General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod House of Clergy
Election Address
Revd Canon EMMA DAVIES
Canon Precentor, Leicester Cathedral
[email protected]

Nominated by:
Revd Canon Dr Stuart Burns
Director of Parish Transition and Ministry Development

Revd Liz Wilson
Vicar of The Benefice of Leicester St Anne, St Paul and St Augustine
and Area Dean for the City of Leicester Deanery
Why am I standing for General Synod?
After almost 20 years of ordained ministry in the Diocese of Leicester, I want to give something
back to the Church, contributing to the wider Church’s flourishing, and using the skills and
experience I have gained through my different roles in parish and cathedral ministry.

I sense God’s call to me at this time to help create and maintain a Church which is open to, and
safe for, all people, mindful of the faith handed down from past ages, yet seeking to proclaim the
Good News of Jesus Christ in this generation, while looking always to the future with hope.

I bring experience and interest in good governance, a commitment to listen to all voices, a
willingness to do the hard work of unpicking the nuances of issues, and a desire to discern God’s
will through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I offer…
Extensive experience and skill in governance in Church and School settings:
•
Serving as a Trustee on the Cathedral Chapter (5 years as a full member);
•
Serving as a Trustee on the Diocesan Board of Education (7 years);
•
Serving in parishes on two Primary School Governing Bodies (9 years).
This experience, as well as serving on Deanery and Diocesan Synods and on other committees has
honed my skills of getting under the skin of complex issues, listening to all sides of an argument
and discerning the way forward. I am not afraid to speak my mind or to challenge in order to ensure
an issue, and the consequences of decisions, are understood so the best solution is discerned.

Rich experience and understanding of the Church of England at parish and diocese levels:
•
I have served in ordained parish ministry in town centre and multi-parish rural settings and
now in city centre cathedral ministry, and have regularly taken services in other churches.
•
I have served on Diocesan Synod for much of my ministry, am Chair of the Diocesan Liturgy
and Worship Group, and work across diocesan, civic and public life in my cathedral role.
•
I have served nationally on the Transforming Worship (Praxis) National Council, and am
current co-Chair of the network of Precentors in England and Wales.
This varied experience has given me a sense of the breadth of tradition within the Church and the
different views, joys and challenges experienced both by members ‘in the pews’ and those at a
more strategic level.

A commitment to and much experience of good practice in Safeguarding:
•
I have been diligent and watchful in matters of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in
parish and cathedral settings and have completed Senior Leadership Safeguarding training as
well as other Safeguarding and related training modules.
My Christian faith and vocation
‘We love because God first loved us’. (1 John 4.19)
I am a child of God through God’s love and grace and believe all people are valuable to God.
My vocation to public ministry is to make space for God, and very often I find this is about making
space for people. I long for a Church where all may find an equal place at the table, with a chair
always there for Jesus! I have a long-held desire to bring people together, to ensure all are seen,
heard and welcomed and believe that together we are stronger as disciples of Christ.
Before ordination this motivation towards inclusion of all was seen in my work as Diversity
Manager (Connexions), and Partnership Development
Manager with learners with learning difficulties (Learning &
Skills Council). In my current role as Precentor at Leicester
Cathedral I contribute actively to our journey to make visible
and audible those who are not usually seen or heard in our
community through involving all in worship, developing our
discipleship and worship to be more intercultural, and
contributing to the Cathedral’s focus to improve access for all.
I align myself with the Together for the Church of England
network and agree with the statement in the box, but I also
seek to find the image of God in all people and to listen to all
voices including those who hold a different view to mine. I will
do this as a member of General Synod.
What will I work for in General Synod?
•
Safeguarding: honing good systems and practice to ensure the Church is safe for all people,
especially those who are victims and survivors of abuse, and all who are vulnerable.
•
Communicating the Gospel: equipping the Church to be confident in sharing our faith in
diverse ways across the Church through worship and discipleship.
•
Wellbeing of ordained and lay leaders: developing practical measures and resources to care
for and support those who are called to serve the local Church in public ministry.
•
A broad and diverse Church: building a confident and rich Body of Christ for today’s world
with a presence in all communities where all can feel safe in expressing their faith.
•
Matters of social justice: standing with those who are marginalised, promoting a good use of
the Church’s power and voice to ‘lift up the lowly and feed the hungry with good things.’ (cf
Luke 1.52-3)
In Summary
I bring strong relevant experience and well-developed skills to serve on
General Synod and a sense of call to offer myself in service to this role.

Thank you for reading this statement. I invite you prayerfully to consider
voting for me as first or second preference.

Jesus said, ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ (John 10.10)
Together for the Church of
England statement:

“We are committed to equality
for everyone, at all levels and
roles within the church,
regardless of
disability, economic power,
ethnicity, sex, gender identity,
learning disability, mental health,
neurodiversity, or sexuality.”
https://togethercofe.org.uk

abuse,benefice,diocesan board,disability,disciples,discipleship,equality,gender identity,good news,gospel,justice,liturgy,mental health,neurodiversity,ordination,safeguarding,sexuality,social justice,survivors,survivors of abuse,together for the church of,tradition,victims