General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Election 2026
CANDIDATE: TABITHA TANNA
[email protected]
Wakefield Deanery
On the Electoral Roll of St Andrew’s Church Netherton,
Wakefield
Resident in the parish of Middlestown and Netherton

Proposer: Mrs Heather Drayton (Wakefield Deanery)
Seconder: Mr Nick Drayton (Wakefield Deanery)

I have been a member of Leeds Diocesan Synod and Wakefield Deanery Synod for over
seven years, actively supporting the diocese in a range of ways, including advising
recruitment panels on senior clergy appointments. I am a member of the Diocesan Synod
Agenda Sub-Committee and have recently been invited to join the Diocesan Board for
Strategic Change. At deanery level, I serve on the Wakefield Area Mission and Pastoral
Committee. I long to see a vibrant Church of England, working alongside other churches,
growing both in numbers and in spiritual depth. My experience across diocesan, deanery
and parish life gives me a valuable perspective to contribute to General Synod. This is
what I would bring.

o A Christ centred theological perspective
o A desire to see the Church of England grow
o A voice from parish level
o Woking collaboratively with people from diverse back grounds
o Experience of operating at Board level
o A fresh voice to Synod

As the world and our local communities face ever growing social, economic and spiritual
challenges, it’s important for our national and local church to be a beacon of hope and
light. In recent years we have gone through several difficult issues that have shaken us.
Examples include the process around ‘Living in Love and Faith’, safeguarding scandals
and the call for reparation to chattel slavery. By the grace of God, we are still one Church
and despite conflicts and disagreements we have stayed together. I am committed to the
mission of the Church of England and will do my best to work in harmony across different
divisions within our church, so that we can give glory to God in the way we fulfil His
mission and be the beacon He calls us to be.

I believe it is vital for laity to be engaged in Synod; we bring a different perspective to
debates. Parish level perspectives on national as well as international issues are
important. It is crucial for Synod to keep the diallage with parishes alive as we face

financial challenges and dwindling congregations. Below are a few issues I believe that
this Synod faces:
• A lack of trust – possibly due to the process and outcome of Living in Love and
Faith and safeguarding failures, this also applies to views held outside the Church
• A reduced clergy-to-church ratio - driven by falling attendance and financial
pressures, placing greater strain on clergy wellbeing and limiting opportunities for
mission and outreach.
• The relevance of the Church — how can we reimagine our mission for this
generation?
• Financial and structural pressures — balancing investment in historic church
buildings with mission, while discerning the right relationship between national
structures and local arrangements.

This next phase for Synod will require members to listen with compassion, aid the process
of healing, build up trust and work together to solve these challenges. General Synod and
the Church as a whole, needs to be that beacon of hope and light to the nation, calling out
injustice, supporting those marginalised in society, being good stewards of God’s creation,
and drawing all people to God. The agendas set at Synod should reflect these burning
issues, together with good governance and financial probity.

The national spending plan for 2026–28, announced last year, is a welcome commitment
to increased support for local mission and clergy wellbeing. During the next Synod, these
priorities will need to be delivered alongside safeguarding, climate targets, and responses
to international issues such as the Kairos 2 paper received at the last Synod meeting. I
believe I have the experience and judgement to engage constructively with these matters
and to support Synod in its deliberations and decision-making.

Alongside my diocesan work, I serve as Churchwarden at my local church in a small semi-
rural community. I support Christians Against Poverty as a befriender and serve on the
board of Community Foundation Wakefield, a local charity supporting vulnerable families
and groups. I also continue to work part-time as an external coach and mentor to NHS
service teams and sit on the board of Yorkshire Ambulance Service. These roles have
given me extensive experience of working in complex settings, current insight into
ecclesiastical and social challenges, and a strong spiritual foundation rooted in the word of
God.

If elected, I will be a committed and active member of Synod: contributing ideas, engaging
thoughtfully in debate, and prayerfully considering the issues before us. I will faithfully
represent grassroots perspectives at Synod and help strengthen communication back to
our diocese and deanery. Having read my address, I hope you will consider giving me your
vote.

I would like to thank Heather Drayton and Nick Drayton (from Wakefield Deanery) for
proposing and seconding me.

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