General Synod Election Candidates 2026

GLYNNE WILLIAMS

CANDIDATE FOR
GENERAL SYNOD HOUSE OF LAITY

EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 07770 665475

PROPOSED: DAVID BAMBRIDGE, WALTHAM FOREST DEANERY
SECONDED: JOHN BADLEY, SAFFRON WALDEN DEANERY

| was born in Nottingham, lived in a north Nottinghamshire village in Pilgrim
Fathers territory, studied Modern Languages in Leeds, lived and studied in
various European countries, came to London in 1975 in search of work, and
I’ve been here ever since. My language skills have taken me all over the world
in my work, and since retirement, the management experience | gained,
reinforced by my MBA studies with the Open University, has been very useful
in my role as churchwarden at St Michael and All Angels Walthamstow. Our
very long interregnum (2018 — 2026) recently ended and we are now blessed
with the ministry of a new priest. |am a member of Forward in Faith and our
church is affiliated to The Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda and a member of
the Richborough group of parishes.

THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOGALJ

Local representation is vital in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ
throughout the world. Therefore | strongly support

• Local parish ministry and the personal contact which it offers to all in

the parish, whether churchgoers or not

• Better financial support from the Church Commissioners to parishes,

particularly those in poor areas.

• Increased use of SMMIB funding to support local traditional parish

ministry

• Draft Mission and Pastoral Measure: Given that it is so important to

think global and act local, parishioners must retain the right to object
to diocesan proposals for pastoral reorganisation. There should also
be equality of use of resources, given that parishioners rely on

volunteers, whereas the diocese and Church Commissioners can call
upon lawyers and staff.

MAJOR ISSUES FACING THE NEW GENERAL SYNOD

• Safeguarding: as new arrangements for safeguarding are approved by

General Synod, | completely support proper safeguarding at my own,
parish level as well as at General Synod level.

• The Seal of the Confessional: Having indicated my support for proper

safeguarding at parish level, | support the Seal as a sacrament of the
Church (Book of Common Prayer: Visitation of the Sick) and | also urge
proper information for congregations as a whole and special training
for priests who administer this sacrament, so that a full understanding
of Confession and Absolution is held in the Church as a whole.

• Mutual flourishing: | support this desirable outcome, embodied in the

Five Guiding Principles agreed in 2014, and it requires honesty and
integrity in respecting the differences between different parts of the
Church, not least in dialogue with our ecumenical partners such as the
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

• Respecting difference whilst upholding principles is key to good

relationships between parishes, deaneries and the wider Church, and
will be such an important aspect of the work of General Synod in the
next Quinquennium.

| very much hope that you will consider supporting my election to General
Synod with your first or high preference vote. My contact details are above
for any questions you may want to ask.

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