General Synod Election Candidates 2026

About me: Hi! I'm a 19 year old (will be 20 at the time of the first meetings) from Walsall in the Lichfield Diocese. I currently attend St Marks, Shelfield and High Heath. I'm a Youth Worker for one of my local churches, a role which means I get to see how important teen spaces are currently as well as how important teen specific religious spaces are to the spiritual growth of the next generation. I would like to be a part of the next General Synod because the rest of my life as a Christian will be directly affected by the decisions that are made in the next few years as will so many people my age. It would be a disservice to people like me across the country if I don't try to make the church a better place.

Contact: [email protected], Instagram: @kingsmill5050

Responsibilities: Church Reader; Youth Holiday Scheme Worker; Youth Worker; Gathered Bible Study; PCC Member; Deanery Synod Representative

Education: Birmingham Newman, currently studying Philosophy, Religion and Ethics. I am studying world religions so that I can understand more about how we could work together for a better world. I have greatly enjoyed learning more, and hope to use my knowledge to help me at Synod. Once I have my degree I intend to study for a masters at Queen's Ecumenical College.

Proposed by: Penelope Allen (16 years on General Synod; Bishops Council). Seconded by: Helen Robertson (Lichfield Deanery Synod).

I will vote, and work, in favour of the everyday people in this church who keep it alive. Some of my focuses will be: Prayers of love and faith; Cautious and limited use of AI; Women in ministry; Working-class ministry opportunities; The eco church. I am devoted to supporting the progress of our inclusive, supportive church.

I would like to be elected as one of our General Synod representatives for the following reasons: I am a member of multiple under-represented groups (queer, disabled, woman looking at ministry, young, working class) in the national church, due to this I have unique insights into many of the concerns of these groups and I am willing to listen and speak up in important debates. As a young convert to the church, I am aware of how the church risks becoming worryingly irrelevant in everyday life. It is important to me to contribute to the future of the national church so that it can progress alongside our society in a way that allows it to remain important to society. I feel that it is important for our church to find a sweet spot where we can maintain core, integral ideas whilst also progressing toward a brighter future for all. There is a long way to go but progress can be made in the next quinquennium. As a church youth worker who has helped two groups start up, I am committed to the future of our church. I have been lucky enough to see how many of Walsall's youth are trying to interact with God, but there is a clear lack of teen specific spaces. My youth have had access to a space curated for them where they can learn age-appropriate lessons about God and the Bible; this has led to an increase in younger people attending the local church, something that is incredibly important for the longevity of the national church.

Christ is my true Saviour and Redeemer which is why "love thy neighbour" comes with zero terms and conditions for me. To put it in (admittedly) young slang, we all deserve sunshine. We are all citizens of His world and we all deserve to be, unconditionally, loved as such. This must begin within the national church if we want God to remain a part of people's lives.

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