General Synod Election Candidates 2026

T H E R E V D P R E B E N D A R Y
TREENA LARKIN
GENERAL SYNOD ELECTION
STATEMENT
(HOUSE OF CLERGY)

I am standing for re-election to General Synod because I have a passionate calling to the ‘Lost Voice’
– those people that currently do not feel they have a voice within the church. As a Bishop’s Chaplain,
associate priest of Lichfield Cathedral and member of the Diocesan Board of Education, I am committed
to the Diocese of Lichfield and its flourishing. I love the Church of England and believe deeply in its calling
to proclaim the Gospel and serve every community. As a member of Lichfield Diocese Racial Justice and
Inclusion Task group and board member of the West Midlands Regional Racial Justice Initiative, I am
passionate that the gifts and talents of all UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage people might be
fully recognised within the Church of England. I want to continue working for a Church that listens well,
acts justly, reflects the rich diversity of the communities it serves and knows that every voice matters.

Proposed by The Rev Preb Julia Cody, Team Rector Smestow Vale Team, Associate Archdeacon of
Walsall.
Seconded by Fr Graham Adamson SCP, Vicar of Berkswich, Assistant Rural Dean of Stafford

Who am I?
I’m married to Jason, and we have two daughters, aged 25 and 22. Before ordination, I worked for 25
years as a Chartered Physiotherapist, serving people from a wide range of backgrounds and developing
skills in listening, advocacy, collaboration, and compassionate care. I now serve as Chaplain to the Bishop
of Lichfield, a role that offers a unique perspective on the life of the Church, its opportunities, and its
challenges at both diocesan and national levels.

Serving as a clergy representative on the General Synod from November 2021 to July 2026 has been both
a privilege and a significant learning experience. It has deepened my understanding of the opportunities
and challenges facing the Church today. During this time, I have been especially passionate about
supporting working-class vocations, promoting racial justice and inclusion, and advocating for the
Church's discernment through Living in Love and Faith. I have also served as one of the panel of chairs for
General Synod, and I am a Benedictine oblate, experiences which reflect my commitment to prayer,
discernment and service across the wider Church.

Rooted in Faith, Called to Serve
My vocation has taken me from a working-class upbringing in the West Midlands to ordained ministry,
and now to serving as a Bishop's Chaplain. Throughout that journey, I have been convinced that talent
and calling are spread widely across the people of God, but opportunity is not. As a woman of dual-
heritage background, I bring the perspective of someone who has often lived between different cultures,
communities and experiences. I know both the richness of belonging, and the pain of feeling overlooked.
Those experiences have shaped my ministry and strengthened my conviction that the Church must
become a place where every person can flourish in their God-given vocation.

If you vote for me I promise to
❖ Advocate for a church where everyone can flourish,
❖ Be committed to a church in which people of every ethnicity, gender, disability, social background
and sexuality know they are valued, welcomed and able to contribute fully to the life of the church.
❖ Value the breadth of the Church of England and seek to hear all voices and engage respectfully
with those whose convictions differ from my own.
❖ Seek to ensure that the General Synod is led by the Holy Spirit and that it continues to ensure that
mission and evangelism are at the centre of its agenda.
❖ Take seriously all issues facing the future of the church and seek to support colleagues both
nationally and locally at General Synod, diocese and deanery.
❖ Pray that the Church of England will have the eyes to see Jesus in every person ensuring that every
voice is heard so that together we may encourage one another and build one another up in love.
❖ Help build a church that actively identifies, nurtures and supports vocation wherever it is found,
ensuring that future generations of leaders more closely reflect the diversity of the communities
we serve.
❖ Be committed to careful listening and a desire to work constructively across differences.
❖ Represent our diocese faithfully, communicate openly, and approach the responsibilities of
Synod prayerfully and diligently.

A Final Word
The story of the Church has always been enriched by voices that were absent from the table. As a working-
class, dual-heritage woman in ordained ministry, I am grateful for those who encouraged and supported
my vocation.

If elected, I want to help ensure that others hear that same call and know that there is a place for them
within the life and leadership of the Church.

Thank you for taking the time to read this statement. I would be honoured to receive your support and
your first preference vote. Please do contact me at [email protected] if you have any
questions or thoughts. I would be pleased to hear from you.

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