General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Fiona MacMillan
About me
I'm a trustee of Together for the Church of England and former
trustee of Inclusive Church (2016-2025). I'm disabled,
neurodivergent and use a wheelchair. I'm a native Londoner with
one adult daughter and live in a council flat with a wild garden full
of sparrows, bees and blackberries.
Church experience

I've been part of St Martin in the Fields since childhood – I grew up
in London and went to St Martin's High School. This has grounded
my faith in a very practical theology.

At St Martin’s I've led evening prayer and intercessions, preached,
sung in the Choir and worked in the soup kitchen. I’ve been an online steward for live-streamed
services, led live-streamed compline and zoom small groups for lectio divina and Lent courses. I hold
a monthly online coffee gathering for disabled Christians to share our lives and faith.

I served on PCC, Deanery and Diocesan synods then was elected to General Synod in 2021. I
represent the diocese on the group discerning who will be the next Bishop of London

I'm a member of the Nazareth community, practising contemplative prayer, sacrament and service. I
knit hats for our International Group, a community of people including refugees and asylum seekers.
Work experience

I spent 10 years managing pioneering health projects, including as General Manager for a company
with £2m turnover, then studied at the School for Social Entrepreneurs, becoming one of its first
Fellows.

I use my experience of disability, faith and church as a practitioner, advocate, speaker, and writer.
Talks, panels, training and workshops have included for Bristol, Ely, Europe, Liverpool, London,
Portsmouth, St Albans and Southwark dioceses, the Church of England's national DDO conference,
Praxis South, Church for Everyone, Generous Faith, MOSAIC, WATCH lay women, Quaker national
gathering, National Justice & Peace Network, Episcopal Parish Network, Church Times, HeartEdge,
Greenbelt and Southbank. I've edited two booklets and contributed chapters to four books.

I chair St Martin's Disability Advisory Group and lead the planning team for an annual conference
on disability and theology, a partnership with Inclusive Church. It’s centred on lived experience –
disabled people gathering to resource each other and the Church.

Since 2023 I've co-led neurodiversity training in the diocese, initially for clergy and licensed lay
ministers, children and young people's ministry, bishops and senior staff. It has been welcomed
across our diverse church traditions. More than 500 people have attended introductory training in
London so far, and 150 opted for whole-day follow-on training.

In 2023 I joined the pilot of Enabling Leaders, a leadership development course for disabled and
neurodivergent clergy and lay leaders. I now serve on its Steering Group.
Proposer: Savitri Hensman, Stepney Deanery Synod - 'Fiona has been involved for many years
with different equality issues. She has a gift for working with others in creative ways, exploring and
living out faith, and is deeply committed to making the church accessible and welcoming for all.'
I would be grateful for your FIRST or highest preference vote. Thank you.

What have I done on General Synod in the last 5 years?

I've been an active Synod member, attending every session. I've co-led Accessible Synod and
organised fringe meetings around Living in Love & Faith, disability and neurodiversity. I've advocated
for diocesan members on topics from Youth Synod to housing for our poorest retired clergy. I've
asked 30 questions on matters from safeguarding to racial justice, finance, governance and ministry.

I've offered 14 speeches in debates on: assisted suicide, codes of conduct for lay officers, disability,
funding priorities, governance, LLF, national care service, neurodiversity, poverty, racial justice,
representation, safeguarding, and the value of work.

I was elected by Synod to the Committee for Ministry of and among Deaf & Disabled People
(CMDDP), a sub-group of the Archbishops' Council. This means I represent Synod on the national
Disability Task Group, advocating for a modern understanding of disability work that's centred on
lived experience. I've helped to shape strategy, update language and make a case for funding.

I established and chair the national Neurodiversity Working Group who brought the first ever
neurodiversity motion to Synod in July 2026. All Kinds of Minds affirmed neurodivergent people as
intentionally and lovingly made, and called for the removal of barriers at every level of the church: it
was passed unanimously.

I represent Synod on the Mission & Public Affairs Council overseeing research, policy work and
public commentary on social, political and ethical issues. I’ve worked with the Faith in Public Life
team on responses to government consultations on welfare reform, and the Timms Review.
What do I stand for?

I believe that all exclusion is the same exclusion: the body of Christ is not whole until all are
flourishing. I'm committed to equality at all levels and roles within the church, regardless of
disability, ethnicity, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, socio-economic
status, sex or sexuality.

Climate Emergency. We need to build on progress towards carbon zero as a matter of urgency.

Good governance. We are all served by clear process, transparency and accountability.

LGBTQ+ people have been faithful despite the pain of discrimination. Equality will be an act of love,
blessing a sign of hope.

The parish model of ministry is a cornerstone to keep. Resources should be used to support clergy
and laity in sustaining and developing local parish ministry for the 21st century.

Safeguarding. The Church has failed repeatedly to understand our safeguarding responsibility and
duty of care. We need humility, honesty and a fully independent safeguarding body.

Spending priorities are a sign of our values, particularly in times of financial constraints. We need to
fully resource the work of racial justice and support parishes in poorer communities.

Jesus's life, example and teaching call us to the edge. Too many people remain on the margins of
society. The Church needs to resource in different ways, rediscovering an ability for innovation by
listening to and working with people. Church on the edge becomes a place of growth and human
flourishing.
Seconder: Emily Richardson, Hammersmith & Fulham Deanery Synod - 'Fiona has a strong
track-record. She listens to others and, more importantly, to the Spirit, being guided by prayer
to work for practical change in God's church.'
Please contact me if you would like to know more: [email protected]

accountability,archbishops,archbishops' council,assisted suicide,asylum,dioceses,disability,disabled people,discrimination,equality,finance,gender identity,housing,inclusive,inclusive church,independent safeguarding,justice,lgbtq,llf,mental health,mission,neurodiversity,pcc,poverty,prayer,quaker,racial justice,refugees,sacrament,safeguarding,sexuality,together for the church of,transparency,young people,youth