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Candidate for General Synod | House of Clergy Election Address | Damian Platt
Damian Platt
The Reverend Canon Damian Edward Platt

Vicar of Thornton-le-Fylde Christ Church | Area Dean of the Poulton Deanery
“Do not be
afraid”
I believe remarkable things happen when we do what Jesus says. That’s what I shared
with our PCC recently on a vision awayday. We were reading Luke’s account of the
fishermen being “astonished at the catch of fish they had taken” (Luke 5:9, NIV).
Jesus told them to drop their nets into the Lake of Gennesaret. Before Jesus stepped
into Simon Peter’s boat they’d caught nothing all night. But after doing what Jesus
said several boats started to sink due to the remarkable number of fish being caught.
During our vision awayday I tasked the PCC to repeat throughout the day the words
of Jesus in response to Simon Peter: “Do not be afraid” (Luke 5:10, NIV). Jesus did
not want the astonishment of the about-to-be-fishers-of-people to cause them to flee
from him. He wanted them to join him. They were about to catch some really big fish!
Fear can be something we feel in churches. We fear the prospect of a decline in
attendance, a decrease in giving, a drying-up of vocations. But when we do what
Jesus says, remarkable things happen. We must not be afraid!

On the weekend of my ordination 14 years ago, I remember
being stood in front of some very important ecclesiastical
and legal people in Church House and hearing the preface
to the Declaration of Assent being read out aloud, that The
Church of England “professes the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and
set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim
afresh in each generation.” Hear, hear is what I say to that! We have all we need in
the scriptures and creeds. For me, nothing has changed since then. The oath I went
on to make when placing my hand on a Bible and making the Declaration of Assent
is what I firmly adhere to. I’m not afraid. Jesus tells me not to be. He is the best fisher
of people I know. When we do what Jesus says, remarkable things happen.
Nominator #1: The Reverend Canon Martin Keighley, Vicar of Poulton-le-Fylde St Chad
Nominator #2: The Reverend Andrew Downes, Vicar of Fleetwood St Peter and St David

If elected to General Synod, I will contribute positively, collaboratively, and
faithfully. That has been my pattern of service to full-time Christian ministry over
the past 26 years. So long as we do what Jesus says, remarkable things happen. On
your behalf, I will encourage Synod to listen to Jesus, to do what he says. I will draw
on my 11 years of experience as a regular vicar in one place to contribute to
discussions, debates and decisions which seek to honour the Chief Fisher of People.
He is in the business of drawing people to himself. Astonishment. Bewilderment.
Commitment. I want us to see new, strong, huge nets cast deep and wide to bring in
a huge catch across our parishes. The only sinking The Church of England ought to
be experiencing is when the nets are too heavy with lives transformed with faith and
lives astonished leading to new vocations.

There will be some exceptional people
standing for election. A vote for me will
be a vote for fearless optimism that Jesus
will call to himself future net throwers if
we listen to him and do what he says.
Remarkable things will happen. We need
not be afraid because Jesus knows where
we need to put out our nets for a big catch.

“We need not be
afraid because Jesus
knows where we need
to put out our nets for
a big catch”
My big interests at Synod will be vocations and vision. I’d love to be part of
encouraging more shepherds to the sheep fold and encouraging a big vision for The
Church of England to do what Jesus says and see remarkable things happen.
I am the son of two remarkable conversions to faith. My parents became Christians
at around the age I am now (44). Nets were put into deep water and they were hauled
in. Dazzled by the grace and love of God through the cross of Christ, remarkable
things happened in their lives. Since my own childhood conversion, I’ve sought to
model being a faithful follower of Christ. Having been hugely improved as a person
by being married to Lauren, the Lord continues that improvement as I watch with
delight our son and daughter be superior followers of Christ than I was at their age.
I love God. I love my family. I love my church family. I love my wider-church family
across Lancashire. I love to see churches full to the brim. I love to see new vocations
saying “yes” to professing faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
Whoever you cast your vote for, be sure to cast your net where Jesus tells you to. The
ocean is deep, the fish are many, and Jesus is always doing remarkable things. Let us
pray the next five years of General Synod will be filled with stories of heavy nets!
You are most welcome to get in touch…

Post-mail: Christ Church Vicarage, Meadows Avenue, Thornton-Cleveleys FY5 2TW
E-mail: [email protected] | Voice-mail: 01253 272372
Candidate for General Synod | House of Clergy Election Address | Damian Platt