church growth,discipleship,doctrine,established church,evangelical,evangelism,gospel,mission,orthodox,reformed,scripture,tradition,united reformed church,witness

DR TOM SIMMONS
Candidate for the House of Laity, General Synod
St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds

Age 39
Born in Blackpool, now living in Norfolk
Married, with one son and another child due
Email: [email protected]

Proposer: Steve J Smith, Lay Chair, Lavenham Deanery.
Seconder: Shelagh Wallace, Deanery Synod representative, Thingoe Deanery.

Why I am standing
I am standing for General Synod because I believe the Church of England urgently needs spiritual,
institutional and cultural renewal—for its own future and its ability to contribute to the renewal of national
life.
As the established Church, it has a remarkable opportunity and serious responsibility. Yet it can appear
more influenced by the assumptions of the surrounding culture than confident in offering a distinctively
Christian lead. Its decline sometimes seems too readily accepted as inevitable when our response should
be renewed mission and hope.
Neither the decline of the Church nor of Christianity in our nation is inevitable. But renewal will require the
Church to remember who it is, recover confidence in the gospel and make mission and growth central to
its institutional life.
I am standing for Synod because, as the Church’s legislative body and an important national forum, its
decisions shape parish life and influence how substantial resources are used. Synod cannot renew the
Church alone, but it can support—or obstruct—the work taking place in local churches. My business
experience of scrutinising evidence, raising and allocating funds, building organisations and leading
change would, I believe, enable me to contribute seriously to those decisions. I now want to put that
experience at the service of the Church, helping to ensure that its national institutions support local
worship, mission and service.

My background
•
I was christened in the United Reformed Church and attended an Anglican primary school in the
High Church tradition.
•
I lost my faith as a teenager and returned to Christianity in my thirties after a long intellectual and
personal journey, influenced particularly by my wife’s family and their background in missionary
work and Bible translation.
•
My wife and I have worshipped in several Anglican and independent churches. We are members of
St Mary’s, Bury St Edmunds, where I participate in small groups, men’s groups and the wider life of
the church.
•
I am studying part-time for a master’s degree in divinity, deepening my understanding of Scripture,
Christian doctrine and the Church’s role in society.
•
I am broadly evangelical and an orthodox Anglican. I value the Church of England’s breadth, while
believing it must be held together by confidence in Scripture and the historic Christian faith.
•
I began my career in academic biochemistry, completing a BSc and PhD before working as a
postdoctoral researcher and Fellow.
•
I later founded and led a technology company operating in the UK and US. I raised substantial
venture capital investment from around the world, built an international organisation and led the
business through its sale to a major German company. I now serve as Managing Director and Chief
Technology Officer within the acquiring group.

My priorities
If elected, I would particularly work for:

Confident and faithful Christian witness
The Church of England has inherited an extraordinary spiritual, intellectual and cultural tradition, yet often
appears remarkably uncertain of its own purpose and value. Renewal requires confidence in the gospel
and clarity about what the Church believes.
The Church should speak clearly about Jesus Christ, uphold a coherent Christian worldview and draw
confidently on Scripture and the wisdom of the Anglican tradition. It should offer a hopeful and
distinctively Christian vision of the future as a response to the challenges of today, while treating those
who disagree with dignity, charity and respect.

Mission, church growth and a positive Christian future
Reversing declining attendance should be among the Church of England’s highest institutional priorities.
Our ambition should not merely be to manage existing institutions or slow their contraction, but to grow
confident Christian communities capable of renewing families, neighbourhoods and national life.
To do so we should learn honestly from growing churches, evaluate initiatives rigorously and direct
resources towards work that demonstrably helps people come to Christian faith and become part of
lasting worshipping communities.

Focused and accountable leadership
The Church’s limited time, money and leadership attention should be concentrated on its essential
purposes: worship, discipleship, evangelism, pastoral care and service.
Synod should resist the temptation to adopt an institutional position on every political controversy. Many
political questions permit legitimate Christian disagreement, and continual political commentary can
distract the Church from its distinctive mission. The Church should engage seriously with national life, but
its teaching must be shaped by Christian truth rather than the pursuit of cultural approval.
National programmes should have clear objectives and be assessed honestly. The Church should be
prepared to change or discontinue initiatives that prove ineffective and direct greater resources and
responsibility towards local churches, clergy and lay leaders.

My commitment to you
If elected, I will seek to represent all lay electors across the diocese, including those of varying theological
or political views. I will be principled without being needlessly combative and practical without losing
sight of the Church’s spiritual purpose.
I will examine proposals on both principle and evidence, communicate openly with electors and support
clergy, parishes and laypeople engaged in local ministry. I will bring independence, courage and practical
organisational experience to Synod while remaining willing to learn and work constructively with others.

If you would like to discuss anything raised in this address, or ask me about my candidacy, please feel free
to contact me by email. I would be very glad to hear from you.
I would be grateful for your support and for your first preference—or otherwise a high preference.