Paul Parker

Honestly, is there *anyone* who isn't jumping on the Poisson Steve trend?

When she was just 26 Florence Merriam wrote the first guide to birding with binoculars in 1889. And she slipped in this incredible feminist gem:

Most noticeable to me was the number of Presbyters who were concerned about a sense that Circuit Invitations Committees were being stifled by only seeing profiles the Presbyters who had expressed an interest in.

My sense was that there was a mix of support and opposition for the proposals across the range of speakers.

He did not, I'm afraid!!

A friend has been tallying speakers on the stationing review at #MethodistConf and come up with

Speaker breakdown:
13 ordained
7 lay (2 of whom identified as clergy spouses)

It was recorded and can be watched back, but where/how I'm not 100% sure on! Possibly through having booked a live-stream ticket for it...

Beckly Lecture (hosted by the Joint Public Issues Team) time at #MethodistConf! Anthonie Reddie on "Whiteness is the sea not the shark: a post-colonial critique of British Methodism"

A moment of minor confusion followed by much mirth as #MethodistConf transitions from Lydia to Lyngham midway through singing O For a Thousand Tongues, and concluded with a verse of Cranbrook (On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At).

A conference hall from the back and with the presenter on a large screen. The presenter is a white woman with short hair, wearing a black caasock, preaching gown and white clerical tabs

Representative Session of #MethodistConf 2025 begins

This. All day, every day, this.

A white woman with white hair speaks at a podium. The picture is taken from the audience seated on hotel chairs. In the foreground is the back of the heads of two other audience members. Imposed on the image, in white text with a black background it says: #MethodistConf Fringe Event. The Mary Bosquanet Lecture hosted by @mwibfa. Kathy Galloway is giving the lecture and opens with a poem of hers and one from Mary Oliver

The Methodist Women in Britain Fringe Event at #MethodistConf. Kathy Galloway presents the Mary Bosquanet lecture

View from a conference seat. Two adults one with short hair the other with long are in the foreground and with chairs and then screens behind that. There is a red lighting scheme

Back at #MethodistConf. Halfway through Presbyteral Session

SUBMIT TO MY PRESS! We're weird. 💚

Walter Brueggemann: In Memory Walter Brueggemann passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025, at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife, Tia, his sons, James and John, and their families. To read his online biography, click here.…

RIP Walter Brueggemann www.walterbrueggemann.com/2025/06/05/i...

Sign stating "Wellington House, 135-155 Waterloo Road" covered in bloody handprints

The front of NHS England, covered in bloody handprints. A message written in red says, "Release the trans youth suicide report.

Bloody handprints on the front of NHS England windows.

More pictures from the Trans Kids Deserve Better action today.

Clergy pals ... Have HMRC stopped posting out the Self-Assessment and Minister of Religion tax forms?

Who needs a planet when you can have pretty PowerPoints?

i once heard a queer kid explain that one of the things that brings them the most relief and comfort is seeing a tattered pride flag with faded colors - because that's a sign of a place where a pride flag can soak in the sun and breeze for years and years.

Advertise with British birds

Whenever I see this British Birds advert, I can't help but think that it's an opportunity to advertise using UK avifauna.

Fulmars shilling for Tesco.
Willow tits flogging car insurance.
Song thrushes promoting B&Q.
Barn owls trailing banners for huul.

The dream!!!!

This is one I was gutted to miss! #SST25

Awww yaaay. I've bumped into some cool new people and some familiar faces! #SST is off to great start for me! Plus, bring on the bodies!!!

Photo of a large whiteboard on a light beige wall. In which are 5 landscape A4 printouts, in grids, with cells highlighted in a range of colours.

Prep for attending SST is getting serious and very colour co-ordinated!!

(Fully expecting my brain to have melted by the end of my time there!)

Formality continuum:

For me will be somewhere between dungarees and smart trousers with a jumper.
But in all probability will wind up with an outfit including my olive jeansy (but not denim) trousers.

Reasons to collar: I'm using study/training days allowance rather than annual leave to go. And Im not affiliated to an institution.

Reasons not to: pretentious? No need to. I've not been sent to represent the Church in anyway.

Folk who've been before: are they common there?

Okay. Time is fast approaching to lock-in some outfits.

Key questions are:

1. Collar or not collar
2. Where on the formal-informal continuum.

Obviously I'll dress comfortably. (Both physically and how I hold myself). And I know it doesn't really matter.

In a rare coincidence of getting my service printed by 10pm last night, having a 10.45 service today and happening to wake up nicely this morning... I've managed a cup of tea with my Sunday breakfast!! Which is unheard of!

(It's 50/50 whether I manage breakfast most Sundays tbh).

This has been my view for the last 7 years! And my tax situation is gloriously simple!!

But I've also filed late, 6 out of 7 of those years :/. So at this point it's a bit of a toss up between paying a fine or paying a company. And of those the latter is potentially less stressful!