General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Sarah Packman
[email protected]
Candidate for House of Laity 2026

Proposer: Dr Caroline Mason
Portishead deanery synod
Seconder: Captain Chris Hughes
Portishead deanery synod

Who am I?

My name is Sarah Packman, I’m 47yrs old and I
live in Nailsea. I am married to James who is
Rector of Holy Trinity, we have two teenage
children Lydia (18) and Silas (14), and I would
love the opportunity to serve the wider church
through the ministry of General Synod.

I treasure spending time with my family and
friends, I enjoy jigsaws and mini-craft projects
and always have chocolate in the cupboard!

I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian
home, a clergy home and came to know Jesus for
myself at age 10. Having moved as a child and
now being married to a clergyman, I have
experienced the blessings of a variety of
churches over the years. Alongside personal
Bible reading, prayer and Sunday services, my
own spiritual growth has been hugely helped
through Bible study groups. I’ve always enjoyed
studying scripture, and for me it's important that
the Bible is accessible to all.

I have confidence in the Gospel, the truth that
Jesus can and does change lives and bring new
life today. I firmly believe that church is a place
where all people, all ages and stages of faith,
should be valued, encouraged and enabled to
grow.

I'm well aware that what is decided on a national
level significantly affects churches on a local
level. I would want to value and protect the
ministry of churches in our diocese. so that all
may have the opportunity, no matter where they
live, to connect with churches made up of
ordinary people who are seeking to live and tell
the story of Jesus through their words and
actions.

Love local

I'm passionate about the ministry of the local
church! The Church of England provides an
amazing opportunity to be beacons of Jesus's
love, light, hope and peace in the communities
and different situations in which our churches
are located. Rural parishes, town churches and
churches in urban communities face different
challenges and also have different opportunities
for mission and outreach. None being ‘better’
than the other, but all able to be part of the
fulfilment of Jesus’s commission to make
disciples of all nations.

In villages, the church is often at the heart of the
community along with the local school and pub!
Numbers may be smaller, but the closeness of
relationships within villages and the wider
feelings of ‘ownership’ of the local church give
many opportunities for sharing the gospel,
especially around festivals. I have had the
privilege of being part of different styles of
church and seeing congregations grow both in
villages and larger towns.
I am supportive of Save The Parish and the Parish
system, which means that gospel ministry can
continue to bless all the local communities in
this area.

The Secret Service

Local churches have more in common with MI5
than many realize! Both organisations rely
heavily on those involved in “secret service”.
These valuable volunteers are the backbones of
many congregations especially as Clergy and
finances are often stretched. I am well aware
that it is not just clergy who are at risk of burnout
but also lay volunteers who are often juggling
various roles.

I would love the opportunity to represent the
ordinary volunteer, see laity equipped and
empowered in their roles so that the ministries in
their churches continue to flourish.

Why now?

I have two teenage children, who are now old
enough for me to be able to make time for the
demands that being on general synod would
bring, but still young enough to keep me
informed and relevant to the needs and
pressures on Christian young people today!

Young people need to meet Jesus. They are
constantly bombarded with information, often
anxious and can lack self-esteem. We, as God’s
people, need to ensure that our churches are
safe and accessible places for young people to
hear the truth of the gospel and experience
God’s love for them.

God is at work in our nation! There is a growing
interest in God and faith from young people in
our country. The Church needs to be prepared
for this on a national level in order to equip
churches on a
local level to
follow where
God is leading
on this and I’d
love to be a
part of that.

We must encourage the young people in our
churches to be actively involved in church life. I
personally love the fact that once a month as
part of the music group, my daughter sings, my
son plays bass, and I play my flute – not quite the
Von Trapps but a lot of fun as we worship God
together!

What could I offer?

•
Theology graduate from Durham University,
with experience in education and Religious
Studies teaching.
•
Eighteen years’ experience serving family,
church, and community life.
•
Practical involvement in toddler groups,
music groups, children’s ministry, Bible
studies, wedding preparation, young adults’
ministry, welcome teams, and house groups.
•
Trained Lay Worship Assistant, with current
experience in leading services.
•
A grassroots understanding of local church
ministry and the joys and challenges of
serving faithfully.
•
A particular interest in Church schools and
Religious Studies, shaped by teaching
experience and parenting children at a
Church Primary School.

If elected I would be prayerful in this role,
seeking to be faithful to the God I serve,
conscientious, recognising it’s not just a job to
be done but a call to be involved in God’s
mission to this nation. Seeking to keep in mind
Paul’s words, “And whatever you do, whether in
word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus.” (Colossians 3v17)

Thank you

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I would
love to serve the wider Church in this way and I
would be so grateful if you would consider giving
me your first, or highest possible preference vote.

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