baptist,clergy wellbeing,curacy,environmental,evangelical,inclusive,interfaith,llf,mission,pccs,retirement,scripture,stipend,tradition

Debbie Nash

Hello. I am standing for General Synod because I believe in the
Church and all she can offer to every person in every parish in
this nation. I want to represent a church that follows the radically
inclusive Jesus of the Gospels whilst caring deeply for the clergy
and all who serve God. I love this Diocese and people in it, and
it would be my privilege to represent you.
Proposed: Ven Cat Thatcher, Archdeacon of Wakefield
Seconded: Rev Canon Jenny Ramsden, Interfaith Adviser
Who am I?
I grew up without faith but came to follow Jesus in my mid-teens through a teacher at school. My journey began at Ansdell Baptist Church on the Fylde coast under the leadership of the pastor who would become the principal of Spurgeons College. I moved to Yorkshire to study physiotherapy and, through laziness, attended my nearest church which just happened to be Anglican! This began a forty year relationship with the Church of England through which I have grown in my understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Through CYFA leadership, PCCs, many years in music ministry, becoming a lay pastoral minister, preaching and leading a call was discerned and I trained on the Yorkshire Ministry Course (now St Hild) becoming ordained in 2014. I served my curacy at Christ Church South Ossett and in 2018 I became the Rector of Thornhill and Whitley Lower. Church governance has always interested me but as a single mum of two girls the job and family were more than enough to occupy me. As my daughters approach adulthood, I can now see that the time for broader issues has come.
Two years ago, I was elected to stand on Diocesan Synod which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Our huge and diverse diocese has enormous challenges but also enormous possibilities. My interest in General Synod has been driven by a desire to see the Church make a better account of herself. In the world my children inhabit we are seen as irrelevant, homophobic, patriarchal and resistant to change. There have been positives, but we have also watched the church pull herself apart. Synod members talk of the toxicity around LLF, the damage done and a lack of love and respect by some. As an Inclusive Evangelical this is heartbreaking. We must do better.
Our churches work tirelessly for the communities we serve. We long to see the Kingdom grow and people come to faith in Jesus. I do not doubt that we have many challenges, some of which are existential, but we serve the God for whom nothing is impossible. Whatever the future of the Church Jesus’ commission hasn’t changed, and I am passionate to see the Church fulfilling her mission to demonstrate the inclusive love of God without exception. I want Synod to work for all of us and free us to follow the vocation we were called to.
What I can bring….
a positive voice for inclusion, hope and trust in God
a belief that scripture should be interpreted anew for
our generation with a desire to be brave
pragmatism and a willingness to work for change
desire to see the wellbeing of clergy at the heart of practice
It would be my privilege to represent you and our Diocese at Synod.
I would be very grateful for your first preference vote
Priorities as I see them
Inclusion and diversity I long for a church that embraces every person fully as made in God’s image and that enables them to flourish. I know there are many differences of opinion and theology about LLF and I respect that. I also know that judgment is God’s business and not ours. Some of the behaviour expressed in recent years has done nothing to honour God or the church and much healing needs to happen. Some of the behaviour from within my own tradition has been heartbreaking. There are people struggling to live authentically in the church. Faith in Jesus is about true freedom and acceptance and loving ourselves fully as well as loving God and our neighbours. I want our governance and structure to reflect true inclusion as a reality rather than the fudge we currently have.
Clergy wellbeing I see how tired and demoralised many clergy are. The wellbeing of clergy directly impacts the wellbeing of our churches and communities. Many have impossible jobs where pastoral care and deep connection with others are a luxury rather than the heart of our vocation. Clergy juggling multiple churches hardly have time to do the sacraments. In single income families the stipend enables us to live but many must rely on charity for holidays and unexpected bills. Many of those approaching retirement worry about survival, and working until 70 is often a necessity rather than an option. Is this acceptable? I don’t think so.
The Parish I love the parish system and the opportunities it affords us. I also see how exhausted our clergy and congregations are maintaining impractical buildings whilst trying to build the Kingdom. Our limited resources are directed inwards out of necessity when our energies need to be directed outwards if there is to be a Church of England to inhabit these buildings in the future. We need Synod to address these issues as systemic rather than diocesan issues. How do we use our resources (human, buildings and financial) in ways that honour God and each other and, crucially, grow the Kingdom as Jesus instructed?
Environmental Issues are the single greatest concern of our generation. How do we demonstrate our preparedness to make the hard decisions about our buildings and homes, many of which are environmentally compromised? How can we be a prophetic example in taking seriously the challenge to steward this planet as God intended? Most churches and Diocese cannot afford to make the decisions necessary to make a meaningful contribution to lessening our carbon footprint. Yet we cannot afford to not make these decisions.
None of the questions posed have easy answers I’m under
no illusion that any of this is straightforward but these are some of
the nettles this next Synod needs to grasp. I know there are many
others. I cannot promise easy solutions, but I can promise to work
hard on your behalf as we prayerfully and practically seek God’s will
for the church.
Thank you for taking the time to read this; I know your time is precious.
Voting is by single transferable vote so if you are intending to vote for me, please put me as your first or high preference. Voting closes Monday 12th OctoberPlease feel free to contact me on:[email protected] is by single transferable vote so if you are intending to vote for me, please put me as your first or high preference. Voting closes Monday 12th OctoberPlease feel free to contact me on:[email protected]
Voting is by single transferable vote so if you are intending to vote for me, please put me as your first or high preference. Voting closes Monday 12th October
Please feel free to contact me on:
[email protected]
Voting is by single transferable vote so if you are intending to vote for me, please put me as your first or high preference. Voting closes Monday 12th October
Please feel free to contact me on:
[email protected]