General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd Amy Stott
Vicar St Lukes Canning Town
Area Dean of Newham
Proposed by Mike Walker
Vicar St John’s South End
Seconded by Lydia Petitt
Team Vicar Great Baddow Team Ministry
Thank you for taking the time to read this election address
and I hope you will consider voting for me. I’m Amy and I’m
passionate about the good news of the Gospel and I’m
hopeful for the Church of England. As the national Church
we are in the midst of challenging times but the
opportunities for mission are huge. I see people hungry for faith, looking for answers,
searching for leadership and churches looking for new ways to serve and reach out. I’m
now in my 6th year of incumbency here in Canning Town and as Area Dean in Newham
over this past year, it has been incredible to see churches coming together to respond to
the challenges we are facing. Prior to ordination I was the Director of a youth ministry
charity and I bring 7 years of youth work experience with me. I’m committed to working
across traditions, churchmanship, denominations and viewpoints to see God’s kingdom
advance and lives impacted by Jesus Christ. The Church of England is at its best when
we are rooted in scripture, empowered by the Holy Spirit, growing in our discipleship and
outward-looking in mission.
What I can bring to General Synod:
Confident Hope. I believe God is at work in the Church and we need to continue looking
outward and upward amidst the challenges we face. The challenges we face across our
diocese and the nation are huge but God is still at work.
A commitment to prioritise mission and growth. People are hungry for God. We’ve
seen it here in Canning Town; young and old turning up to church on Sundays, looking for
answers and hope. We also see it in our parish projects- food bank and toddlers groups,
detached youth work and drop in projects with our senior citizens alongside partnering
with our schools, local businesses and council too. As a diocese and national church we
need to prioritise mission and building for growth.
Intentional engagement with the parish at the heart of all we do. I believe in
incarnational ministry. I believe in the parish model and am wholeheartedly committed to
seeing the Church of England rooted and thriving in every community across our nation.
Can you imagine our missional impact if we had the courage and confidence once more
to be the parish church in every parish? What an opportunity we have!
A passion for releasing the ministry and gifts of lay people through intentional
discipleship and equipping. Our future as a church depends on our ability to release and
equip people from every background across our nation. I am passionate about resourcing
emerging leaders, discipling our laity to grow in their gifting and promoting a culture
where everyone has a part to play in the service and mission of the church. I bring an
enthusiasm for reimagining how we train, equip and release those in our pews to join in
too.

A voice for the urban and working class parishes Growing up on a council estate in
Scotland and now serving in one of our most urban parishes, I want to represent voices
and experiences not heard enough at a national level. It’s important our elected clergy
come from across the range of parishes that make up our Diocese. I am passionate about
sharing the experiences of our estates and urban areas whilst working together to see
opportunities explored for working class vocations and models of training that work for
all.
An advocate for growing younger. With my youth work background I am an advocate
for ministry to children and young people. We need to be intentional in reaching the next
generations. We need to pioneer training for each church to see a new generation
reached for Jesus that enables us to be confident and equipped from toddlers groups to
detached youth ministry projects, schools partnerships to youth discipleship. As a
younger incumbent I also care about young vocations and seeing emerging youth leaders
encouraged to live out their faith with confidence in our schools and colleges too. We
need to hear younger voices across our diocese and national church too.
Experience of leading a growing church. Here at St Luke’s we have tripled in size over
the past 5 years: growing younger, growing more diverse, growing together. I’ve also had
the privilege of being part of the leadership of a new bilingual church plant which has
grown from a team of 20 to a congregation of nearly 100 in just four years.
A bridge builder across traditions and churchmanship, societal boundaries and
backgrounds. We need to learn how to navigate difference and disagreement well. As
Area Dean I have shown I can reach across our all churches so that we can travel well
together.
I would be honoured to serve on General Synod: to listen, to contribute, to challenge
when necessary, to encourage wherever possible, and above all to help us become more
and more like the Church God is calling us to be across Chelmsford Diocese and the
nation as a whole.
I would be grateful for your vote.
Mike and Lydia my proposer and seconder say the following about me:
‘In Amy you see a genuine love for Jesus and his Church. She has undertaken vital
ministry in challenging circumstances often without the resources one would wish for,
always seeking to make the love of God known. Those who know Amy will also know that
she serves without self importance. Her Christlike gentleness makes her wonderfully
approachable and relatable- qualities rightly recognised in her appointment as Area Dean
of Newham. For these reasons I am honoured to nominate Amy for General Synod and
warmly commend her to you for your vote.’ Rev’d Mike Walker
I am delighted to propose Amy for General Synod. She is a vibrant, humble and gifted
priest who genuinely loves Jesus, loves people and is passionate about growing disciples
and seeing local churches thrive. Amy has a real ability to see the bigger picture while
navigating the finer details with wisdom, integrity and thoughtfulness. She is
approachable, insightful and full of of life, and I believe she would bring a valuable,
grounded and hopeful voice to General Synod. Rev’d Lydia Petitt.

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