General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Kat Alldread
[email protected]
Proposed by: Madelaine Goddard, Seconded by: Hannah Hawkins
It has been a great privilege to serve as a member of General Synod
since 2015 representing the Diocese of Derby, and I am seeking your
vote to elect me to serve for another term. The Church and General
Synod will be faced with some very tough issues over the next five
years. I bring knowledge, experience, good communication skills
and the ability to work well across difference.
At General Synod, I have
supported and voted for:
The Church’s lament for safe-
guarding failures and moves
toward independent scrutiny
and oversight and a redress
scheme.
Ambitious Net Zero carbon tar-
gets so that the Church might
show its commitment to care
for creation and be a leader in
addressing the global emergen-
cy of climate change and its im-
pact on both the natural envi-
ronment and the humanity.
Introduction of the Prayers of
Love and Faith, acknowledge-
ment of the cost paid by
LGBTQIA+ people and moves to
be more fully inclusive.
Steps to encourage the voca-
tions of working-class people to
lay and ordained ministry.
Removal of Issues in Human
Sexuality from the vocational
discernment process.
Acknowledgement and lament
for the Church’s historic role in
transatlantic chattel slavery and
to promote actions that demon-
strate God’s love and justice for
all people.
Support for clergy, including
changes to the pension scheme
and a new Clergy Conduct
Measure to replace the Clergy
Discipline Measure.
I believe:
The Gospel message is relevant and needed. As people of faith, we can do a much
better job of communicating this and connecting with the communities we serve.
Under increasing financial pressure, how the Church allocates money is a significant
issue for Synod. As difficult decisions are made, it is essential that spending is made
where it is most needed to support local churches, and our first priority as Christians
must be ‘the least of these’ of Matthew 25.
As the established church, the Church of England holds a privileged position to
speak into the public square. Years of failing to safeguard the most vulnerable and
internal squabbling over full inclusion of women and LGBTQIA+ people have decimat-
ed the Church’s credibility. The Church has an important role to play to bring Christian
values into public discourse, but actions speak more loudly than words and there is a
great deal that needs to be done to regain public trust.
To fulfil its mission, the Church needs to be generous, welcoming and inclusive, a
place in which everyone can belong, participate fully in membership and leadership.
Through my work as part of the Living in Love in Faith Working Group on Vocations
and Ministry, I have shown my ability and willingness to work across difference to en-
able the Church to be one where all might flourish.
We need to continue to find, encourage and develop church leaders, both lay and
ordained, to lead the church, serve communities and enable all church members, the
whole body of Christ, to live out their faith in their everyday lives.
About me:
I have been a Diocesan staff member for 12 years, working in a number of different
roles in governance, vocations and church buildings, which gives me a broad under-
standing of issues faced by people and churches. I am now DAC Secretary.
I have a passion for the local church- I have served as churchwarden, treasurer,
children’s group leader and Foodbank volunteer.
I am the coordinator of the local network of clergy and lay people who are members
of Together, which seeks greater inclusion and equal opportunity to participate in the
life of the Church for all, regardless of ethnicity, disability, sex, gender, gender identi-
ty, sexuality, mental health, neurodiversity, marital status, socio-economic background
or economic power.
I am friendly and approachable, and I work relationally and collaboratively.
I ask for your vote and I ask that you also give priority to my Together colleagues Emily Brailsford and Louisa
Wass-Griffiths in the House of Laity, and I encourage clergy colleagues to give priority to Julian Hollywell,
Bryony Taylor and Sarah Watson in the House of Clergy. I believe that we will work as an effective and col-
laborative group for the Diocese of Derby.

I am very happy to answer any questions you may have. Please use the contact information included above.

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