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thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Thomas Sharp (he / they) 🏳️‍🌈
@thomasmsharp.bsky.social
980 followers 440 following 560 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
Pray for Brs Leo, Jude and Thomas Aidan as they begin their noviciate with the Society of St Francis. #CofEpeeps ⚓️✝️
Picture of three franciscan novices in brown habits with white ropes, with the novice guardian and minister behind them.
February 3, 2026 at 8:51 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I'm not sure the accessibility software is being helpful, since my role involves overseeing the training of lay ministers for several dioceses, and it consistently transcribes "lay ministers" as "lame ministers". If it gets me fired, to who do I send the bill? ⚓✝️
Excerpt from screenshot ...ents for lame ministers are co...
January 31, 2026 at 3:19 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
A surprise and much needed day off has occasioned some much needed garden TLC. I am still astounded how short the winter is in this little walled space. Spring is already marching on! And the red rose we pinched from a building site has survived its untimely transplant! 🌱
Fennel to the left, rose thyme to the right foreground, daffodils preparing to bud on the right centreground, a bay tree top centre, and a shed top left. A narcissuels flower, white with yellow anthers. A lenten rose, pink flowers. A red rose on red brick background
January 29, 2026 at 10:59 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Genuinely delighted by our students’ willingness to throw themselves into Trinitarian theology this week. Also delighted by the freedom to teach with a whiteboard.
A white board covered in theological scribbles
January 22, 2026 at 9:29 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
If I wave a magic wand or a class 2 relic at the pile of books and hope, the lecture slides on Christology will magically appear, right? Right?
Big pile of books on christology
January 19, 2026 at 11:01 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I have three classes of students for doctrine this term. Monday’s group came up with interesting answers to the introductory question, “What is doctrine used for in your church?” Let’s see how tonight’s group compare.
A white piece of paper with various theological words written on it in green ink. + Undertand God | 2relationhip with. WORSHIP. Oriestate in world. word of God Belieg Follon Giou Constitutes Church. Politics. Motivate Action &; Conte Cl
January 7, 2026 at 6:24 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
It is such a pleasure to be together for Matins and Mass as we never get to do this usually!
Interior of St Mary Abbots Church with Evan in the pulpit.
December 28, 2025 at 12:35 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
I know it's only an introductory lecture on the Trinity. But Sonderegger is SO COOL... and it is good for students to be able to see a lecturer just being totally giddy for the beauty of another person's theological writing. ✝️⚓
3 - Holiness is Trinity ‘… The Presence of the Holy One discloses sin and blessing, but even more, the searing Fire of Holiness teaches the silence in which every mouth is stopped. … The Lord’s Presence, His smoke-filled Glory, consumes any voice by the heavenly beings who can but cry, “Holy!” … Silence is the Presence and the sign of Presence of the Holy Triunity, the Majesty of the One God. Holiness is Trinity. That is the central claim of Christian Triune monotheism. We do no speak first and principally the Triune Names – Father, Son, Spirit – when we speak of Trinity. … Rather, we begin with holiness. We stand before the Holy One, in life and in intellect: Holiness commands all. These terms of art in the dogma of Trinity – hypostasis and ousia … must be encountered in the Mystery of Holiness or not at all.’ Katherine Sonderegger, Systematic Theology, Vol 2: The Trinity, pp.2-4.
December 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
The library update continues. This booklet wasn’t written as long ago as you’d have hoped. I’m still not sure, but I think the cabbage is meant to represent a disabled person. #theosky
Grove pastoral book cover. “God’s special people: ministry with the handicapped” with a picture of a cabbage, with a question mark above it, and above that a crown.
December 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Got my favourite theological cartoon into a lecture for next term! Modern evangelicalism and its schisms and CofE evangelicalism's divisions only make sense in the context of the American 1920s protestant schism about whether biblical literalism was necessary to prevent all the other steps. ✝️⚓
Theological Liberalism (Protestant) 1. Crisis of scientific criticism (evolution) 2. If that isn’t necessary for faith, then what else isn’t necessary? 3. Split in protestant theology in North America (Princeton schism et al.) On right a cartoon of three academics going down some stairs into darkness, entitled "The Descent of the Modernists". On the stairs are written, descending, Christianity Bible not infallible Man not made in God's image No miracles No virgin birth No deity No atonement No resurrection Agnosticism Atheism
December 8, 2025 at 8:57 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Spent the day being priestly for my family. A good way to spend a Sunday now I’m an academic priest again. ⚓️✝️
Background: grey train table. Left: silver oil stock and purple stole with Cuthbert cross in gold and red. Right: book: Jean Daniélou, The Theology of Jewish Christianity
December 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Both Evan and I served curacies in churches dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra. A happy St Nicholas day to one and all (complete with lipstick!)

And blessings upon @newcastlecathedral.bsky.social and St Mary & St Nicholas Spalding.

#CofEpeeps ⚓✝️
Icon of St Nicholas of Myra, gesturing to Christ top right, with Newcastle Cathedral bottom right.
December 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Took him to see some Christmas lights. Every year I want to go and see the Christmas lights and we haven’t had time or the energy. Now we do. Yaaay!
Evan in profile (bottom right) and a christmas tree centre, dark sky top.
December 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
Most high, all powerful, good Lord,
yours are the praises, the blessing, honour and all glory.
⚓️✝️
Bible, with brown bookmark in centre. Yellow tinted glasses on top of the bible. A stack of books in pastoral care in the background, and a small Austrian ikon of St Clare of Assisi.
December 1, 2025 at 9:52 AM
thomasmsharp.bsky.social
New book on the desk. This feels like a must read for any Christian theologian thinking about hospitality and welcome. #theosky
Cover of Jayme R Reaves, Safeguarding the Stranger: an abrahamic theology and ethic of protective hospitality
November 28, 2025 at 1:45 PM
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