baptist,divorce,gospel,liturgical,methodist,mission,pentecostal,tradition,traditional,vacancy,young people

Nigel James Election Address
Dear Elector
My current context
I hope in the next few brief paragraphs to give a brief flavour of who I am,
the competences and qualities gained in my personal and professional life and
why I seek election to General Synod.
I have been a member of my own worshipping community at St John the
Evangelist, Great Sutton for 14 years now and a practising Christian since the
1980s. I joined the Church as the 'new' Organist and Director of Music in 2012
and over time I have become more and more embedded in the fabric of a
lovely worshipping community. Six years ago I was asked by my Priest if I
wanted to undertake a Foundations for Ministry Course and a few years later I
found myself licensed as a Lay Reader in the Diocese.
That sense of belonging in a Parish community is very important to me, and I
believe for the people I seek to represent. There is something very precious
about a deep connection built up over years.
Professional
In my working life I have been a secondary school music teacher and I still do
some part-time supply work. I count it a privilege to work with young people
in formative years.
For three years I worked with Age UK in a couple of different roles. The first
was as a Health and Wellbeing Project coordinator for men over 55. I ran
bespoke projects aimed at engaging mostly single older men at risk of poor
health as a result of bereavement or divorce. Following that I was jointly
employed by the Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service and Age UK Cheshire as an
Older Persons Advocate. On the fire safety side I gave advice to older people
in their homes and fitted smoke alarms where there was a need. I was also
able to signpost people to services and appropriate benefits where needs
became evident.
I still find it rewarding to advocate for others. That needs careful listening and
the ability to communicate effectively.
Personal life
I am a father of four grown up sons who are forging their own paths.
Naturally my relationship with them is deeply important for me, and of course
I recognise the importance of families to the health of the Church.
It is probably evident already that music, and now particularly Church music,
has been a thread throughout my life. My own Mum was a pianist and Church
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organist and some of my earliest church and musical memories are of four
part hymn singing in a Baptist Church. With the benefit of hindsight I can now
see the formative nature of these experiences. My own Organ study began in
a Methodist Church when I was fifteen and have some experience singing
bass in Choral Societies (in Frodsham for example).
I have been a Church musician in various guises: in a Pentecostal Church
music group in the 1980s and in a more traditional role as an organist and
choir director in more recent years. I consider good hymnody and liturgical
music to be very important to the Anglican tradition and I believe we should
cherish and develop it.
Why I seek election
I have already alluded to my deep grounding in my Parish community which is
both nurturing and humbling. It is the place where faith is worked out
alongside others. Without using a tag line, I certainly do believe in the
importance of the Parish. My own Parish has a new Incumbent Priest after
nearly two years of vacancy. That highlights a particular problem about fewer
Priests being Ordained in the Church of England - a 25% decrease between
2020 and 2025. However waiting on God's timing can be positive as I believe
has been the case in my own context, where contrary to expecation the
congregation has grown rather than declined.
With respect to the concern for the Parish I have read a manifesto, which I
think I broadly agree with. There are of course things people can change in
terms of policies and priorities and it is absolutely right to ensure that
Parishes are properly resouced. Decentralisation seems to be the key here –
moving the money from central administration back to where the mission
actually happens.
I seek election because:
1.

I care about the Church of England in general and the needs of local
parishes;
1.

I desire to listen to people and their concerns;
1.

I want to ensure these matters are put before General Synod;
1.

In particular I desire to see the effective resourcing of Parish ministry;
the welfare of Priests and an engaged, flourishing laity because all God's
people are needed to present the Gospel afresh in our generation.
Finally I am not as pessimistic as some. The Church of England is in
challenging times and it is foolish to ignore that, but God's grace and mercy is
available.
I hope you will consider giving me your vote.

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