clergy housing,clergy wellbeing,housing,liturgy,mission,pcc,safeguarding,tradition,vicarage,working class,youth

General Synod Election Address

Jessica Amanda Howard
Liverpool North & Walton Deanery

Proposed by: Mrs Pamela Ambrose
West Derby Deanery

Seconded by: Mr Adrian Manson
Liverpool North and Walton Deanery

About me

• Bishop’s Appointments Secretary

since 2021.

• Acting Clergy Housing Manager –
Interim role since January 2026
• Member of the Clergy Housing
Committee.

• PCC member of St Columba,
Anfield.
• Children’s worship lead.
Health and Safety Officer
Deanery Synod representative.

• Trustee and Vice Chair of ACS
Charity since Nov 2025.

I am married to Daniel, who is a priest
in the Diocese, and we have two young
children.

Born and raised in Liverpool, into a
working class family, I would represent
the majority of voices across the
diocese, but a majority that is often
underrepresented. I understand
firsthand how remote decisions can
have a huge impact on the Church, and
I strongly believe that a range of
perspectives should be heard in the
decision making process.

Why I am standing

I have always felt called to serve the
Church, and strongly believe in lay
ministry. Growing up on a council estate in
north Liverpool, I have always been
involved in my parish and have been
attending church since birth.
For the past 15 years, I have actively tried
to make a bigger difference in the Diocese
in both my personal and professional life.
Firstly, by joining my PCC in both my
former and current church in order to help
serve the mission of the parish. Secondly,
by becoming a Deanery Synod
representative, to engage with the wider
church community. And thirdly, by leaving
my previous employment in the NHS, to
take up my current position as the Bishop’s
Appointments Secretary, which has allowed
me to use my skills and experience to
support the functioning of the Diocese.
My role includes: assisting our parishes
with their vacancies, administering a
smooth process which includes compliance
with legal and safeguarding processes, and
being a support to priests and parishioners.
After prayerful consideration, I am standing
for General Synod to use my voice as a
young woman from the ‘missing
generation’, as someone grounded in core
Christian values, as someone who believes
in fair representation, and, above all, as
someone who seeks to put genuine care at
the heart of all I do. I hope to contribute to
a diverse range of voices at Synod, working
with others to build a Church in which
everyone can flourish.
Contact:

St Columba’s Vicarage
Pinehurst Avenue
L4 7UQ
[email protected]

What matters to me…

Thank you for
your consideration.

Jessica Howard
Safeguarding

Safeguarding should be the top of
everyone’s priority list. I would advocate
for robust policies, more tools for
standardised reporting and recording,
a streamlined and transferable training
program and DBS checks.
Children and Youth

I believe Synod has a responsibility to invest
in our children now. This includes: the
development of professional programmes
for different age groups, which teaches,
equips and resources them appropriately.
I strongly believe this will enable them to
grow, thrive, discern vocation and become
the future leaders of our Church. It is vital
that lay leaders are equally supported,
trained and equipped for this ministry.
Our children are not just the Church of the
future, they are part of the Church today,
and one of our greatest gifts for securing a
thriving future.
Mutual Flourishing

I long to see all parishes, laity and clergy,
women and men, flourish in their ministries
throughout the Church of England. The
diversity of the Church is one of its greatest
strengths, holding space for all. For me,
mutual flourishing means creating a Church
where all have a seat at the table, we are all
different, with our own unique perspectives,
but, this should not be a barrier to working
together. There should be space where
genuine difference is held with support,
respect and love. We can acknowledge our
differences with grace, while uniting around
what we share: our love for our Churches, our
desire to see them grow, and above all, our
love for God.

Romans 12:4-5: "For just as each of us has
one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we, though many, form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others."
Parish Resourcing

I believe that all parishes should be
valued, resourced and supported.
Our churches provide a space for people
to gather, belong, and to know Jesus.
The uniqueness of each parish is what
makes the Church of England so
diverse. Whether through its liturgy,
tradition, service or priestly ministry.
I would advocate for more funding
directly into parish ministry, to enable
initiatives that strengthen connections
with parishioners and communities.
Our priests should have the time and
resources to be known in their parish, to
visit, listen and to build lasting
relationships with their flock, bringing
people closer to Jesus and making Him
known in the communities we serve.

Clergy Wellbeing

I am a strong advocate for the wellbeing of
our clergy. Having recently spent eight
months as Interim Clergy Housing Manager,
their wellbeing was my sole priority. As a
clergy spouse, I understand the pressures
they carry and would advocate for a system
that provides stronger support structures
and greater financial resourcing for their
ministries, housing and wellbeing.