General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Election Address for Rev’d Dr Jason Ward
Dear Colleagues, I am putting myself forward for General Synod if you would like me to represent
you.
At the moment, I am on Bishop’s Council and am your Chair of the House of Clergy. Being elected to
that position has been a genuine honour and has given me a real opportunity in various meetings to
advocate for my colleagues across the diocese and across the theological spectrum. I have had the
ability this past year to speak to some of my deepest concerns:
1.

freeing people up for mission and resourcing the local parish to do the work of sharing the
gospel of our amazing saviour
1.

the mental health of our clergy under so many pressures
1.

the stipend and pension provision
1.

and neurodiversity among our clergy.
You will want to know how I will represent you at General Synod, should you vote for me.
1.

I will look for decisions that make ministry easier and help each of us, regardless of
theological position, to succeed in our calling to make disciples, share the news of Jesus, and
bless our communities.
1.

If PLF comes up, I will be asking that General Synod set the PLF debate aside for this cycle. I
am traditional-evangelical on this topic, but even if I weren’t, I would suggest that our
denomination needs a period of calm and healing; a chance to learn how to disagree
strongly but without hostility.
1.

Recent calls for reflection on the culture and practices within the House of Bishops strike me
as a positive move, and I would love to support any encouragement to help bishops be the
senior pastors of the diocese rather than stretched and stressed managers.

1. Dioceses are in financial difficulty, and we are short of people coming through the training

pipeline. The rainy days that the Church Commissioners have saved for are upon us. I would
vote for and speak to motions that have that sense of urgency without being unwise with
our funds.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch
you can reach me at [email protected]

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