General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Jonny Wei Sing Lee
Standing for the House of Clergy in General Synod
Proposed by Rev’d LJ Tiffney, Seconded by Rev’d Andrew Teather

I have had the joy of serving as vicar of All Hallows Bispham since July 2021,
having first joined the Diocese of Blackburn in 2018 as a curate in Preston. I am
married to Katrina and we have 3 children (aged 9 to 12). I grew up in a broken
home in Newcastle Upon Tyne, of mixed Chinese and English heritage, and came to
faith whilst studying Physics at university when I met Jesus in the pages of the
Gospel of John. Before ordination, I worked in a sports shop, a call centre, a
research lab, and churches in Cambridge and Streatham.
A Deep Commitment to Parish Ministry
I love parochial ministry and mission: public and private prayer, celebrating the
eucharist, preaching to and teaching all ages, pastoral care, occasional offices,
equipping and releasing God’s people, outreach, preparing for confirmation, serving
our local communities, school assemblies, caring for God’s acre and for our
wonderful buildings (though often challenging!). This is the heart-beat of the
Church of England everywhere across the length and breadth of our country.
Service Across the Diocese and Beyond
Alongside parish ministry, I seek to serve the wider body:
• Diocesan Synod: An active member for 7 years—contributing to discussion,
raising questions, and constructively scrutinising proposals.

• Vocations & Lay Training: I am an Assistant DDO; an ALM core module tutor
(since its inception); a former Old Testament tutor for the Roots of Faith
course; and an occasional contributor to the M:Power hub in Blackpool.
• Youth & Community: I am a leader on a Christian residentials and holidays
for 8-18s and have been for many years; Vice-Chair of Governors at our
church primary school; and trustee for several small grant-making charities.
• Inclusion & Representation: I am a member of the Diocesan UKME group.
• Chaplaincy & Wider Church: I have served as a volunteer member of the
chaplaincy team at Royal Preston Hospital and also at HMP Brixton; and I am
a member of the Council of Reference for CPAS.
Why General Synod?
I believe that all of the wider structures (synods, dioceses, and central church
bodies) exist to serve and resource local ministry on the ground in our parishes,
chaplaincies, and schools. I believe I can make a positive difference, working with
colleagues across all traditions, to shape legislation and central initiatives so that
our church might better serve Jesus and our nation.
My priorities for General Synod:
• Clergy Well-Being: Well trained, supported, and cared for clergy are what
the church needs. We must build on recent progress (such as pension
redress) to support clergy flourishing.
• Vocations: Encouraging both lay and ordained vocations to foster growth in
spiritual depth and number across the church.
• Financial Oversight: Using my strong grasp of numbers to scrutinise central
expenditure proposals, ensuring funding formulas and resource distribution
best support frontline parish ministry.
• Safeguarding: Ensuring necessary ongoing reforms are victim-focused,
theologically grounded, and practical for parish volunteers to implement on
the ground.
• A Better Atmosphere: Bringing Blackburn Diocese’s positive ‘mood music’,
characterised by joy in Jesus, mutual respect across traditions, and
prayerful expectancy, to General Synod.

I would be very grateful for your first-preference vote.

If you would like a chat, please get in touch:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 01253 381517
• Pop in for a brew: 88 All Hallows Road, Bispham, FY2 0AY.

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