accountability,crime,environment,equality,inclusive,inclusive church,lgbtq,mission,safeguarding,young people

JOE PORTER

General Synod 2026 Election
House of Laity

Proposer: Emma Ashworth
Seconder: Leonie Siegertsz

Dear Electors,

I am standing for election to the House of Laity of the General Synod in 2026 because I want to be a strong and passionate voice for our parishes, our communities and all those who too often feel that their voice is not heard.

I believe passionately in a Church of England that is rooted in its parishes, at the heart of our communities and confident in its mission: sharing the love of Christ, serving others and being a beacon of hope in an increasingly uncertain and turbulent world.

WHY AM I STANDING?

I want the Church of England to be at the heart of all our communities and to be a truly inclusive, warm and welcoming place for everyone, regardless of their background or who they are.

At a time when our country and our world face enormous uncertainty, division and change, the Church has an incredibly important role to play. We should be a beacon of hope: bringing people together, caring for those in need and offering the message of hope found in Jesus Christ.

Our parish churches are not simply buildings. They are places of worship, sanctuary, history, community and belonging. We have a responsibility to ensure they are still there for generations to come.

I particularly want to be a voice for our rural churches and smaller parishes. We must support them rather than continually asking them to do more with less, with sustainable, long-term funding that reaches and remains within our parishes.

General Synod also needs people who understand communities beyond the walls of the Church. My experience in local government, education, the emergency services, community organisations and my professional work supporting people affected by hate crime has taught me the importance of listening, building bridges between people and delivering practical change.

That is the experience I want to bring to General Synod.

ABOUT ME

I am a longstanding member of St Luke's Church, Endon, where I have served on the Parochial Church Council for a number of years.

My connection to the Church goes back much further. My grandparents first took me to church as a child, beginning a lifelong journey of faith that continues to shape who I am, how I live my life and how I serve others.

From an early age, my faith gave me a deep appreciation for the beauty of God's creation. I became a passionate advocate for our environment and a keen gardener, and today one of the ways I serve St Luke's is by helping to look after our church garden.

For me, Christianity has always been practical. Faith is not something confined to a Sunday service; it should be lived out in how we treat other people, how we care for our communities and how we look after the world God has entrusted to us.

That belief has shaped much of my life in public and community service. I have served as a local councillor for Brown Edge and Endon for 12 years and am actively involved in village life, including serving as a Governor at St Luke's CE Academy.

Professionally, I spent five years working in the emergency services and now work to tackle hate crime across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Throughout these roles, I have worked with people from an enormous range of backgrounds, often when they are vulnerable or going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Whether through my church, my work or my community involvement, I have always tried to stand up for people who need a voice, bring people together and, most importantly, turn words into action.

WHAT DO I BELIEVE?

A SAFE AND TRUSTED CHURCH
Putting safeguarding first, learning from the past and building a culture of trust, compassion and accountability.

A CHURCH AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITIES
Protecting our parish churches, securing long-term funding, taking church beyond Sunday services and supporting the vulnerable.

A CHURCH FOR EVERY GENERATION
Giving young people a stronger voice and building an intergenerational Church.

A WARM AND INCLUSIVE CHURCH
A genuine welcome for everyone, committed to equality at all levels and roles, supporting LGBTQ+ Christians, championing women and making our churches accessible.

CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION
Restoring nature, improving biodiversity and managing our churchyards and land sensitively.

A STRONG VOICE FOR OUR PARISHES

If elected, I will be a strong and passionate advocate for our parish churches and the people who sustain them. I will champion a Church that is safe and worthy of people's trust; a Church that bridges generations; a Church that reaches beyond its walls; a Church where equality, dignity and opportunity are extended to everyone; and a Church that cares for God's creation.

Above all, I want to help ensure that the Church of England remains at the heart of our communities for generations to come.

I would be honoured to have your support and ask you to give me your first-preference vote in the 2026 General Synod election.