ViaMedia.News
by Mike Higton, Professor of Theology and Ministry at Durham University The Faith and Order Commission’s recent document on ‘The Nature of Doctrine and the Living God’ (GS Misc 1429) is not, in my jud...
viamedia.news
November 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Whatever you think the church's position on same-sex relationships should be, the decision-making of the House of Bishops shouldn't be informed by advice which tries to claim a consensus which doesn't exist, even among the theologians quoted supposedly in support of it.
Any #CofEpeeps following the sorry saga of #LLF should read this powerful response by Professor Mike Higton to the "misappropriation" of his work in the recent Faith and Order Commission paper on doctrine, intended to inform the House of Bishops decision-making. viamedia.news/2025/11/17/c...
Cries of Suffering: A Response to ‘The Nature of Doctrine and the Living God’ - ViaMedia.News
by Mike Higton, Professor of Theology and Ministry at Durham University The Faith and Order Commission’s recent document on ‘The Nature of Doctrine and the Living God’ (GS Misc 1429) is not, in my jud...
viamedia.news
November 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Any #CofEpeeps following the sorry saga of #LLF should read this powerful response by Professor Mike Higton to the "misappropriation" of his work in the recent Faith and Order Commission paper on doctrine, intended to inform the House of Bishops decision-making. viamedia.news/2025/11/17/c...
Not too busy on the beach today! Could be something to do with the storm-force winds and intermittent driving rain... But there is nothing so restorative as being by the sea, whatever the weather.
November 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Not too busy on the beach today! Could be something to do with the storm-force winds and intermittent driving rain... But there is nothing so restorative as being by the sea, whatever the weather.
Grateful to Via Media for making space for my reflections on how the very ordinary stuff of parish life is undermined by the church's unwillingness to fully embrace LGBTQIA+ folks. Policies discussed in the abstract have a real impact on real people, which too often gets forgotten.
And today a reminder that there are real people whose lives are affected by the current C of E policies on LGBTQIA+ relationships viamedia.news/2025/11/13/a...
A Question of Conscience - ViaMedia.News
by Revd Ruth Harley (Vicar, Cowgate and Priest in Charge, Newbiggin Hall) Standing at the font, I smiled at the scene unfolding in front of me. A happily gurgling baby and his two proud parents, surro...
viamedia.news
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Grateful to Via Media for making space for my reflections on how the very ordinary stuff of parish life is undermined by the church's unwillingness to fully embrace LGBTQIA+ folks. Policies discussed in the abstract have a real impact on real people, which too often gets forgotten.
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...