General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd James Moore (51) - Candidate for House of Clergy
e. [email protected]

t. 07341 353700

a: 19 Lane End Close, Instow, Devon, Ex39 4LG

Proposer: Revd Preb Edward Hobbs
Seconder: Revd Marilyn Saunders

Thank you for being willing to consider me for service on General Synod, as | seek to contribute to the
flourishing of the Church of England through Synod’s prayerful and legislative work.

About me...

lam married to Sarah, and we have two children; Joshua (21), enjoying a year in industry as part of his
degree, and Olivia (18) who is about to begin university life. | am currently serving my curacy in the
wonderful parishes of Fremington, Westleigh and Instow, on the North Devon coast, a position which
brings me great joy every day.

Growing up in a Christian family in Devon, | learned the importance of prayer and Bible study from the
example set by loving Christian parents, and was Baptised as a teenager. After school, | left home to train
as a nurse in Bristol, where | began a hugely fulfilling career working in Emergency Departments and
specialising in Expedition Medicine — providing medical care in remote and inhospitable places across
the globe. In 2007 | left the NHS to start an independent healthcare business, a practice that continues
to support individuals, companies and charities travelling or working overseas. Medical education
featured prominently throughout my career, and | was responsible for the development and launch of
two postgraduate medical degrees, inspiring medics to develop and employ skills in low-income
countries.

Many people in midlife feel called to get a tattoo or buy a motorbike - but | felt God’s unmistakable call
into ministry. So, in 2021 | began exploring this calling and immediately knew that life for me and my
family was about to change. Following discernment, | trained at St Mellitus College, Plymouth, serving as
an ordinand first with St Matt’s Exeter, and then St Andrew’s Cullompton, before being ordained in 2025.

These two churches provided the experience of a wonderful breadth of Anglican worship, from
traditional to charismatic evangelical styles, a perfect preparation for my curacy here in North Devon.

During my curacy, | have developed new forms of family-focused worship, helped develop a men’s
breakfast, and organised an ecumenical day of prayer and worship focusing on men’s discipleship.

In everything | do, | am passionate about the growth of the church, a church expanding through people
coming to love and follow Jesus, and Christians growing in their faith, discipleship and willingness to
share the Gospel.

Things on my heart

Philippians 2:13 says ‘For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure’, and |
firmly believe God gives us a passion or longing to be involved in areas of his mission. Those who know
me will happily testify to my relentless enthusiasm and capacity to get stuck in. Of the many things | feel
passionate about, here are three | would consider particular priorities:

Education — England’s first nationwide movement to provide education for every child in every parish
was established in 1811 by the Church of England, particularly for those on the margins of society. As a
former governor in a Church of England school, | believe the Church of England, with its network of
church schools, has the most wonderful opportunity to help and support children who are not GCSE-
shaped, and who are often on the margins, to achieve in new and exciting ways.

Ministry to men and boys — We live in a complicated, social-media-fuelled world in which a boy is now
more likely to own a smartphone than to live with his father. The negative effects of absent role models
and a diminished sense of belonging are well documented, often linked with poor educational
attainment. As Christians, we proclaim the love of God as Father, who gives hope, identity and life. |
believe the church has a significant role in supporting men and boys, and | would encourage Synod to
help churches develop effective ministry among them.

Evangelism — It is sometimes so hard to fathom how the church in Acts managed to grow exponentially
as it did, when the mission of which we are part feels like climbing a one-in-four icy Devon road. Yet
when a church commits to prayer and fasting, worship and the study of the Bible, God responds, setting
our hearts on fire, and showing us how to be effective contributors to his work. | believe in these key
missional tenets, and would like to encourage Synod to help parishes foster these activities.

Summary

Coming into full-time stipendiary work slightly later in life, | am blessed to be bringing the experience of
careers in business, education and global healthcare. More importantly, however, | bring an unrelenting
drive to see God’s love permeate our society, finding the lost, fixing the broken, giving hope to the
hopeless, and bringing people into a worshipful relationship with Jesus Christ.

If elected, | will seek to represent clergy across the breadth of our diocese, listening carefully to different
traditions, contexts and concerns. | will communicate regularly with those | represent whilst working

towards these goals.

| would be grateful if you would consider giving me your first or a high-preference vote. With your
support, | will do my best to bring that same passion to Synod.

Thank you for your consideration.

1 Centre for Social Justice, Lost Boys (2025), p. 7. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/bde5tx4b

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