18. Rev. Helen (UK-Church of England) – From St. Phoebe to Today: Women as Leaders, Science & a Kinder Christianity

This week, Alexis Rice welcomes Rev. Helen —a Church of England priest serving at St. Margaret’s, Ipswich—and our first guest from outside the United States. With warmth, candor, and a fierce pastoral heart, Rev. Helen shares how her late-in-life call to ministry grew from community, story, and wonder—and why an inclusive, justice-rooted Anglican faith speaks powerfully in today’s world. Stay til the end if you would like prayer.

Together, Alexis and Rev. Helen dive into:

• How the Church of England works (parishes, bishops, General Synod) and  the monarch’s role
• Women in church leadership—from St. Phoebe (Romans 16) to women priests and bishops
• Science & faith in the UK (Big Bang, evolution) vs. often evangelical creationism—and teaching kids the Bible with genre and context
• Practicing an inclusive church for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent people, and why visibility matters
• Public perception of Christianity in Britain: “quiet revival,” everyday parish life, and service to the whole community
• A UK view of U.S. Christian nationalism—and the hope of ordinary Christians choosing love over power
• A pastoral prayer for listeners who need comfort, courage, and blessing

💡 Key Takeaways

• There have always been women in leadership in the church—see Romans 16 and the early deacons and apostles.
• Context isn’t compromise. Reading Scripture with history, culture, and genre in mind deepens faith.
• Science and Christian faith aren’t enemies. Many UK Christians embrace both without tension.
• Parish means everyone. The Church of England exists to serve the spiritual care of the whole neighbourhood.
• Inclusion is pastoral, not political. An affirming, accessible church reflects the wide welcome of Jesus.
• Hope looks like small, faithful acts—prayer, presence, and practical love multiplied in community.

⛪ About Our Guest
 Rev. Helen Prior Townsend is an Anglican priest (Church of England) and Assistant Curate at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich. A liberal Anglo-Catholic, she weaves Godly Play, story, and sacrament into family ministry and champions women’s leadership, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and neurodiversity-affirming worship. Ordained in 2024 after serving as a Licensed Evangelist, she brings a grounded parish lens to life, liturgy, and public faith in the UK.

📚 Resources Mentioned

• James Talarico @jamestalarico (Running for US Senate- Texas) https://jamestalarico.com/
• St. Phoebe — woman serving and leading in the early church
• Godly Play — nurturing children’s spiritual imagination through story and wonder
• General Synod (Church of England) — how doctrine and practice are discerned and decided
• Women’s Ordination in the C of E — priests since 1994; bishops since 2014
• Inclusive Church Practices — welcoming LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent people as full participants in worship and leadership

Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.
For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity, exploring its many expressions.

🌿 Community Guidelines

If we claim to follow Jesus, let’s be known by our love—evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control
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