A Questionable Marriage

I mentioned previously that I'm navigating the Church of England’s Canon C4 Faculty (C4.4) as part of the ordination process due to being divorced and remarried, with my current marriage less than three years old. Despite our relationship being nine years old and marked by commitment, honesty, and a deepening love that's beyond what most couples face, tomorrow, I meet Bishop Rose to discuss my C4 application and my discernment process. The uncertainty about tomorrow sits heavily. It’s hard preparing for a conversation where your life, marriage, and body are all up for interpretation. Every candidate is interviewed by the Bishop, but not all go through C4 Faculty application, and don’t have Canon C4.3 standing ready to evaluate body before vocation. This problem lingers behind the marriage.

Scripture vs Theology: Breaking Point

 

Last night, after my Bible study group, I reflected on theology strengthening some people’s faith and unsettles others. My friend, someone I’ve known for sixteen years across various settings, asked questions during our Lent session. They were good questions: Why do we celebrate Jesus’ birth on 25 December? Why does Easter move? When was Jesus actually born? What evidence do we have? How did early Christians set these dates? Why is Ash the focus and not dust during Lent? Why is the Passover important? What’s the difference between Passover and the Last Supper?

I love these questions. They make theology come alive. I answered them historically, theologically, honestly. They said, “So everything I know is a lie? Everything we get told on a Sunday is wrong? Ever since joining this group it feels like everything is being blown apart.”

Parenting James: The Update I Never Wanted to Write

 

In December, I wrote about how James isn’t a problem to solve, but a child to understand. By now, I should be writing about progress. Instead, it’s about what happens when a school ignores warning after warning until a child finally breaks.