General Synod Election Candidates 2026

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ELECTION ADDRESS
The Revd Lauren Ruth Talbot

I am standing for the House of Clergy because I believe my experience of theology, teaching,
parish ministry and different Christian traditions has something valuable to contribute to
General Synod. I hope to bring theological understanding, the perspective that comes from
being immersed in the day-to-day realities of parish and pastoral ministry, a willingness to
listen carefully and engage constructively with disagreement, as well as the ability to
articulate my convictions clearly.
I am currently in the final year of my curacy at St Stephen’s, Twickenham, prior to which I
completed an MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission, specialising in Systematic Theology.
Before ordination, I completed a BA in Theology and a PGCE, spending a decade teaching
Religion and Ethics in multi-faith and Roman Catholic settings. Bringing together theological
study, teaching and parish ministry has taught me to hold together the questions of what we
believe and how those beliefs are lived out in the ordinary life of the Church.
My own journey to date has made me particularly aware of the diversity of the Body of Christ:
not simply as an ideal, but as a necessity. I began attending an Anglican church 15 years ago
as a young adult, having previously been part of the Salvation Army, a Baptist church and a
Vineyard church. Those evangelical traditions were formative in my own faith, and I remain
evangelical in my understanding and expression today. Since then, I have continued to
encounter people with different Christian traditions, beliefs and worldviews.
One of the things I value most about the Church of England is that it brings together people
and traditions which might otherwise find themselves in separate denominations. I believe
there is something beautiful about being part of a Church that is united in Christ while
containing real differences of tradition, theology and practice. I take seriously Jesus’
command to love one another (Jn 13:34–35) and His prayer that those who will believe might
be one (Jn 17:20–21). I am struck by the connection Jesus makes between the way His
followers live together and the world recognising who He is. Our unity is not simply for us; it
is part of our witness. I believe this gives the Church a particular opportunity in a polarised
culture: to demonstrate that in Christ it is possible to disagree without treating one another
as enemies, and to remain committed to one another without surrendering conviction and
distinction.
For me, that also means having confidence in Scripture and doctrine. They matter, both in
their exposition and their application. I am interested in the intersection of faith, theology
and practice, and in the challenge of bringing these together faithfully in this cultural moment.
I want to see a Church that can engage authentically with a changing culture without losing
confidence in the Gospel; that can hold together Scripture, doctrine, mission and the call to
love one another as Christ has loved us. That is part of why I am drawn to General Synod, with
its role in stewarding the life, witness and future of the Church of England: a Church that is

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not united by becoming indistinguishable from one another, but that learns to inhabit its
distinctions faithfully together.
For me, that stewardship includes taking seriously the Church’s ability to proclaim the gospel,
form disciples and serve the communities in which we are placed. It also means attending to
the sustainability and future of parish ministry, clergy vocation, formation and wellbeing, and
the life of our churches. As a wife, mother and friend, as well as a priest, I see the gospel
worked out in the ordinary realities of people’s lives. I care about how we form and sustain
disciples of all ages, and how we speak about Jesus in ways that are both theologically faithful
and able to connect with the realities people are living. What is decided in Synod is lived out
in churches and communities. I would take seriously the opportunity to participate in how
national decisions are made, while remaining attentive to how they are experienced on the
ground.
I would seek to be a thoughtful, independent and constructive voice in the House of Clergy:
willing to listen carefully, contribute constructively, scrutinise fairly and challenge where
necessary. I want to participate in enabling the Church of England to remain confident in
Scripture and the gospel, serious about the health of its parishes and its people, generous
towards those with whom it differs, and committed to unity and mission.

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