General Synod Election Candidates 2026

I am standing for General Synod because I believe that the Church needs people on Synod who understand both the importance of getting the big questions right and the reality of how decisions, structures and policies affect the life of the Church on the ground.
Through my own experience of ministry and leadership, I have had first-hand experience of some of the challenges surrounding safeguarding, governance, people management and organisational culture within the Church. Those experiences have reinforced for me just how important effective safeguarding is. Proper safeguarding is so much more than compliance, it requires good structures, clear accountability, competent leadership and, above all, integrity. It must protect those who are vulnerable while also ensuring that processes are fair, proportionate, transparent and properly followed.
I have also experienced situations where the Church’s governance structures have not always been sufficiently supportive of the life and mission of the local church. Good governance should enable the Church to flourish, not unintentionally frustrate its mission. It should provide appropriate challenge and accountability, while also having the wisdom and capacity to distinguish between genuine concerns that need to be heard and behaviour that can become undermining, divisive or destructive.
These experiences have given me a particular interest in the relationship between safeguarding, good governance, leadership, accountability and mission. I believe we need structures that are robust enough to protect people, but also wise enough to recognise the complexity of human relationships and the realities of parish ministry.
I am also conscious that General Synod is facing some profoundly important questions. The future shape and mission of the Church of England, the pressures facing parish ministry, questions of finance and sustainability, the ongoing work around safeguarding and redress, clergy wellbeing and conditions of service, the challenges of church growth, and the wider question of how we become a Church that is confident in proclaiming the Gospel while engaging honestly with the society around us, are all issues which require careful and mature discussion.
I want to contribute to that discussion in a spirit that is constructive rather than partisan. I do not believe that Synod is best served by simply reinforcing existing divisions. We need people who can listen carefully, ask difficult questions, understand different perspectives, and then work towards solutions that strengthen the Church rather than deepen its fractures.
At the heart of my reason for standing is a conviction that good governance and mission should not be competing priorities. The Church needs structures that safeguard people, uphold high standards and ensure accountability precisely so that our energy can be directed towards what God has called us to do: worshipping Christ, making disciples, serving our communities and sharing the good news of God’s love.
I would therefore be very grateful for your support and, if elected, I would seek to bring to Synod a combination of practical experience, theological conviction, common sense and a willingness to listen.
Thank you for considering my candidacy and for your prayerful support.
Rev Caroline Greenwood

accountability,church growth,clergy wellbeing,disciples,finance,good news,gospel,mission,redress,safeguarding,the society