General Synod Election Candidates 2026

FROM SCARCITY
TO ABUNDANCE

Six Conversions for the Church

ROBERT THOMPSON
Candidate for General Synod
“The Church is always being converted
into the likeness of Christ for the life of the world.”

I love the Church. Because Christ has not given up on it.
ROOTED IN PARISH AND PLACE
For nearly thirty years I have served as a parish priest and
hospital chaplain. Today I serve as Vicar of St Mary’s,
Kilburn and St James’, West Hampstead, in one of the
Church of England’s most diverse and poorest parishes.
Ministry here has taught me that the Church discovers its
vocation not first in committees or strategies, but in
neighborhoods, schools and chaplaincies where people
encounter Christ in worship, service and friendship. It has
also taught me that parish ministry is civic ministry:
working with schools, local authorities, the NHS,
community organisations, other churches and people of
other faiths for the flourishing of our communities.
That experience has shaped my work in General Synod in
the last five years. Whether speaking about safeguarding,
governance, inclusion, poverty or parish ministry, I have
tried to bring the lived experience of this ordinary parish
and civic ministry into our national conversations.
I have, from my experience here, supported both Together
for the Church of England in its work for a fully inclusive
Church and Save the Parish in its work to strengthen and
resource parish ministry. Both deeply matter for me and
the people and the place that God has called me to serve,
Under the present trajectory of the Church and diocese
our mission in places like Kilburn is overlooked, and
marginalised. Parishes like this need more support.
We live in a society often shaped by scarcity and fear.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ tells a different story: a
story of abundance and hope - the abundance of God's
welcome, truth, grace, mission and life.
MY RECORD IN GENERAL SYNOD
SAFEGUARDING & ACCOUNTABILITY Brought a
Motion calling for an independent review following the
Soul Survivor scandal and later initiated the petition
calling for Justin Welby’s resignation after Makin.

LIVING IN LOVE AND FAITH & INCLUSION Contributed
by supporting full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, equal
marriage, the full ministry of women and for disability,
mental health and neurodiversity inclusion.

RACE, POVERTY & THE MARGINS Tabled amendments
on poverty and social justice ensuring that those in our
poorest parishes, those from BAME communities, and
others often unheard can shape our common life.

GOVERNANCE & POWER Argued through that
safeguarding cannot be separated from power, culture
and accountability, and for more transparent and
accountable episcopal and national leadership.

ISRAEL–PALESTINE Tabled amendments seeking to hold
together repentance for Christian antisemitism and a
commitment to Jewish-Christian dialogue, with justice for
Palestinians, respect for international law and the ongoing
work of facilitating dialogue and working towards peace.

PARISH MINISTRY & MISSION Brought the experience
of one of the Church of England’s most diverse parishes
into debates about parish ministry, mission and public life.

I will continue to be more than a vote in General
Synod: actively shaping debate, listening with
humility, speaking with courage and conviction, and
working generously across difference.

ROBERT THOMPSON | CLERGY CANDIDATE | GENERAL SYNOD | DIOCESE OF LONDON

SIX CONVERSIONS
FOR THE CHURCH
Jesus calls us beyond fear into faith, exclusion into belonging, power into service and death into life.
1 EXCLUSION → BELONGING
Every baptised person is a gift to the Church.
I support the full ministry of women and the full inclusion of
LGBTQ+ people, including equal marriage. I will work for a
Church in which people living in poverty, disabled and
neurodivergent people, those experiencing mental ill-health,
people of every culture, educational and social background,
and people of every age are able to belong and flourish.
I will continue to work for full inclusion in the life of the Church.
2 SECRECY → TRUTH
Truth is the beginning of healing.
The Church cannot proclaim the truth of Christ while refusing
to tell the truth about itself. Survivors' experience must shape
not only our procedures but the culture of the Church we
become, with independent scrutiny, transparency and genuine
accountability. I regard safeguarding and how we treat those
abused in our communities as missional priority not an add on.
I will continue to work for justice for those who have been abused.
3 POWER OVER → POWER FOR
Authority is given for service.
Christian leadership exists so that others may flourish. We
need accountable episcopal leadership, accountable National
Church Institutions, transparent governance from the top
down, and power shared with stronger voices for parishes in
the decisions that shape our common life.
I will continue to work for a devolution of power across all the
various sections of the Church.
4 CENTRALISATION → PARISH
The parish is the primary place of the Church's life and mission.
The Church is formed in parishes, schools, chaplaincies and
gathered around Word and Sacrament. National structures
should listen to them, be formed by them and resource them -
not replace them. It is the variety of life of the local that should
shape our central life, not the other way round.
I will continue to work for the parish as the main organ of the
Church's life and mission.
5 MAINTENANCE → MISSION
The Church exists for the life of the world.
Mission means following, embodying and proclaiming Christ
but also finding Christ in the places that we are set. It means
forming disciples, nurturing children and young people, serving
those experiencing poverty, caring for creation, and working
ecumenically, across faiths and with those of good-will for
justice, peace and the common good.
I will continue to work for mission in its fullest breadth.
6 EXHAUSTION → FLOURISHING
Healthy ministers help build healthy churches.
Too many clergy and lay ministers carry increasing
responsibility with diminishing resources. Faithfulness should
never be measured by exhaustion: increased support, sabbath,
retreat, continuing formation, healthy boundaries, pastoral care
and realistic expectations are essential to sustainable ministry.
I will continue to work for the proper care, support and regard of
clergy and lay ministers.
WHY I AM STANDING
I am standing because I love the Church and believe it can
change - not by abandoning its deepest traditions, but by
becoming more faithful to Jesus Christ. I want a Church that is
less fearful and more hopeful; that tells the truth and shares
power; that welcomes every baptised person; strengthens its
parishes; serves its communities; and trusts the abundance of
God’s grace more than the scarcity of its fears.
FIRST PREFERENCE
If this is a vision you share, I would be honoured to receive
your first-preference vote.
CONTACT ROBERT
Email: [email protected]
Web: parishnw6.com X: @Rgt71Robert
Facebook: Robert Thompson
Every Eucharist begins with ordinary gifts: bread, wine and ordinary people.
By God’s grace they become signs of extraordinary abundance.
I believe God is still doing the same with the Church.

ROBERT THOMPSON
Vicar of St Mary’s, Kilburn & St James’, West Hampstead
FROM SCARCITY TO ABUNDANCE | SIX CONVERSIONS FOR THE CHURCH

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