General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Hannah Leckebusch

A fresh perspective, an eye for detail, and passion for a fully inclusive Church

Proposer: Sara Turner (Cheltenham Deanery)
Seconder: Sue Padfield (Lay Chair, Severn Vale Deanery)

About me

| am 30 and live in Gloucester, where | work as an administrator and
clerk in the Diocese of Gloucester’s Education Team. | also have a small
role clerking for the trust board of Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre
in the Forest of Dean. Outside work, | sing with a local choral society
and enjoy photography, visiting historic churches, and baking.

My faith journey has led me from the Methodist and Baptist churches of
my childhood to the Church of England. | attended a Church of England
primary school and later a Roman Catholic sixth form. Christian
summer camps were a highlight of my adolescence and offered space
to ask difficult questions, and Roman Catholic retreats as a young adult
introduced me to the beauty of liturgy.

Witnessing God at work in so many different traditions has been valuable in shaping my own
faith. | have now found a home at St Philip and St James, Leckhampton (Pip and Jim’s), having
initially been employed as the parish administrator. | now help with Sunday youth work and am
part of a team leading meditative evening services.

Why | am standing for election

| am passionate about building a Church where all people can encounter the unconditional
love of God and grow more fully into who God has made them to be. | long for the Church
of England to be fully inclusive and will champion motions which facilitate this. | am fully
committed to equality for everyone, at all levels and roles within the Church, regardless of
disability, economic power, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health,
neurodiversity, or sexuality.

In a society where voices of division are often given the greatest attention, the Church has a
responsibility to hold space for difficult conversations, enabling these to “be done in love”
(1 Corinthians 16.14). | would welcome the opportunity to listen to, learn from and worship
alongside fellow Christians from a range of backgrounds, especially those whose views
don’t align with my own.

Administration is, for me, a vocation. Taking care of the small details — even if not exciting
or glamorous - is key to the smooth running of an organisation. | see my attention to detail
as a gift which frees up others to flourish in their own ministry, and would apply this same
care when considering issues brought to General Synod.

From my roles with the Education Team and at Viney Hill, | have developed a keen interest in
good governance practice, and knowledge of central diocesan structures. | hope that these
principles, alongside my natural curiosity and love of logic, would be useful in a synodical
context.

Particular areas of interest

Neurodiversity

| was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in my 20s and am acutely
aware of the feelings of brokenness and “otherness” which many
neurodivergent people experience, rather than knowing themselves as
“fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139.14). | was heartened by
the “All Kinds of Minds” debate at the July 2026 Synod and would love
to contribute to any initiatives arising from this.

LGBT+ inclusivity

| long for the Church of England to affirm and fully embrace LGBT+
people, recognising them as a valued and precious part of its life.
Engaging with Living in Love and Faith has not been without personal
cost for me as a queer woman, but | remain committed to the life of
the Church and am keen to participate in further discussions in this
area.

Refugees and asylum seekers
A friendship in sixth form opened my eyes to the injustices of the UK’s Month service at Pip and
asylum system. | later volunteered at Gloucestershire Action for Jim's, which is part of the
Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS), where it was incredibly Inclusive Church network
humbling to work with people from a huge range of backgrounds who

were seeking to find safety and rebuild their lives in the UK. The Bible has much to say about
welcoming the outsider and the stranger, so | would like to see General Synod discuss how the
Church of England can live these teachings out in its worshipping communities.

Decorations for a Pride

Education

From my work with the Education Team, | understand the pivotal role Church schools play in
their local communities, and the challenges many parishes and schools face recruiting
foundation governors. General Synod could do more to highlight the importance of this role,
equipping parishes to reach volunteers who might never have considered such a position
before.

Church buildings

| enjoy visiting parish churches and cathedrals, and this has led to a deep appreciation of church
buildings as focal spaces for worship and community identity, many of which are steeped in
centuries of history. | would like General Synod to explore how parishes can be better
supported to maintain their heritage buildings as active places of worship.

Whilst | would have much to learn as a first-time member of General Synod, it would
be a privilege to serve our Diocese in this way. | would embrace this opportunity to
learn, including attending Deanery Synod meetings to hear members’ perspectives.
Please contact me on [email protected] at any stage in the election
process if you would appreciate further discussion, and please consider giving me
your first preference vote.

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