benefice,curacy,disability,equality,justice,liturgical,liturgy,living in love and faith,mission,neurodiversity,ordinands,prayers of love and faith,racial justice,rural communities,sacrament,tradition,young people

Why I am standing

I am standing because | care deeply about the
future of the Church of England, and believe that
our national conversations need to remain rooted
in the realities of local ministry.

I want to bring to Synod the perspective of a
parish priest serving small rural communitie
rooted in liturgical tradition, unequivocally
committed to inclusion, and hopeful about what
we can become.

As a new voice on General Synod, | promise to
listen carefully to colleagues across the Diocese of
Gloucester, speak honestly, engage generously, and
keep asking what our decisions mean for the
people and communities we are called to serve.

A bit more about me

I am the Associate Priest in what will become the
Benefice of Minchinhampton Commons and Vale,
serving rural communities on the edge of the
Cotswolds, where the occupational hazards of
ministry include being held up by cows as I travel
between my parishes.

My faith journey began with deep roots in my village
parish church. I later worshipped and explored my

calling to ministry within another denomination,
before feeling drawn back home to the Church of
England as my vocation to the priesthood became
clear. That journey left me with a deep love for the
breadth of the Church of England and its particular

calling to be present for everyone in a place, whether
or not they regularly come through our doors.

Seconded by: R
Diocese of Gloucester LGBTQI+ Chaplain

Natalie Jennings
Candidate for General Synod

Diocese of Gloucester

Nominated by: Reverend Canon Graham Morris,
Vicar of Cirencester

everend Canon Pauline Godfrey,

My experience and perspective

Rooted in rural parish ministry

I grew up in a Somerset village and took part in
dae Ministry Experience Shere in Cornwall. |
then served my curacy in a large rural benefice in
Herefordshire before mov ing to Gloucestershire.

Synodical experience

Former member of Hereford Diocesan Synod
through the duration of my curacy; now an active
member of Stroud Deanery Sy mod.

Inclusion and accessibility

Co-Chair of the Diocese of Gloucester Inclusion
and Access for All Group since 2024, and
participant in the Church of England’s Enabling
Leaders programme for disabled and
neurodivergent leaders.

My faith is shaped by sacrament, liturgy and the
rhythm of the Church's year. In leading worship, I
try to be invitational: taking our traditions
seriously while helping people to find their own
place within them. I care about making space for
different ways of thinking, communicating and
participating, and recognising the gifts that a
diverse community brings to the Church.

Outside ministry, I can often be found walking my
dogs, Bertie and Bella, nurturing my new found
love of gardening, or occasionally rediscovering my
enthusiasm for knitting.

Please see page 2 for my hopes and priorities for General Synod

What I hope to bring to Synod

A national Church rooted in local communities

I believe deeply in the importance of place. One of the things that drew me
home to the Church of England was its outward-looking par rish ministry:
Church present not only for those who worship with us, but called to know.
love and serve the communities around us.

Rural churches and market-town churches can easily disappear from national
conversations. They face real challenges - multi-parish benefices, historic
buildings, small congregations and limited resources - but they are not
problems to be solved. They are places of extraordinary commitment,
creativity and connection. On General Synod, I will speak up for smaller
churches, rural communities and market towns, ensuring their experience is
heard when decisions are made.

Walkers on a Reflective
Ramble in Cherington

A Church where everyone can flourish

Our diocesan vision is rooted in Jesus’ words: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
(John 10.10). | want to see that vision reflected in a Church in which everyone is able not simply to belong,

but to flourish. | am committed to the full inclusion of LGBTQI+ people i in the life of the Church, and to

the continuing work needed around racial justice, gender equality, disability and neurodiversity. | want us

to become a Church that is better at recognising different ways of thinking, communicating, worshipping

and participating - and generous enough to make room for difference, including when we disagree. On

General Synod, I will play my part in taking forward the work already begun throug eh Living in Love and
Faith, including the use of Prayers of Love and Faith in standalone services.

A hopeful Church willing to change

[am hopeful about the future of the Church, but I It also means asking difficult questions about what

don't think hope means simply trying harder to kind of Church we are preparing today's ordinands
preserve everything as it is. | want us to be and curates to lead.

confident enough in what we have received to

. ~ . I want to help shape a Church that is deeply rooted,
and listen for what God ’

but not stuck: one which treasures its inheritance

experiment, take risks

That means investing in children and young
people, exploring new forms of mission alongside
inherited church, and taking our responsibility
for creation seriously.

Please consider giving me your
first preference vote.
Voting closes on 13‘ October.

Ascension Day service on Minchinhampton Common

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at
[email protected]