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General Synod Election Address 2026
Birmingham Diocese, House of Laity

Matthew Vaughan, St Paul’s Bordesley Green
Yardley and Solihull Deanery

Phone: 07305 811480
Email: [email protected]

Address: 405 Belchers Lane, Birmingham, B9 5SY

Proposer: Theresa Harris, Christ Church Ward End
Seconder: Geoff Holt, St John’s Sparkhill and Christ Church, Sparkbrook

Who am I?

I’m Matt, 43 years old and married to Andrea since 2008. We have four kids — Sam, Ellie, Hannah and
Daniel — and have been living in Bordesley Green, Birmingham since 2021. My mother and father
were both vicars in churches in Hampshire and church was a big part of my life growing up. Andrea
and | moved to Pakistan as missionaries in 2011, returning to the UK in 2021. We have continued to
serve as missionaries here since then, encouraging churches to relate positively to Muslims in their
areas.

In my spare time | love gardening, watching cricket, and hiking in the mountains of Scotland and
Wales whenever | get the chance.

Experience

| grew up in a vicarage outside Basingstoke and from childhood | took part in church life at the
churches in which my parents were ministering. At a Christian youth festival | made a personal
decision to follow Jesus.

| studied Modern Languages at Oxford University, attended St. Ebbe’s church, and joined the mission
agency Interserve straight after graduating. While serving in Pakistan | worked in Christian media
and with a seminary training Pakistani men and women for ministry across the country, and was
deeply encouraged by their dedication and joy as they served the Lord in a challenging context.

When we returned to the UK in 2021 Andrea and | took up non-stipendiary roles as Mission Enablers
in the Deanery of Yardley and Solihull. We are based in Bordesley Green where we work with the
two churches of Holy Trinity Benefice. While living in one of the most deprived areas of Birmingham
comes with significant challenges for our family it has also given us valuable insights into how
Anglican churches can engage positively and confidently in low-income areas in which Christians are
a faith minority.

Feeling convicted to contribute positively to the Church of England across the city, | volunteered to
serve on Deanery Synod for Yardley and Solihull, was elected to Diocesan Synod in October 2024,
and was then elected to Bishop’s Council in November 2024. | see lay ministry as an essential and
equal part of the overall vitality of the Church of England and am keen to amplify the voices of those
of us who are called but not ordained, particularly in challenging and less fashionable urban
contexts.

Why | am standing for General Synod

This is an incredibly exciting time for the Church of England! As people who know the risen Jesus we
can draw confidence from the knowledge of his unfailing love for all people everywhere. In an
increasingly anxious and uncertain world the offer of “life in all its abundance” is richer than ever,
and | hope that by serving on General Synod | can contribute positively as the church engages with
the opportunities before us.

My particular areas of experience and interest are:

e Engaging positively with Muslim people. | have worked among Muslims for 20 years and am
passionate to see Christians equipped to relate to Muslims with respect, and with confidence
in the good news of the gospel.

e Standing against “Christian” nationalism. | was honoured to work alongside vicars in Ward
End and Hodge Hill as we responded to a UKIP march through our parish in February 2026.
This experience gave me an insight into the xenophobic dangers of “Christian” nationalism
and a determination to be clear in our renunciation of such an unChristian narrative.

e Seeing churches thrive in areas of deprivation. The parish system is a wonderful inheritance
which ensures a Christian witness in every square foot of the country, but ministry challenges
and opportunities vary hugely between areas of deprivation and of affluence. In order to
follow the command to “bind up the brokenhearted” | would seek to build creative
partnerships between churches in different contexts as an expression of Jesus’ love for those
on the margins.

e Involving young people. As a parent of four children, two of whom are neurodiverse, | am
aware of the challenges facing young people in today’s polarized, anxious world. Our young
people are both the present and the future of the church and we need to listen to them as
we involve them more meaningfully in church life.

| love the Church of England and look forward to seeing it flourish in the years to come. If you
choose to vote for me | commit to working hard, listening well and doing everything | can to
represent the opportunities and challenges of our wonderful city on a national level.

| would be happy to answer any questions or comments you may have — please feel free to contact
me at any time.