General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Candidate for General Synod
Revd John Dunnett

Dear clergy colleagues,

I was born into a Leicestershire rectory and have been a worshipping member of
Church of England churches all my life (bar 2 years as a student when I attended a
Baptist church to benefit from the exceptional preaching there). I say this because I
would like to indicate ‘upfront’ my passionate commitment to, and lifelong experience
of, local parish churches. It is in local churches that people come to faith, in local
churches where disciples of Jesus are formed and through the ministry of local
churches that communities are served.

At the same time, what happens nationally in the Church of England matters because it
either supports and enables the ministry of local churches or undermines/erodes their
missional presence. This is the ‘base line’ conviction that undergirds my willingness to
serve on General Synod and hence my candidacy in this election.

A short CV
Prior to ordination I worked as a Probation Officer and then as a church community worker for an estate church in
Birmingham (from where I was sent for ordination training).

In the first 18 years of my ordained ministry I served at Kirkheaton Parish Church in West Yorkshire and then as Vicar
of St Luke’s Cranham (Havering Deanery). From 2006 until 2022 I was General Director of CPAS and since then I have
worked for CEEC (the Church of England Evangelical Council).

I have been a member of General Synod since 2005 and was an elected member of the Crown Nomination
Commission from 2012 to 2022. I was a trustee of Trinity College Bristol for 15 years and am currently a member of
the General Synod Appointments Committee and a trustee of the Ephesian Fund and the Anglican Fellowship.

A gospel hope
I believe that the Good News of the gospel is relevant for men, women and children of all ethnicities, faith-contexts
and socio-economic backgrounds, and regardless of their upbringing and/or personal experiences. The welcoming
grace of Jesus is the unique ‘offer’ of the church - and we are told that heaven rejoices every time a person is offered
and receives that welcome (Luke 15v7). I am convinced that – under the leadership and inspiration of the Holy Spirit
– the Church can grow, and that our role as disciples of Christ is to live and proclaim the gospel in such a way that
whole communities (and even nations) might be transformed by faith in the Lord Jesus.

Chelmsford Diocese
I have served in the Diocese for 30 years - both as a parish priest and in a non-parochial capacity (though still in that
capacity worshipping, preaching and serving our parishes). If re-elected, I will seek to listen to and represent clergy
from across the whole of Chelmsford Diocese, engaging with them in diocesan/deanery synods and other ways.

NOMINATED BY
Revd Funmilayo Vaughan, Vicar of St Mary’s Frinton
’John has a deep understanding of the challenges and realities of clergy life and parochial mission – alongside this understanding
is a passion for the Church and its growth, this will enable him to represent all of us in parish ministry and to contribute in a
helpful way to the work of General Synod going forwards’

SECONDED BY
Revd Canon Paul Hamilton, Rector of Ingrave
‘John has served this diocese for more than 30 years – and both his parochial ministry and his work with CPAS/CEEC have always
been undergirded by a passion for local churches and their mission’.

MY ‘HEADLINE’ COMMITMENTS
If re-elected to the General Synod, here is how I would approach serving over the next 5 years :

Respect for
others
A desire to treat everyone (regardless of whether we have similar or different views)
with grace, courtesy and respect.
Local church
commitment
A commitment to preserving the place/significance of the local church in Anglican
polity and structures.
Consensual
‘settlement’
around LLF
An aspiration to search for a ‘consensual’ settlement to the challenges that will
emerge as we move on from Living in Love and Faith to receive proposals from the
House of Bishops sexuality Working Group.
Living faith
In confidence that with God everything is possible – and that we should ‘never say
never’.

SPECIFIC ISSUES

Clergy health and wellbeing
I am aware that the pressures on (parochial) clergy appear to be ever-increasing. I supported the reform of clergy
pensions and CDMs during the last Quinquennium and will support other initiatives going forwards that support
clergy and enhance their well-being (including I hope an appraisal of / improvement in clergy retirement housing).

Parish roles and restructuring
The local (parish) church is the building block of the C of E. Whilst I understand the need for the (occasional)
reorganisation of parishes/benefices, I believe we need to ensure that the convictions and cultures of churches are
not undermined by such initiatives.

At some point we will need to review our expectation of local volunteers. The ever-increasing burdens of office
mean that there is a growing reticence for people to volunteer as wardens, treasurers, PCC secretaries and
safeguarding officers – all of which suggests a root and branch review is needed.

Finances
The challenge of financial viability is being faced by every diocese. We must embrace this as a missional challenge
and not simply about ‘balancing the books’. The answer to financial pressure cannot simply be an ongoing reduction
in stipendiary numbers.

I thank God that the majority of the £230m spent in 2025 by the Archbishops Council went to support the mission of
dioceses and parishes but we do need to ensure that in the next quinquennium this funding does not become less
parochially facing.

Human sexuality
Whether we like it or not, the next General Synod will continue to wrestle with issues of gender, identity and human
sexuality as and when the House of Bishops Working Group brings proposals to General Synod. My prayer is that – as
part of this - we should find some kind of a ‘settlement’ that would prevent anyone feeling they must leave the C of
E (whatever their views). Not to do so could (I fear) mean that the next quinquennium could become a prolonged
‘wrangle’ which will (tragically) undermine any ongoing unity.

Please will you consider voting for me
I would be grateful for your support in the election (if possible as your
first choice candidate – but if not then as your 2nd or 3rd preference).

Thank you

Please do text/WhatsApp/email me if you have any question(s) you would like to ask me :
07792 571 538 [email protected]

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