General Synod Election Candidates 2026

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Revd Canon Dr Martyn Taylor
Candidate for General Synod

This September I am standing once again for election to General Synod after two consecutive terms as a clergy rep for
Lincoln. I know the needs of the Lincoln well having served all 30 years of my ministry in the diocese at St George’s
Stamford. I am the chair of the House of Clergy and serve on Bishop’s Council, as well as being rural dean of Stamford. I
am married to Philippa and together we have three grown up children. I grew up in the evangelical tradition of the
Church of England in a vicarage family, and I am a member of the New Wine leadership network.

St George's has made a significant contribution to the life of the diocese, most recently as a resource church with
responsibility for revitalising St Anne’s Grantham and St John’s Spalding. I am committed to the life and renewal of the
local parish as the frontline of mission alongside raising up vocations to ensure that we have enough clergy for the
future needs of the local church. I understand the finances of the C of E having served as an elected member of the
Finance Committee of the Archbishop’s Council for six years. My most recent synod speech was on the importance of
growing a strategy for market town mission across the rural dioceses of the C of E.

I also have significant experience of the wider Anglican Communion (GS usually has visiting Anglican Communion reps
present). I have served in theological education, mission and outreach in a variety of dioceses across East Africa as
recently as last February.

If I am re-elected, I believe I have the experience to make a significant contribution on behalf of Lincoln Diocese to the
ongoing mission and ministry of the National Church as well as those issues that are pertinent to Lincoln. If you would
like to know what I stand for positively…

I Stand for Inclusive Mission
As a national church we exist for everyone in every community. We need to encourage a generous welcome to all
people. We must continue to model the inclusive welcome of Jesus for all, especially for those who are perceived as
being the last, the least and the lost. I believe that St George's has modelled inclusive mission across the social spectrum
by operating a CAP (Christians Against Poverty) debt centre, Fresh Hope, our ministry to the vulnerable and homeless,
and SHEP (Stamford Housing and Essentials Project), providing white goods and furniture to those in need of emergency
help, all set in the wider context of the ministry of a parish church committed to the local community.

I Stand for Effective Discipleship
In our current cultural moment, the Church of England needs to work hard at discipling all the baptised from the cradle
to the grave. St George’s has a large children's ministry, and we model discipleship opportunities for new believers, right
through to seniors. I long to see the national church renewed in its ability to make lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ,
including the young, so that we can ensure future generations of disciples for the Church of England.

I Stand for Relevant Structures
We must keep the parish at the forefront of mission. Talk of a ‘mixed ecology church’ means ongoing dialogue within
parishes, deaneries, the wider Diocese and the national church, as the whole Church of England seeks to work together

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to bring renewal and revitalisation, which will include different shapes and forms of church alongside the inherited
model that has served us so well.

Over the years I have had to engage with diocesan structures to support mission in neighbouring villages and parishes.
The discussion around missional structures will need to be ongoing as the Church of England looks to the future. I stand
as someone who has engaged and thought about these issues, ready to speak in debates about the mission of the
Church of England, particularly with a view to our rural dioceses.

I Stand for Unity in Diversity
We are to 'strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' I am committed to the Church of England. My
father was a Priest; my two brothers are both Priests and the Church of England is my spiritual home. I recognise this is
true for many members of the Church of England. Our common faith in Christ as our one Lord, our sharing in one
baptism, our shared experience of the one Spirit with one hope and our shared recognition of one Father overall, means
we have plenty to work on together, even from our different backgrounds, starting points and traditions.

I Stand for “In All Things Love”
We all recognise that there are contentious issues in every generation of the Church. As we approach the next iteration
of conversations around marriage, sexuality and wider relationships one of my resolutions is not to be a clanging gong or
a clashing cymbal, but instead to seek to operate by the principle of seeking the truth together in love.

I believe that grace is fully inclusive, discipleship is for all the baptised and ordained ministry has always been qualified
and recognised by those in authority in the Church. I stand by the traditional understanding of what some would call
sacramental marriage. Our job as a Church is to work out together how we offer a radical welcome to all, teaching a
cross shaped discipleship and modelling a servant ministry to the world for which Christ died and rose again.

If I am re-elected to represent Lincoln Diocese, I will do my best to work for the unity and future growth of the Church of
England as we seek together to do the work of sharing the good news of God’s love in Christ.

Thank you for taking the time to read my address. As you come to decide on your vote, I hope that you will be able to
nominate me as your first choice, if not first, then second please. Please feel free to email me if you have any further
questions that you would like to ask me personally.

Revd Martyn Taylor

St George’s Rectory, 16 St George’s Square
Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2BN

[email protected]

Nominated by Revd Canon Sudarshan Sarvananthan

Seconded by
Revd Rebecca Rock

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