affirming,asylum,catholic,church growth,climate change,conversion therapy,disability,environment,equality,evangelical,evangelism,gender identity,good news,homelessness,inclusive,independent safeguarding,interfaith,justice,lgbt,liturgy,marriage,mental health,mission,net zero,neurodiversity,pcc,prayer,racial justice,redress,redress scheme,safeguarding,same sex,same-sex blessings,same-sex marriage,sexuality,social justice,survivors,tradition,vacancy,victims,women and the church,young people

Election Address

Philip Baldwin

London

House of Laity

Full Election Address Text

C/O St Anne’s Church, 55 Dean Street, London W1D 6AF
[email protected] | 07337857532
Standing for re-election to General Synod
Proposer: Andrew Mackay
Seconder: Iain Bailey
We must proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ afresh to each generation.
I have served on the General Synod from 2021 – 2026. It would be a great honour to serve a second
term. I am forty-one, a former lawyer who is now a writer.
PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING ME YOUR FIRST PREFERENCE VOTE
OVERVIEW
• Lawyer (2009 – 2015)
• National School Faith LGBT+ Role Model (2016 – 2021)
• Founding trustee of the Ozanne Foundation (2017 – 2025)
• Women and the Church (WATCH) trustee (2025 – present day)
• Ban Conversion Practices Coalition (2025 – present day)
• Interests include homelessness, social justice and interfaith work
CHURCH EXPERIENCE
• PCC of St Anne’s Church, Soho (2016 – present day)
• General Synod, Diocesan and Deanery Synods (2021 – 2026) and
London’s Vacancy-in-See Committee (2025 – 2026)
• Spoke in a wide range of General Synod debates, from liturgy to mission and from parish matters
to inclusion, and frequently submitted written questions, as well as negotiating and building
connections and networks beyond the Synod Chamber
Professionally, I write regular columns and opinion pieces for national publications about many
different causes, as well as some broadcasting. I am keen to understand all views, and so try to listen
respectfully and prayerfully whilst keeping an open mind. My priorities for a second term include:
i) Inclusion
Believing that, in Christ, we are all equal in God’s sight, I would continue to champion for standalone
same-sex blessings and same-sex marriage within the Church. I will continue to advocate for racial
justice, those with disabilities or neurodivergence, and support women’s ministry at every level
within the Church of England. I am keen that the next Bishop of London ordains women. I also
work with charities advocating for asylum claimants.

ii) Safeguarding
Following a series of devastating failures, we will rightly continue to face scrutiny over our
approach to safeguarding in the next quinquennium. We need independent safeguarding which
has to be perceived as such by victims and survivors, who we need to place front and centre.
The redress scheme is long overdue. We must always include the voices of survivors when
considering safeguarding. There have been improvements, but we must rebuild trust and ensure
that our churches are truly safe. I am on the national Ban Conversion Practices Coalition and
have friends, from across faith traditions, who were subjected to so-called “conversion therapy”.
Our churches also need to be safe for LGBT+ people.
iii) Encouraging church growth
I began my faith journey in my mid-twenties, following an HIV diagnosis at 24-years-old and was
confirmed in 2015, at Southwark Cathedral. I was so lucky to encounter Jesus in my life in my
twenties and have benefitted hugely from being part of the Church since then, growing in faith
through the Bible and prayer. I would like to see more young people come to faith and have the
same positive experiences of the Church, as I did. Caring about future generations, also means
caring for our planet and the environment, which they will inhabit, and I support the Church of
England’s Net Zero ambitions. For many young people, climate change is their primary concern,
so caring for the environment and evangelism go hand-in-hand.
CHURCH TRADITION
From 2014 – 2016, I attended St John’s in Waterloo, which is from the affirming Catholic
tradition. From 2016 to the present day, I have worshipped at St Anne’s Soho, serving on the
PCC of a church that is diverse, inclusive and thoroughly Anglican. During my time as a trustee
of the Ozanne Foundation, I met affirming Evangelicals who also shaped my faith journey. I live
close to St Bartholomew’s the Great, in Smithfield, and since 2024 have enjoyed attending
services there. I have genuinely benefitted from both the Catholic and Evangelical traditions. I
believe that the parish church system is the foundation of the Church of England, where local
churches, especially in areas of deprivation, are vital places of mission and service.
PLEASE VOTE, as the turnout was low in London in 2021.
PLEASE PRAY for everyone standing.
“I am committed to equality for everyone, at all levels and roles within the church, regardless
of disability, economic power, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health,
neurodiversity, or sexuality.”
(Together statement, which I have signed)

Terms used in address

affirming,asylum,catholic,church growth,climate change,conversion therapy,disability,environment,equality,evangelical,evangelism,gender identity,good news,homelessness,inclusive,independent safeguarding,interfaith,justice,lgbt,liturgy,marriage,mental health,mission,net zero,neurodiversity,pcc,prayer,racial justice,redress,redress scheme,safeguarding,same sex,same-sex blessings,same-sex marriage,sexuality,social justice,survivors,tradition,vacancy,victims,women and the church,young people

Theological Tradition Terms

affirming,catholic,evangelical,inclusive,women and the church

Theological Tradition Sentences

• Women and the Church (WATCH) trustee (2025 – present day) ------ From 2014 – 2016, I attended St John’s in Waterloo, which is from the affirming Catholic tradition. ------ From 2016 to the present day, I have worshipped at St Anne’s Soho, serving on the PCC of a church that is diverse, inclusive and thoroughly Anglican. ------ During my time as a trustee of the Ozanne Foundation, I met affirming Evangelicals who also shaped my faith journey. ------ I have genuinely benefitted from both the Catholic and Evangelical traditions.

Sexuality, Marriage & LLF/PLF Terms

conversion therapy,gender identity,lgbt,marriage,same sex,same-sex blessings,same-sex marriage,sexuality

Sexuality, Marriage & LLF/PLF Sentences

• National School Faith LGBT+ Role Model (2016 – 2021) ------ My priorities for a second term include: i) Inclusion Believing that, in Christ, we are all equal in God’s sight, I would continue to champion for standalone same-sex blessings and same-sex marriage within the Church. ------ I am on the national Ban Conversion Practices Coalition and have friends, from across faith traditions, who were subjected to so-called “conversion therapy”. ------ Our churches also need to be safe for LGBT+ people. iii) Encouraging church growth I began my faith journey in my mid-twenties, following an HIV diagnosis at 24-years-old and was confirmed in 2015, at Southwark Cathedral. ------ PLEASE PRAY for everyone standing. “I am committed to equality for everyone, at all levels and roles within the church, regardless of disability, economic power, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality.” (Together statement, which I have signed)

Safeguarding Terms

independent safeguarding,redress,redress scheme,safeguarding,survivors,victims

Safeguarding Sentences

ii) Safeguarding Following a series of devastating failures, we will rightly continue to face scrutiny over our approach to safeguarding in the next quinquennium. ------ We need independent safeguarding which has to be perceived as such by victims and survivors, who we need to place front and centre. ------ The redress scheme is long overdue. ------ We must always include the voices of survivors when considering safeguarding.

Evangelism, Mission & Church Growth Terms

church growth,evangelism,good news,mission

Evangelism, Mission & Church Growth Sentences

We must proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ afresh to each generation. ------ • Spoke in a wide range of General Synod debates, from liturgy to mission and from parish matters ------ Our churches also need to be safe for LGBT+ people. iii) Encouraging church growth I began my faith journey in my mid-twenties, following an HIV diagnosis at 24-years-old and was confirmed in 2015, at Southwark Cathedral. ------ For many young people, climate change is their primary concern, so caring for the environment and evangelism go hand-in-hand. ------ I believe that the parish church system is the foundation of the Church of England, where local churches, especially in areas of deprivation, are vital places of mission and service.

Doctrine & Formularies Terms

prayer,tradition

Doctrine & Formularies Sentences

I was so lucky to encounter Jesus in my life in my twenties and have benefitted hugely from being part of the Church since then, growing in faith through the Bible and prayer. ------ CHURCH TRADITION ------ From 2014 – 2016, I attended St John’s in Waterloo, which is from the affirming Catholic tradition.

Society, Justice & Inclusion Terms

asylum,climate change,disability,environment,equality,homelessness,justice,mental health,net zero,neurodiversity,racial justice,social justice

Society, Justice & Inclusion Sentences

• Interests include homelessness, social justice and interfaith work ------ I will continue to advocate for racial justice, those with disabilities or neurodivergence, and support women’s ministry at every level within the Church of England. ------ I also work with charities advocating for asylum claimants. ------ Caring about future generations, also means caring for our planet and the environment, which they will inhabit, and I support the Church of England’s Net Zero ambitions. ------ For many young people, climate change is their primary concern, so caring for the environment and evangelism go hand-in-hand. ------ PLEASE PRAY for everyone standing. “I am committed to equality for everyone, at all levels and roles within the church, regardless of disability, economic power, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality.” (Together statement, which I have signed)

Clergy Concerns Terms

vacancy

Clergy Concerns Sentences

London’s Vacancy-in-See Committee (2025 – 2026)

Church Structure & Policy Terms

liturgy,pcc

Church Structures & Policy Sentences

• PCC of St Anne’s Church, Soho (2016 – present day) ------ • Spoke in a wide range of General Synod debates, from liturgy to mission and from parish matters ------ From 2016 to the present day, I have worshipped at St Anne’s Soho, serving on the PCC of a church that is diverse, inclusive and thoroughly Anglican.

Other Churches & Other Faiths Terms

interfaith

Other Churches & Other Faiths Sentences

• Interests include homelessness, social justice and interfaith work

Youth & Next Generation Terms

young people

Youth & Next Generation Sentences

I would like to see more young people come to faith and have the same positive experiences of the Church, as I did. ------ For many young people, climate change is their primary concern, so caring for the environment and evangelism go hand-in-hand.