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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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Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
extinctmonsters.bsky.social
I imagine we can all relate to Andalgalornis here
Cartoony illustration of Diatryma and Andalgalornis. The latter has a pink shirt on that says NO across the front and a shellshocked expression
November 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
sachacoward.bsky.social
PS I'm aware I'm being 'that guy', but I can't help but find it disturbing that a criminal, abuser and possible child molester, is only now having his power base threatened because there's a rumour he did something 'gay'.

As a gay man that is worrying.
November 18, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
sachacoward.bsky.social
Taps the sign
November 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
@mikehigton.bsky.social has published this brilliant response to the Faith and Order Commission's misappropriation and misrepresentation of his work in its recent documents which informed the House of Bishops' recent decision on Living in Love and Faith. #CofEpeeps

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 11:33 AM
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
The fact that abuse of people who are not deemed sufficiently “vulnerable” according to several categories is deemed not a safeguarding matter is simply insane. Everyone deserves to be protected from abuse, not just those who fall into certain categories. #CofEpeeps #safeguarding
November 15, 2025 at 3:34 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
A long and hard day yesterday engaging with some horrible institutional and online homophobia. But today I am out of bed and on the train to spend the day teaching students to be joyful ministers of the Good News with integrity and hope. This is what it is actually all about. ⚓️✝️
November 8, 2025 at 8:15 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
A Pastoral Letter on LLF (Living in Love and Faith) and the Inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the Church of England from The Provincial Council of the Society of Catholic Priests (SCP) Europe.

www.societyofcatholicpriests.com/scp-news/liv...
A Pastoral Letter - LLF & Inclusion — The Society of Catholic Priests | European Province
Pastoral Letter on Living in Love and Faith (LLF) and the Inclusion of LGBTQIA+ People in the Church of England   Copied to all Diocesan Bishops in the Church of England On 15th October, t...
www.societyofcatholicpriests.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:52 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
For security, your personal tax account ending XXX has been deleted. Create a new account to complete your tax return.

Thank you for logging in to your new personal tax account. You cannot access your tax return using this personal tax account. Please use your personal tax account ending XXX.
a woman sitting in front of a microphone with the words internally screaming below her
Alt: a woman sitting in front of a microphone with the words internally screaming below her
media.tenor.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
se1.news
The Dean received a standing ovation from the congregation for his sermon this morning
heatherglass.bsky.social Heather Glass @heatherglass.bsky.social · Oct 26
Whether you’re a believer or not, today’s sermon from the Dean of Southwark Cathedral on sexuality, love, acceptance and how badly wrong much of the C of E is going on the topic is compelling viewing youtu.be/LLM_J8YH8Fk?...
@southwarkcathedral.bsky.social
The Dean's Sermon
YouTube video by Southwark Cathedral
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
This is what I need today. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Somehow just repeating the angel’s words to Mary and all humanity just helps put things a little bit back into perspective.
October 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I'm meant to be teaching students how to be amateur psychologists in parish ministry... but instead have prepared slides on Cicero, Augustine and Aquinas on desire, disordered love & concupiscence. How much of parish drama is people not knowing what they really want or how to get it.
a woman in an apron says much better in a rainbow colored graphic
ALT: a woman in an apron says much better in a rainbow colored graphic
media.tenor.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
byzantinemosaics.bsky.social
Hl. Johannes Chrysostomus, Erzbischof Von Istanbul https://www.wikiart.org/en/byzantine-mosaics/hl-johannes-chrysostomus-erzbischof-von-istanbul-867
Hl. Johannes Chrysostomus, Erzbischof Von Istanbul
October 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
theautisticcoach.bsky.social
If only all of our spoons could be used on things which regulate us and give us fulfilment…
October 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
suffolkvicar.bsky.social
#ToPray✝️

Sometimes the most honest prayers
we can pray are the ones that sound like;

This is hard.
I am tired.
Please help.

(Ashley Morgan Jackson)
Red text on a light grey background Sometimes the most honest prayers we can pray are the ones that sound like; This is hard. I am tired. Please help. (Ashley Morgan Jackson)
October 14, 2025 at 7:12 AM
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
Reposted by Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
jamnpp.bsky.social
Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world,... I feel like I can't take it. And my heart is just going to cave in.
October 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Politics defined by ones relationship to surveillance-feudalism makes much more sense.
ryankturnbull.bsky.social Ryan Turnbull @ryankturnbull.bsky.social · Oct 8
There is no left-right spectrum. There's one's relationship to surveillance-feudalism. Either you're the billionaire, or your the product. /2
October 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM