General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Rev Dr Vijay Kumar - Pioneer Priest, Parish of the Resurrection, Leicester
Rooted in the local church – committed to the wider Church
I am standing for General Synod because I believe the experience and voice of our local
parishes should help shape the life and mission of the wider Church of England. I currently
serve as Pioneer Priest at the Parish of the Resurrection in Belgrave, Leicester, a wonderfully
diverse parish where people of many cultures, languages and faith backgrounds live alongside
one another. Before coming to England, I served in the Church of North India. Ministry across
different cultural contexts has taught me to listen carefully, build relationships and seek to
discern what God is already doing among people.
At the heart of my ministry is a simple conviction: the Church of England must continually
recover its missional nature and identity. We are not called simply to maintain our churches
and institutions. We are a people sent by God—centred on Jesus Christ, confident in the
Gospel, deeply rooted in our local communities, and called to proclaim and live that faith with
humility and courage.
I also believe that Christian faith is deeply personal, but never merely private. Our
confession of Jesus Christ calls us into public witness. The Gospel should be heard in our
proclamation and made visible in our love, hospitality, justice, service and care for our
neighbours.
This is what I am learning through ministry in Belgrave. Mission often begins with presence:
opening our doors, listening to our neighbours, creating safe spaces for prayer and
conversation, welcoming children and families, developing lay leadership, and building
relationships across cultures and faiths. I am also learning that churches serving economically
deprived communities have enormous gifts to offer the wider Church, even when their financial
resources are limited.
If elected to General Synod, I would particularly seek to contribute to:
•
Mission and parish renewal – encouraging a Church that looks outward and
understands itself as sent to proclaim the Gospel and serve its communities.
•
Intercultural Church – working towards a Church where people of different cultures
and backgrounds do not simply attend together, but genuinely belong, participate and
lead together.
•
Deprived and diverse communities – ensuring that churches serving communities
with fewer resources are heard, valued and enabled to flourish.
•
Shared ministry and leadership – encouraging clergy and lay people to recognise one
another as co-workers in the mission of God.
I would come to General Synod not claiming to have all the answers, but ready to listen, learn,
pray and contribute. I would bring both my experience of the worldwide Church and what I am
learning week by week through local parish ministry in Leicester. I believe the Church of England
has a remarkable calling and opportunity in our changing society. Renewing our missional
identity must begin locally, but it is a calling we share as the whole Church.
It would be a privilege to represent the Diocese of Leicester on General Synod and to contribute
to our shared calling to proclaim and live the good news of Jesus Christ.

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