General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Canon David Hermitt

[email protected]

GENERAL SYNOD ELECTION STATEMENT 2026
Diocese of Chester

Proposer: Dr Janette Allotey
Seconder: Canon Dr John Mason

Please vote for me to represent the Diocese of Chester at General Synod.
| completed a term of office in 2026 and would value a second term to serve the national church.

WHO AM I?

1am a lifelong follower of Jesus. | came to faith as a small child, brought up in an intergenerational Christian family going
back over 200 years. | value worshippers from all traditions and work with intercultural church groups seeking unity across
the denominations. Being Anglican encourages a variety of forms of worship and ways of meeting with God which | cherish.

Most of my time in the Diocese of Chester has been spent serving at Christ Church Alsager. Over the last 40 years | have
worked in churches across the country, leading worship as a musician (Guitarist), lay preacher, church planter, and youth
worker, and conducting missionary activities such as providing leadership for Alpha Courses.

More recently, | have been asked to chair several diocesan committees drawing on my professional experience. | am also
now a lay canon at Chester Cathedral and able to promote the work of the cathedral. For example, | was involved in
organising the Global Images of Christ Exhibition (2021) to help us see ourselves as part of the global church.

My professional work is in the field of education mainly as a Secondary School Headteacher for over 17 years. In 2005, |
moved with my family to Cheshire to take up the headship of a large secondary school in Congleton. | was subsequently
appointed founding Chief Executive Officer to oversee the creation of a large local Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). After 7 years
we grew to become one of the largest providers of education in Cheshire. | took early retirement and now, | ama self-
employed consultant which allows me to devote some time to serving the church. | have supported and challenged those
responsible for educating our children in a governance role, as a school inspector or consultant for decades.

My main role in the diocese is the same: to support leaders, and to be accountable for securing the best for everyone as
Chair of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance.

Canon Dr John Mason SERVING ROLES
| am delighted to support David for

General Synod. His time in the House e Member of General Synod (Co-opted from 2022 to 2026)
of Laity means he understands how e = Chair of Trustees, Chester Diocesan Board of Finance (Since 2025)
Synod works and can hit the ground e Chair, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (2021-2022)
running. His experience makes him a e Member of Bishop’s Council (Current)
strong advocate for racial justice, e Trustee, Diocesan Board of Education (Current)
safeguarding and inclusivity. e Member of Chester Diocesan Synod (Current)
e Founding Chair of MAT, Chester Diocesan Learning Trust (2024 to 2025) and
As DBF Chair, he understands Member (Current)
Chester's needs and will ensure our e Trustee of Theological College, The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical
voice is heard. Above all, his faith and Theological Education (Since 2023)

love of Jesus will motivate his service e Board Member, Church of England National Racial Justice Board (Since

Dr Janette Allotey

David’s wealth of knowledge and
experience and his love of Jesus have
been such valuable assets to General
Synod. He deserves your support.

TT of 3T

WHAT DO | STAND FOR?
Canon David Hermitt

es Diocese of Chester

If | am elected for a second term on General Synod, | will continue to support 4 national priority issues.

SAFEGUARDING REFORM

The church has started to deal with the issues of the past. As former chair of Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP), |
have supported the Diocese to change structures, deal with historic and current issues and appoint a safeguarding team who
are able to support us all. The recent national audit of our diocese confirms that we have made progress, but we can do better.
If elected, | will continue to support the national church to improve safeguarding.

INCLUSIVE CHURCH

| believe the Church must be inclusive of everyone. For me, that goes beyond the standard definitions which identifies gender,
pregnancy, disability, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership. We must also include less obvious
but important differences such as neurodiversity and social class. There is much more to do to include everyone.

If elected, | will continue to speak up for an inclusive church.

PARISH/DIOCESAN FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Currently, as chair of the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF), | have been entrusted with a scrutiny role to challenge and
support those who spend our central budget. | provide governance oversight of the work of the diocesan secretary and all those
employed at Church House in Daresbury. My background as a former MAT CEO and school inspector provides the skills to ask
the right governance questions and promote good stewardship of resources whilst leaving employed leaders to take operational
decisions. My consultancy role supporting schools, Local Authorities and government means these skills are kept up to date.

At General Synod, | have campaigned for fairer national funding for parishes in lower income communities. Faithful ministry
should not be limited by the wealth of a congregation. Low income communities should be a high priority for the church.
If elected, | will continue to advocate for more resources for smaller and less well-resourced dioceses and parishes.

RACIAL JUSTICE IMPLEMENTATION

General Synod co-opted me to support leaders in tackling the issue of Racial Justice in the Church and implement the
recommendations in “From Lament to Action” (2021). We know that we are all made in the image of God (Genesis 2v7 and Acts
17v26). Christ died for all people (John 3v16), and we are all equal (Galatians 3v28). As followers of Jesus, we are commanded
by Him to love our neighbours (Matthew 22v39).

My lived experience means that | have spent a lifetime tackling racial justice issues in society as well as the church. My doctoral
degree at Keele University focuses on research into Racial Justice in schools. Currently, | provide consultancy support to schools
on Racial Justice. As a result, General Synod asked me to serve on the National Racial Justice Board so that this work is overseen
in a practical way. | would value your mandate to continue to do this.

If elected, | will continue to help the church to implement the recommendations in “From Lament to Action” (2021).

QUESTIONS? IF RE-ELECTED TO GENERAL SYNOD, | WILL

If you have any questions, |am e@ Bring a consistent, prayerful voice for a Church that is safe for everyone

happy to answer them. e@ Continue to speak up for inclusivity and equality in the church

. . e Continue pressing for fairer, sustainable funding for dioceses and parishes
Please contact me via email:

[email protected] e@ Continue to support the Church to address Racial Justice in practical ways

am supporting Dr Janette Allotey as well as proposing Fiona Bruce (former MP for Congleton) and Julie Okundaye (former
Chair of the Chester Racial Justice). Please consider voting for all of us using the preference system.

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