diocesan board,outreach,pccs,vacancy

ELECTION STATEMENTS OF
MRS. CHRISTINA T. SOSANYA
11 Ayrsome Road, London, N16 ORH
Email: [email protected]

PARISH: St. Paul West Hackney and St. Olaf, Woodberry Downs, N4.2TW

DEANERY: Hackney, London.

Do you want experience that listens? A voice that represents? Someone who
understands where the shoes hurt?

For about 50 years, I have worshipped and served in the Church, and throughout
that time I have sought to serve not simply through committees, but alongside
people and communities.

My experience spans the local church, the Diocese, public administration, trade
union work and community services. I have served on PCCs, been Lay Chair of the
Deanery Synod for nine years, and served on the Diocesan Bishop's Council,
Diocesan Synod, Vacancy in See Committee and Diocesan Board of Patronage.

I have also spent much of my working life understanding how decisions affect
people in practice: as Area Administrator for three London Boroughs during the
GLC era, as a General Manager in local government, and now as General Secretary
of the General & Volunteer Workers' Union.

My community service has included chairing meetings of the Hackney Women
Centre, the Stoke Newington Area Advisory Committee, the Hackney Society and
the Hackney Social Response Committee, which played a vital role in establishing
the Night Shelter in London.

Through my nine years as Worldwide Correspondent for the London Diocesan
Mothers' Union, six years as Chairman of its Action & Outreach Committee, six
years as Deanery Chairman and three years as Co-ordinator of London Diocesan
Members, I have also seen at first hand the importance of listening, outreach and
practical Christian service.
After nearly 50 years of worship and service, I believe the experience I have
gained can now be placed at the service of the whole Church.

Why I am standing

Too often, decisions are made with the best of intentions but without sufficiently
understanding how they will affect people in their everyday lives.

Only those who have worn the hurting shoes can really tell you where the shoes
hurt.

I have spent my life working with people, listening to their concerns and helping
to turn those concerns into practical action. I know that policies which look good
on paper do not always work as intended on the ground.

If elected to General Synod, I will take your experience into the room with me. I
will seek to ensure the perspectives of ordinary people are heard when important
decisions are made.

My three commitments

I will listen.

I will listen particularly to people and communities whose voices can easily be
overlooked, and take their experiences seriously.

I will bring practical experience to Synod.

I will ask not only, “Is this a good idea?” but also, “How will this affect people in
our churches and communities?”

I will help turn vision into reality.

The Diocese has set an ambitious goal: for every Londoner to experience the love
of Christ by 2030. I want to help make that vision real—not simply in our policies
and plans, but in the everyday lives of people and communities.

I believe the Church is strongest when it listens, learns and serves. After a lifetime
of service, I want to use my experience to help make sure that the voices of our
people are heard at General Synod.

If you want a representative who will listen before speaking, bring practical
experience to difficult decisions, and keep people at the heart of Synod, I ask for
your vote.

Experience that listens. A voice that represents.

Christina Sosanya