General Synod Election Candidates 2026

The Venerable Liz Jackson - Candidate for General Synod

Why | am standing
| am standing for General Synod because | love the Church of England, believe
deeply in its vocation to proclaim the Gospel, and want to help ensure that our
parishes, clergy and lay leaders are equipped to flourish in God's mission.
Throughout my ministry | have sought to follow Jesus by building communities of
hope, welcome and transformation. Whether working with children and families,
supporting people experiencing homelessness, empowering newly arrived
communities, serving as a parish priest, or now as Archdeacon of Walsall, my
focus has remained the same: helping people encounter Christ and enabling
churches to participate in the growth of God's Kingdom.
About me
| come from a working-class background and was not raised within the Church. |
came to faith as a young adult and have spent nearly thirty years serving ina
wide variety of roles: Reader, churchwarden, PCC treasurer, youth and families
worker, parish priest, area dean and now archdeacon.
These experiences have given me a deep appreciation of parish ministry, and an
understanding of the realities faced by clergy, churchwardens, PCCs and
congregations. | know the joys and challenges of local ministry because | have
lived them.
What | would bring to General Synod

1. Acommitment to thriving parishes

| believe the parish remains one of the Church of England's greatest gifts
to the nation.
Parishes are where faith is nurtured, disciples are formed, communities
are served and people encounter Christ at the most significant moments
of their lives. | want to see investment in the future of our parishes,
helping them grow in confidence, discipleship, mission and sustainability.

1. Acommitment to clergy wellbeing

As an archdeacon, one of my greatest privileges has been supporting
clergy and their families. Ministry can be deeply rewarding, but it can also
be demanding and isolating.
| want to see a Church that takes clergy wellbeing seriously, creates
healthy cultures, and enables ministers not merely to survive but to
flourish in their calling.

1. Experience of governance and change

General Synod makes decisions that affect every parish.
My experience as an archdeacon has given me a strong understanding of
governance, safeguarding, finance, pastoral reorganisation, ministry

development and the practical implications of national policy. | would
bring both strategic thinking and practical experience to Synod's work.

. Inclusion, dignity and belonging

| believe every person is made in the image of God and called to share
fully in the life of the Church.

lam 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.

| support the flourishing of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the Church and
believe we are called to become communities where people experience
belonging, dignity and love.

At the same time, | am committed to listening respectfully and working
constructively with those who hold different views from my own.

. Raising under-represented voices

The Church is strongest when all God's people are able to contribute their
gifts.

| have a particular passion for encouraging and supporting those whose
voices have too often been overlooked, including working-class people,
lay ministers, women, younger people, people with disabilities and
neurodiverse people, and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Throughout my ministry | have sought to create opportunities for others to
lead and flourish.

Looking ahead
The Church faces significant challenges, but | remain very hopeful about its

Across our parishes | see faithful disciples, courageous clergy, dedicated lay
leaders and communities seeking to follow Jesus, serve their neighbours and
build up the Kingdom of God.

If elected, | will work prayerfully, thoughtfully and collaboratively to support the
flourishing of our parishes, the wellbeing of our clergy and lay leaders, and the
Church's calling to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in every community.

Thank you for reading this statement. | would be honoured to receive your first
preference vote.

The Venerable Liz Jackson
Archdeacon of Walsall

clergy wellbeing,disability,disciples,discipleship,equality,finance,gender identity,good news,gospel,homelessness,lgbtq,mental health,mission,neurodiversity,pcc,pccs,safeguarding,sexuality,working class,youth