General Synod Election Candidates 2026

[email protected] — 17 Brookside, Ashton Hayes, Chester CH3 8BZ — Mobile: 07715 564975

Dr Alan Dowen
Nominated by: Canon Dr John Mason (Deputy Lay Chair of Chester Diocesan Synod)
Seconded by: Mr Sam Wilson (Parish Missioner, Bowden Parish)
Who am I?
I am a retired
chemical
engineer who
has studied
applied
theology at
postgraduate
level. I have been married to my wife,
Yvonne, for 53 years: we have two adult
daughters and five amazing grandchildren.
In my spare time I read, I play folk music, I
enjoy being out in the countryside where I
indulge in my love of photography, and I
spend as much time as I am able with my
family.
I was born in the heart of the Black Country
but moved to Ashton Hayes, near Chester,
with my wife in 1976. Since then we have
moved house once, but we have stayed
within the village because it has been, and
is, such a wonderful community in which to
live and raise our children.
On arrival we made a conscious decision to
attend our village church and during our
time here I have served as a Churchwarden
for ten years and it is here that I serve as a
Reader (30 years and counting). I have been
Lay Chair of Chester Deanery for the last six
years but have also been serving on
Diocesan Synod and Bishop’s Council.
During the last quinquennium I was elected
to represent Chester Diocese on General
Synod and it was a steep learning curve so I
would like the opportunity to put that
experience to even better use in the
forthcoming 5 years.
What do I have to o-er?
I am a listener, a thinker and a theorist, and,
some have said, a problem solver. I stand
for equality and inclusion in all forms, not
because it is fashionable, but because I
believe it is fundamental to who we are
called to be.
I am a person with a deep faith, but it is not
a blind faith. During the last 40+ years of
study and experience I have come to
believe there is a balance to be found
between Scripture, Reason and the
Traditions of our Church, and that none of
these outweighs any other in importance.
My scientific and theological instincts have
to co-exist in harmony and make sense of
what lies before me. I believe that God truly
is the God of ALL.
What would I bring to synod?
•
I apply an engineer's instinct to
synodical debate.
•
I am a team player who is interested in
the good of the whole.
•
I am willing to think, and spend time,
“outside the box.”
•
I champion the needs of small,
particularly rural, parishes.
•
I compare top-down and bottom-up
governance work to check that it makes
sense when rolled out at a local level.
•
I am fully grounded in my own parish
(Ashton Hayes and Mouldsworth), but I
take a distinct interest in developments
at deanery, diocesan and national
level.
•
Five years of previous experience.
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[email protected] — 17 Brookside, Ashton Hayes, Chester CH3 8BZ — Mobile: 07715 564975

What are my main concerns?
I have a number of areas of interest but let me highlight just
three of them here.
Inclusive Church
The LLF process has also reached a painful and unresolved
conclusion but working groups are being established to continue the necessary conversations during
the next quinquennium. Having taken part earlier conversations, I know how much heart, honesty and
goodwill many people have brought to those discussions. However, inclusion is not simply about
same-sex attraction: there are many other ways in which people can be made to feel unloved and
unwanted. I believe the church should be a place where all should feel welcome regardless of their
gender, disabilities, ethnicity, neurodiversity or sexuality.
Rural Parishes and Clergy Welfare
In many places, the current patterns of ministry are no
longer sustainable either financially or personally for those
involved. Pastoral Reorganisation seems to be being rolled
out as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution but often it only serves to
manage the rate of decline rather than encourage growth.
Meanwhile, faithful members of our clergy are being
overloaded such that they become dissatisfied with what
they are able to achieve, or they burn out as they try to fulfil
the totality of their role. However, I still believe that parish
ministry is one of the treasures of our church and our nation. With the greater strain on our finances
and the gradual reduction in the availability of number of ordained ministers in our parishes (and rural
parishes in particular), I believe that we need to reimagine parish ministry in ways which will enable
members of our laity to participate more fully and share the load.
Safeguarding
The Church of England still has decisions to make about how to
ensure that members will be served and cared for with integrity
and genuine care. I believe that a genuine, independent voice in
Safeguarding is crucial, and issues for victims and survivors must
be handled properly, promptly and with sensitivity.
I hope you will feel able to support my re-election to General
Synod. The next five years will matter enormously — for the direction of the Church under its new
leadership, for the continuing work of safeguarding reform, and for the kind of institution we want to
be. With your support, I would welcome the opportunity to continue serving and, I hope, together we
can make a diference. Please consider making me your first preference in this election or, failing that,
as high you feel able on your voting list.
If you have any questions, please do feel free to contact me directly.
“Alan combines a strong theological grounding with the analytical perspective of a professional scientist. He is
far from dogmatic: he listens carefully to others and is willing to work collaboratively in the search for
constructive and creative solutions. I believe that the combination of intellectual rigour, independence of
thought, courage and a willingness to engage with others are exactly the qualities we need in our General Synod
representatives.”
John Mason (Proposer)
‘I now realise how true it is that God
does not show favouritism but
accepts from every nation the one
who fears him and does what is right.’
Acts 10:34-35
‘The harvest is plentiful, but the
workers are few. Ask the Lord of the
harvest, therefore, to send out workers
into his harvest field.’
Matthew 9:37-38
‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this
way you will fulfil the law of Christ.’
Galatians 6:2
‘Defend the weak and the
fatherless; uphold the cause of the
poor and the oppressed. Rescue
the weak and the needy; deliver
them from the hand of the wicked.’
Psalm 82:3-4
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