affirming,catholic,clergy welfare,disciples,ecumenical,good news,gospel,inclusive,independent safeguarding,liturgy,llf,mental health,mission,orthodox,roman catholic,safeguarding,same sex,sunday school,tradition,traditional,youth,youth ministry

LESTER CARISSIMI, St Edward the Confessor, Lugano
Candidate for the House of Laity, General Synod (Diocese in Europe)
Churchwarden & Swiss Archdeaconry Synod Representative (2021 – 2026)

Proposer: Robin Hall (Lay Chair, Swiss Archdeaconry Synod, St Nicholas Basel)
Seconder: Maxine Wildhaber (Swiss Archdeaconry Synod Representative, St Ursula, Bern)
ABOUT ME
• Parish Role
Churchwarden & Archdeaconry
Synod Representative for St
Edward the Confessor, Lugano
(2021–2026).
• Heritage & Family
Born 1968 to an English Anglican
mother and Italian father.
Married 35 years in a same-sex
partnership; father and
grandfather in a close family of
five.
• Professional Life
Degree in Political Economy.
Old Masters art consultant &
managing director of the family
business in coffee roasting.
• Cross-Cultural Depth
Vast experience in fair trade,
global diplomacy, and people
management across countries as
distinct as Egypt and the USA.
• Ecumenical Breadth
Resident in Italy & Switzerland;
deeply familiar with Anglican,
Roman Catholic, and Orthodox
traditions and governance.
• Contact
Email: [email protected]

I am always happy to connect
with electors across Europe.
HERE I AM, LORD
This is my first step towards greater engagement with the national Church, which
I take trusting in God’s calling. My English mother instilled a deep sense of
Christian duty and neighborly love, while my Italian father opened my eyes to a
world of beauty where the Glory of God and Creation is celebrated in a full
rainbow of colors.
I bring a unique combination of commercial acumen, legal scrutiny, and deep
devotion to traditional Anglican worship. As your Lay Representative, my
primary duty will be to listen, look, hear, and truly understand your voices,
translating our shared challenges into meaningful action at General Synod.
MY PRIORITIES FOR GENERAL SYNOD
• Parish Mission & Governance Scrutiny: Five years as Churchwarden
navigating two recruitment processes taught me where the Church’s governance
excels and where loopholes remain. Mission and growth at the parish level
requires clear, robust Church Representation Rules that produce efficient,
unified, and properly funded efforts while balancing welfare for clergy and
affirming lay leadership.
• Children & Youth Ministry: Nurturing young disciples to build confidence in
their faith is an imperative. Before joining St Edward’s in 2013, I worshipped at
All Saints, Milan. We chose Lugano, just over the border, when my son was 3, so
that he could attend the thriving Sunday School. Having guided my son through
Sunday School in to his studies in England, I pledge to champion youth rights
and support every step of their Christian journey across our diocese.
• Living in Love & Faith (LLF): Having lived in love and faith in a same-sex
partnership for over 35 years, raising our Tibetan-born adopted daughter, and
welcoming our grandchild, I bring authentic lived experience to this dialogue.
The debate at General Synod 2026, which sadly brought the LLF programme to a
formal close, also voted to establish new working groups to oversee future
theological and legal work. Having been part of our diocese’s synod dedicated to
LLF, I hope to be part of that conversation.
• Independent Safeguarding & Social Graces: I fully endorse the establishment
of an Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) to act as an external regulatory
body. We must embed a culture of 'Social Graces'—translating power into
empathy, responsibility, and restraint.
• Caring for Creation & Global Bridge-Building: We need no further
recommendation than the daily news to understand and act as a Church in
response to the climate crisis, which is affecting the most vulnerable
communities that omit almost zero net carbon.

ADVOCACY, ADVANCEMENT & RECORD OF SERVICE
What I will champion
• Mental Health & Clergy Welfare
I fully support Synod motions to train and equip
clergy to respond in an informed, compassionate
way to the mental health needs of those in their
pastoral care, while ensuring robust support
networks for clergy themselves.
• Women’s Ministry at All Levels
I am an uncompromising supporter of Women's
Ministry at every level of clerical and lay
participation. I actively respect women’s equal
stature, intellectual wisdom, and indispensable
contribution to the Church and wider world.
• Inclusive Ministry
The General Synod must remain an open
platform. I will believe all individuals, regardless
of gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic
background, are called, valued, and empowered
to work in Christ’s vineyard.
• Rich, Anglican Liturgy & Safe Havens
I value worship rooted in the rich Anglican
tradition. All who enter our churches must find a
safe, welcoming haven, an oasis of peace to
meet God, a place to belong and become.
My Experience & Qualifications
• Parish Leadership & Recruitment
5 years as Churchwarden in Lugano.
Successfully led the parish through two
complete chaplain recruitment cycles, financial
restructuring, and post-pandemic community re-
engagement.
• Synodical & Archdeaconry Service
Active Swiss Archdeaconry Synod
Representative since 2021. Directly participated
in European Diocesan Synod discussions on LLF
and diocesan strategy.
• International Business & Diplomacy
Managing director in the coffee roasting sector
and Old Masters art consultant. Broad
experience in fair trade, contract negotiation,
and cross-cultural relations across Europe, North
America, and the Middle East.
• Academic & Ecumenical Foundation
Graduate in Political Economy from Bocconi
University, Milan. Decades of residency in
Continental Europe providing deep insight into
Roman Catholic and Orthodox ecclesiastical
structures.

MY PLEDGE TO THE ELECTORS OF THE DIOCESE IN EUROPE
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Together we have a Gospel to declare: the good news which Jesus our Servant King brought to all people. If elected as
your Lay Representative, I pledge to be an accessible, accountable, and courageous voice at General Synod. I will listen
attentively to the diverse needs of our scattered European chaplaincies, scrutinize legislation with commercial rigor,
champion inclusive governance, and report back faithfully. I ask for your vote so that together we can ensure 'Thy will be
done on earth as in heaven.'

I would be deeply honoured to serve as your representative. If you would like to discuss any aspect of my candidate address
or share your hopes for General Synod, please contact me directly at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.

Pace e Bene, in Christ’s peace,
Lester Carissimi
Please give LESTER CARISSIMI your 1st Preference Vote