General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Adrian Vincent

Seeking to represent the needs of
your church on the General Synod

Thank you to all Deanery Synod members who have already kindly met me. You told me
about your challenges: to increase the congregation, particularly children and young people;
shortage of volunteers; and bureaucratic burdens. Many told me of the struggle to pay Parish
Share and a sense of unfairness that the Church Commissioners have large investments but
are spending money on other things, rather than supporting parishes.

If I am elected I will play my part in drafting legislation and the allocation of central funding
to help with the issues you raised. Two examples:

Children and young people: I became a Christian through youth work, and have been a
volunteer youth leader. I know how vital this work is and will push to prioritise children and
youth work in the General Synod’s allocation of funding and training courses.

Volunteers and bureaucracy: As churchwarden I have organised new heating, new lighting,
and a church extension. After seven years of clearing gutters, sticking my arm down drains
and applying for grants and faculties, I know many of the practical challenges churches face.
The General Synod sets the legislation that can make things either easier or harder for local
churches. If elected, I will work to make things easier.

About me

Education

• George Abbot School, Guildford.
• Durham University: Theology Degree.
• King’s College London: MA in the New Testament.

Employment

I began my career in the insurance industry. Then, for twelve years I worked at Church
House, Westminster in: the Ministry Division; the Archbishops’ Commission on the
Organisation of the Church of England; the Statistics Unit; and the House of Bishops.

If I am elected I will bring the rare experience of having worked as a member of staff in the
organisation. This gives me an understanding of what can be practically implemented.
16 Faris Barn Drive, Woodham, Surrey, KT15 3DZ.
Tel: 07914 206642
Email: [email protected]
https://adrianvincent.org.uk/

Since 2007 I have been working for the representative body for barristers, currently as Head
of Policy: Legal Practice and Remuneration. This includes legal aid fees, and advising
barristers on ethical issues such as: conflicts of interest; confidentiality; complaints handling;
and misconduct. The General Synod deals with many of the same subjects.

Governance

• PCC member for 22 years (2001-7, 2010-ongoing).
• Deanery Synod member for 16 years (2010-ongoing).
• Diocesan Synod member for 8 years (2010-15, 2018-21).
• Bishop’s Council member for 3 years (2015-18).
• General Synod member for 5 years (2010-15).
• Churchwarden for 7 years (2017-20, 2022-26).

Memberships

The guidance to candidates recommends that we state any memberships an elector might
think relevant in deciding how to vote:

• My relationship with Jesus is deepened through all forms of worship. The words of
traditional liturgy particularly connect with me; I am therefore a member of the Prayer
Book Society and Forward in Faith.
• I believe a key way God teaches us is through the Bible; I am therefore a member of
Church Society.
• I wrote the Guidebook and presented the video https://www.youtube.com/@AVincent411
for our Arts and Crafts style Victorian church. I am therefore a member of the Arts and
Crafts Movement of Surrey and the Victorian Society.
• Having worked for the Church of England, and now in the legal sector; I am a member of
the Church of England Records Society, and the Ecclesiastical Law Society.

All this may make me sound boring! But the work of a General Synod member, if done well,
requires reading hundreds of pages of legal and financial documents - so I’m a good fit!

Hot topics

On my website, in addition to having written more than 70 book reviews, I have articles on
matters such as: sexual ethics; politics in the Holy Land; and safeguarding. In summary, I
take a traditional biblical view on doctrine, and a best practice view on practical matters.

I am standing for election to make life better for local churches. I am not a single-issue
activist.

Communication

If I am elected I will publish reports on my website about every General Synod meeting,
which you can use for updating your PCC, and I would welcome your questions, comments
or requests at any time.

I would be very grateful for your support.

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