Why I took a stuffed parrot to CofE Synod

Neil Robbie  |  Comment
Date posted:  29 Jul 2026
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Why I took a stuffed parrot to CofE Synod

Neil's stuffed parrot

The General Synod of the Church of England has engaged over decades in a cycle of groundhog-day debates about human sexuality. Members employ the same stories and arguments over and over again.

Living in Love and Faith (LLF), the eight-year-long project of listening to one another, learning from the Scriptures and looking at current practice, ended in February this year. LLF was declared to be dead, to the relief of nearly half of those on General Synod. Others believe LLF is just resting. A new private member’s motion, brought by Helen King, stirred up yet another debate this July.

A stuffed parrot in a cage...

As a relatively new member of General Synod, I wanted to speak on this political dynamic and propose a different way forward.

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Read more articles on:   Church of England  /  Living in Love and Faith  /  gender & sexuality  /  politics
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