General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Jo Medhurst for General Synod
• 1981 : Came to Faith. (Aged 9.)
• 1982: Baptised in Believer’s Baptism after 6 months of
“negotiations”with my minister about being “too young”.
• 1986: Joined Worship Ministry Team and began to lead services,
house groups and youth ministry.
• 1988 - 1992: Experienced how others were shown injustice in
foreign lands - visiting Kenya, Swaziland and Romania in
mission.
• 1990: Became a Founder member of a church Plant, learning
process and how to do community in a diverse setting.
• 1995: Qualified as Teacher and developed music therapy sessions
for children with learning difficulties and neurodiverse challenges
• 2005: Joined the financial industry as portofolio manager and
delivered training courses in integrity.
• 2020: Left the bank due to caliing out unjust practices.
• 2020: Became a Registered Care Manager, training those who
cared for the Elderly and living with mobility issues.
2024 - present: Ordained and serving as "The Pink Vicar" (called out by a 3
year old) in the benefice of St. Mary's, Allerton Bywater, Kippax and
Swillington, East Leeds.
Nominated by Rev. Mark Umpleby
Seconded by Rev. Heston Groenevald
Led by Faith
Focused on Love
Whilst in secular work, I learnt the importance of creating a safe
and healthy environment for all people to flourish. This involves
not only the process of safeguarding, which is paramount, but also
the culture of everyone knowing their own and others intrinsic
worth to each other no matter what their circumstances are.
Humankind was made in the image of God and if we claim to be one body, decisions should
be made for the wellbeing and in communion with the whole of God’s creation, rather than
just those who may think they alone have found the answer to life, the universe and
everything. Jesus commanded us to: “Love one another, as I have loved you.” As a whole,
the Church of England Synod must stand accountable to the fact that: “Love the sinner, hate
the sin” is outdated and undermines a human beings’ identity in Christ, particularly when we
read: “You put me together in my mother’s womb”. (Ps 139) God is far bigger, older, wiser
and more powerful than we can ever imagine. He is also capable of unconditional love. As
His representative, His church must be prepared to let go of pride (and financial fear) and be
formed by His Holy Spirit.
1st Choice for Leeds
"Jo is passionate about the church and I believe she
would bring exactly the right combination of courage,
compassion, wisdom and a passionate commitment to
justice to General Synod..." Rev. Jo Jones, retired
Chaplain from LGI and Parish Priest.

I have loved Jesus since I was 9 and known that no matter
what happened in life, He would never leave me (nor forsake
me). Over my years, I have been called to be a Priest 4
times, at 18, 28, 38 but I either felt too young, too female, too
divorced, too inclusive or too “different” for the church to
accept my calling and so my ministry centred around
leadership and listening in teaching, the financial industry and
more latterly, the caring industry, as well as worship leading,
children’s and youth work and preaching in my local church.
At 48, I distinctly heard the voice of God call again saying he
wanted to use me because of my life experiences, not in
spite of them. This was 6 years ago and I always knew God
had called me to help align church law with a ministry of deep
listening and loving action, looking for people-centred
solutions and actively helping to shape processes that reflect
Jesus' compassion for all. At that time, I just did not know this
was called “Being a Member of National Synod”.
Facebook Video of Statement. Contact Email: [email protected]
I believe in a church where we can all follow Jesus Christ with
open hearts and differing minds, as supported servants
Deuteronomy 29 v 28 and 29 explains that God uprooted the
Israelites from their land because of covenant unfaithfulness,
and draws a line between hidden divine mysteries and our
responsibilities as humans. “The secret things belong to the
Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us
and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of
this law." Jesus added to this law in commanding us to: “love
one another as we love ourselves”.
In morning prayer, if we ask God to ;“Open the eyes of heart,
Lord”, then we must expect our hearts to be radically changed
as we learn more of what it means to love one another. God’s
love for the whole of humankind in equal measure.
Jesus' radically sacrifice calls each and everyone of us to
sacrifice ourselves for the good of the whole body. Over the
years, my heart has been changed to ensure that I not only
love marginalised groups (particularly those in the LGBTQI+
community) but that I honour, respect and speak out for them
about unjust decisions, purely based on each of us being a
child of God.
Part of opening my own heart in recent years is
acknowledging that my mind is not wired like everyone else. I
was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia at the age of 51 and
with this came the understanding that we all see God’s world
in different ways and that I'm not always right! (Though please
don't tell my husband that!)
As a church we must Intentionally adapt spaces, materials,
and even synod presentation to welcome individuals who
process information differently. Many of us need a sensory
experience to learn, some need flexible meeting formats. The
decision to stand for Synod has been difficult for me not
because I doubt the calling God has on my life but because
the election process favours a more traditional approach and
is difficult to negotiate. In Synod I would advocate for the
church to experiment with new communication styles to allow
neurodivergent people to fully share their God-given gifts.
(Links are attached below so you can access my social media
profiles and a short video of my statement if the written format
has lost you by now...)
Informed by my extensive background in secular leadership,
I have seen examples of good management of wellbeing
and bad. With more and more clergy at the point of burnout
and more and more financial pressure being passed down to
parishes. How will this be expected to improve? Clergy
wellbeing is not to be seen as a luxury, but as an urgent
health and safety requirement essential for sustainable
ministry.
I would like Synod to work towards an acceptable outcome
where all Diocese allow their “Vicars” to have time full fill the
whole of their calling as a Priest, including times of rest,
retreat and prayer.
If the Church Times is reporting that clergy feel "isolated"
and "lonely" (5/12/25) and many “feel strongly the twin
pressures of attendance figures and parish share," leading
to feelings of their own "failure and shame”, it's time for the
national church to be transparent with national funds in order
to make sure they are distributed fairly. (Especially in areas
where priests now have cure of souls for parishes into
double figures.) I am not afraid to ask the difficult questions,
with an aim to serve my fellow clergy.
Following Jesus
Open Hearts
Differing minds
Supported Servants
"...Jo's questions are always rooted
in love, kindness and a desire to
understand, in order to bring people
together rather than to divide...."
"...Jo has a deep and genuine
commitment to justice and equality
for all people...."
"...She has the courage to challenge
injustice..."
"...Jo speaks out the voice of those
who go unheard."
All quotes from a recommendation of Rev. Jo Jones, Retired LGI Chaplain and Parish Priest.

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