discernment,new worshipping communities,pcc,safeguarding,traditional

General Synod Election Address
Alison Blackburn
Licensed Lay Minister in Durham North Team (PTO)
Durham Deanery Lay Chair
Member of Bishop’s Council
Member of Energising Growth Programme Board
Sub Warden of Lay Ministries (for Gateshead, Gateshead West and Jarrow)
Former Bishop’s Advisor for the National and Diocesan Shared Ministry Discernment Process
(formerly BAP)

Married to Phil (who is currently Church Warden and Vice Chair of our PCC); two grown up
children; one grandson.
Former Upper School Head of RE; Primary School teacher; Acting Head Teacher.

I am offering to stand as your representative on General Synod in the coming elections.
Since training for ministry myself, I have continued to be involved with Lindisfarne College of
Theology: as a Personal Tutor, a Trustee and, latterly, as a member of the Core Staff, leading
the Practical Theology programme for Lay Pastoral Ministers and Lay Pastoral Chaplains. I
was also Personal Tutor to the early cohorts of students following the Authorised Lay
Ministers of the Word course. I am currently supervising an LCT student on placement in our
parish.

I am interested in supporting those training for ministry and I would take every opportunity
at General Synod to champion Lay Ministry. We have a wealth of experienced, dedicated
people in the diocese, who gladly give generously of their time and God-given talents to
support their churches and they deserve support and encouragement themselves.

As a member of Bishop’s Council, I am aware of the financial and pastoral issues facing our
parishes. I would seek to promote and defend our churches across the wide variety of
traditions, as we all step forward into an unknowable future, trusting in God.

I am passionate about exploring the co-existence of ‘traditional’ churches and new
worshipping communities. What are the practicalities and how might these relationships
develop in the future?

At the same time, I am all too aware of the number of churches where an ever-dwindling
number of dedicated people have been ‘keeping the show on the road’ for a long time, but
who now find that there are no new, younger people to take over from them. I understand
the frustration and weariness that is out there (it’s like that in my parish); the sense of
overwhelm with all the new and necessary legalities for Safeguarding, Treasurers, etc.

However, I am also excited about the prospects for our diocese with our new Bishop Rick, a
pending new Suffragan Bishop and a new Archdeacon. This is bringing new energy,
experience and insight, from which we can all benefit.

If elected, whenever I can, I intend to bring back hope and support from General Synod and
to contribute to the discussions there in a positive way, always mindful of those who have
kindly given me the opportunity and responsibility to represent them at this national level.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

A Blackburn Sept 2026