General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Rev Tim Vasby-Burnie - Candidate for General Synod

Vicar of St George’s, Shrewsbury (since 2016)
Member of Lichfield Diocese Synod (since 2021)

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01743 235461
Do get in touch if you have questions.

Proposer:

Seconder:

The Church of England has an amazing history of being used by God. For all of its
(sometimes obvious!) peculiarities and problems, we have the good news of Jesus to
offer to the whole nation, structures with the potential to serve every community, anda
deep heritage of faith and worship which is drawing people to the Lord.

| am offering myself to serve on General Synod and would be deeply grateful if you
would keep on reading and consider supporting me in the election.

About me

lam married to Caroline and have a daughter, Hannah, who is
training to be a Mental Health Nurse. My dog is Calvin - named for
the theologian as well as the comic strip character - who gets me
walking and podcast-listening every day.

| was ordained in Lichfield Diocese in 2007, serving my curacy in
Stone, Staffs. | spent 6 years in the Black Country as Vicar of
Wednesbury, where my wife and | were also foster-carers for babies “
and toddlers. 10 years ago we moved to Shrewsbury when | became Vicar of St George’s.

A few years ago | started running Psalm Roars — events to encourage people to sing the
psalms. | hoped for an annual event at our church but such was the popularity that |
now run 10-12 each year, from Exeter to York, Chelmsford to Cardiff. It particularly
attracts younger adults, drawn to the rich tradition of the faith and robust, lively psalm-
singing. By God’s grace, the parish of St George’s in Shrewsbury has also been attracting
all sorts, including younger adults, families and people wanting deep foundations in the
Scriptures.

In addition to parish ministry, | am chaplain to some local almshouses and to the
Shrewsbury branch of the Royal British Legion. | am a Moderator for the online
community of The Rest Is History podcast. And | have been writing Daily Reflections for
Morning Prayer, helping people to see Christ in all the Scriptures, especially the Old
Testament. You can find these on X/Twitter @JesusGoodNews as well as the St
George’s church website.

Supporting a church rich in variety

Through my childhood and
teenage years | worshipped ina
small Church in Wales parish, a
charismatic Baptist church, a
middle-of-the-road Methodist
church and all sorts of others.
Churches come in different types
and flavours; | know that one size
does not fit all. Whatever your own
background, ministry or tradition,
if elected to General Synod | seek to serve you so that all parishes and ministries are
able to flourish with the apostolic faith drawing people to Jesus.

ae

Leading a Psalm Roar in Cumbria

Supporting clergy in normal parishes

Most of the time, faithfulness to Christ looks quite ordinary! While there is
of course a place for new ideas and innovative forms of outreach, | want to
see a Church of England where normal clergy in normal parishes doing the
normal things - leading worship, preaching, caring for the vulnerable,
administering the sacraments, getting involved with the community — are
able to feel supported and resourced.

| have a particular concern for clergy well-being when it comes to finances. Living ona
single stipend can be hard work: car repairs make savings disappear, holidays are
sometimes only possible because of the Clergy Support Trust. | asked several questions
at Diocesan Synod when the move to Universal Credit hit some families very hard. |
would like to see the Church of England provide stipends and pensions which
demonstrate that clergy are valued.

| also want to encourage Church of England resources to be directed towards normal
parishes who are so often doing amazing work but struggling with ever-increasing costs.
Mission does not always require large grants! Just a bit of extra help would free up
churches to focus on the priorities that we know we should have and that we want to
put into practice.

Supporting a Church of England that is confident in the apostolic faith

“Jesus is Good News” is the slogan | use whenever | can. And it is true! The story of the
Quiet Revival shows that people are hungry for the historic faith and deep foundations.
Sometimes the Church of England has not been confident in our biblical doctrines,
historic liturgies, ancient roots or parish system. There are times for reinventing wheels.
There are times when we need confidence that God has already given us some pretty
good wheels to use!

Please would you support me by voting for Tim Vasby-Burnie
in these General Synod Elections

baptist,biblical,charismatic,curacy,finances,good news,mental health,methodist,middle of the road,mission,outreach,prayer,stipend,tradition