General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Election Address
The Reverend Robert Parker-McGee SR
Vicar of Spalding, St Mary and St Nicolas. The Diocese of Lincoln.
Proposer: The Reverend Greg Bannister, Vicar of John the Baptist, Hawthorne Bank, Spalding
Seconder: The Revd Erica Crust, Priest in Charge of Deeping St Nicholas
Thank you for taking a moment to read my election address. I am writing ahead of the General Synod elections
to ask for your vote and to offer myself as a representative of the Diocese of Lincoln to the wider Church.
I am a 47-year-old working-class priest with 16 years of ordained ministry. Married to Sarah—an HR/Finance
professional and licensed children’s and families missioner—we have two adult children and two dogs. I grew up
in a tied mill house and worked in that same mill for a decade before ordination. This gives me a deeply rooted,
lived understanding of working-class communities, bringing a vital perspective and hard-nosed realism to
General Synod.
My ministry spans multiple dioceses, encompassing both rural and urban contexts. I have a proven track record
of growing congregations and navigating complex institutional challenges. I have successfully addressed deep-
seated, historical parish issues to allow communities to thrive. Furthermore, I have designed and led training for
lay and ordained ministers across three diocesan teams, actively nurturing diverse vocations.
I am standing for General Synod because I love the Church of England, but recognise we are at a critical
crossroads—a reality we feel acutely here in the Diocese of Lincoln and across the nation. My theology is
shaped by a generous Catholic spirituality, my work as a spiritual director, and my membership in the Society of
the Resurrection. I hold a simple, joyful conviction: the local parish is the jewel in the Church of England's crown.
The evidence is clear: priests grow parishes. Many areas of church life, including lay vocations, flourish when
supported by well-trained, active, and collaborative clergy.
If you elect me to Synod, I will champion ‘Save the Parish’ and focus on these key areas to help parishes thrive:

1. Celebrating Our Vocation to the Nation and Growing Ministry

A Visible Presence: I am deeply committed to our historic call to be a visible, loving presence in every
single community, proclaiming the gospel afresh so the Holy Spirit can transform our neighbourhoods. This
commitment to visible presence will central to everything I promote.
Supporting Every Setting: Every area deserves a thriving, incarnational ministry, whether in our poorer
parishes, vast rural communities, or town/city centres. I will strongly advocate for more resources for places
that feel overwhelmed or undervalued. This includes reversing the recent decline in clergy numbers and
working to increase them, ensuring visible ministers are no longer a thing of the past.
Nurturing Leaders: Vocations are currently at a critical point. Entries into ordination training plummeted
from 591 in 2020 to a low of 370 in 2024, with poor clergy wellbeing identified as the primary barrier scaring
away prospective candidates. We need a confident, joyful push to increase both lay and ordained vocations.
At the same time, we must revitalise clerical formation. Our colleges and courses must equip leaders with
deep theological, ecclesiological, spiritual, and pastoral resilience, rather than just managerial tools. To
achieve this, I will push for a better financial settlement for theological training and institutions.

1. Cutting Bureaucracy and Valuing What Matters

Valuing the Slow Fruits of Ministry: National grant bodies often demand immediate, short-term data
metrics. I will campaign to make central church funding accessible to the unquantifiable elements of parish
ministry—the faithful presence, pastoral care, and community building that bear fruit over decades, not
months.
Preventing Burnout: Overwork has led to record numbers of clergy experiencing burnout, with morale at
an all-time low. Alarmingly, more clergy are now resigning (379) than retiring (278). This is driven by
overwork, poor remuneration, lack of job security, unclear expectations, fear of systemic failures, and a lack
of protection from bullying. It should never have got this far. The Church of England must be a leading light

in how it treats its personnel. I will advocate for tangible change, ensuring clergy receive the employment
safeguards, prospects, and support expected in a high-pressure public office. I will champion a formal
“Covenant of Care” with personal mentorship and a halt to job cuts. Ministry should be the making, not the
breaking, of God's people.
Lifting the Administrative Weight: Too much central legalism and administration is suffocating our clergy
and parish officers. I want to see more robust, practical parish support for buildings, personnel, and finance
so our churches are free to focus on pastoral care and outward mission. Furthermore, our beautiful church
buildings should be a joy, not a burden. I will work to simplify how we manage them and continue to lobby
the government to invest in these places of worship, celebrating the massive spiritual and social benefits
they bring.
The Radicality of Retracing our Roots: There is something radical about going back to our roots. We
know that churches exhibiting theological, liturgical, and ecclesiological integrity tend to grow. I will be a
strong advocate for a confident church that celebrates its rich Anglican inheritance.

1. Safe, United, and Accountable Communities

A Safe and Transparent Culture: We must continue to make our churches genuinely safe spaces for
everyone. I want a culture where safeguards are robust and transparent, never compromised by a fear of
bad publicity or rigid legalism. Local churches deserve independently accountable oversight that supports
them rather than leaving clergy and parish officers to bear the brunt of a system that is not fit for purpose.
Fair Accountability: We need legally binding national ‘codes of conduct’ to bring equality and fairness for
all who serve on synods, boards, and councils. I will strongly advocate for those targeted by malicious or
vexatious complaints. The church must put robust provisions in place to defend them and take action
against those who intentionally cause reputational or emotional harm.
Improving employment and personnel management: Parish officers are often left floundering when
trying to manage personnel, forced to navigate multiple diocesan departments or pay for external legal
expertise. To stop personnel issues from being swept under the carpet, I will encourage a central, national
point of contact for HR management. Providing a national bank of policies and procedures will stop
parishes from having to reinvent the wheel, freeing clergy to focus on frontline ministry with the reassurance
that their staff are professionally managed.
Strengthening Our Connections: Deaneries and mission partnerships should be hubs for mutual support
and resource sharing, never a tool for frontline cuts. I will also advocate for fresh impetus in ecumenical
dialogue, working harder to model the visible unity Jesus prayed for.
Representing the Lived Reality of our Communities: Finally, we must never forget that the Church
exists to serve its communities. As an earthy and unfussy priest, my calling is to be amongst the people—
both those in our pews and those in our wider villages, towns, and cities. I will be a loud voice for social
action and outreach, continually speaking out against the injustices that impact the flourishing of everyday
people.

1. A Voice for 'Middle-England' and Mutual Flourishing

While I will always stand up for equality, I believe in a Church of mutual flourishing where everyone is
valued. We must respect and celebrate differing views while maintaining our own integrity, recognising that truth
is always bigger than our own tiny perspective.
An incredible, all-too-easily forgotten story of God’s faithfulness is happening right now across England. I want to
use my voice on General Synod to champion that positive narrative. Together, we can ensure our frontline
communities feel deeply valued, properly resourced, and full of hope.
“...we are at a critical crossroads. This is a reality we feel deeply here in the Diocese of Lincoln...”
I hope that when the election comes you will consider giving me your highest preference. I will endeavour to be a
big voice for our church and the people we serve.
The Reverend Robert Parker-McGee SR, Vicar of Spalding, St Mary and St Nicolas
Telephone: 01775 421061, Email: [email protected]

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