accountability,bcp,book of common prayer,good news,liturgy,mission,next generation,prayer,safeguarding,traditional,young people,youth,youth groups

• Aged 28
• Churchwarden at a BCP
parish in the City
• Lay worker & Children's
Champion at a BMO in
Islington
• Member of Diocesan
Synod & Bishop’s
Council since 2021

I would be delighted if you
could give me a first or
high preference vote
.

Propose r: Zi Ken Toh
St Giles -in-the-Fields
(Westminster St Margaret)

Pictured with me bottom left

Seconder : Ade Adebajo
Lay Vice -Chair of Diocesan
Synod (Chelsea deanery)

Pictured with me bottom right

Both fellow members of D
BC
JONATHAN WOLSTENHOLME

ABOUT ME
I am a lifelong Londoner, and the Church of England has been my
home all my life. I grew up in Battersea
at a small
church on a
council estate, and over my lifetime have worshipped and served
in a variety of church communities : large and small; traditional and
contemporary; across a range of Anglican traditions
.
I currently work as a lay worker at a B
ishop’s Mission Order church
in the Islington Deanery, and serve as a Churchwarden at
a parish
offering midweek Book of Common Prayer choral e vensong in the
City Deanery. I am married to Lizzy
, a resident doctor specialising
in psychiatry, and we recently had our first child
.
BISHOP’S COUNCIL
since 2021
For the past five years I have served on the Diocesan Bishop's
Council (DBC) , throughout that time as its youngest member. I
have sought to undertake
the responsibilities of a trustee

diligently : scrutinising plans, asking
constructive questions and
seeking to ensure that decisions are wise and responsible.

I have seen first-hand the contribution an attentive and engaged
laity can make to the life of the Church, bringing
a range of skills
and experience from many walks of life.
I believe good governance
must
include
strong safeguarding
,
marked by

robust
accountability and proper care for those who have been harmed.

I have also
sought to examine proposals which would
transfer
responsibility from local churches towards the centre, because I
believe the church’s structures should
support and equip local
churches rather than unnecessarily
removing responsibility
or
resources from those who know their communities best.

Serving alongside people with different
roles, perspectives and
life experiences has shown me the value of listen ing carefully
while being willing to speak clearly.

Several colleagues
from Diocesan
Synod and DBC have encouraged
me to stand for General Synod
as a
younger lay voice, with five years’
service on DBC . With their backing I
hope to put this experience to good
use by representing London
’s laity
in our national church body .

If you have any questions, do feel free to contact me on:
[email protected]

A CHURCH FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

I am passionate about seeing children and young people
engage with the Christian faith, and about making sure there is
a Church for the next generation to inherit.

The Church of England has a remarkable
opportunity through
our schools , bringing us into contact with children, young
people and families who may have little
other connection with
the Church.

         He lping with an ‘Easter Experience’ for

year 6 pupils.
Much of my ministry has involved young people, in
both church es and schools. I have helped with
school assemblies and
Christian groups , giving pupils opportunities to explore the Christian faith .
I oversee our church’s children's work , and have helped at several holiday clubs and youth groups.
I want to see churches welcome and engage the next generation: creating spaces to ask questions,
encounter Jesus, and grow in faith . If elected, I will advocate for these concerns in the wider church.
A CHURCH WITH A
BREA DTH OF EXPRESSIONS

I want to be part of a Church of England where people from all sorts of backgrounds can
belong
and flourish among God's people.
I have participated in churches with very different
sty les and
traditions , and have learnt to value the gifts that each can bring. I want our differences to
enrich
the life of the Church rather than prevent us from welcoming people, serving our communities and
sharing the good news of life in Jesus . I would love to see churches which are
confident about who
we are, generous towards one another and outward
-looking in our welcome .
As a musician and former choral scholar
, I have a particular love
for the riches of Anglican
liturgy, music and history .
I don't believe we need to choose between valuing the inheritance
we have received and finding new ways to reach people. I want to
contribute to a Church of England
confident in both .
Pictured furthest right, taking part in the first Anglican Evensong
to take place at
St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, as part of the choir of Merton College
Oxford .
WHY I'M STANDING

I love the Church of England. It has been my home all my life, and I want
that to be possible for my children and for future generations .
I want to see a Church which
witnesses to Jesus confidently to those
around us, welcomes people from
all sorts of backgrounds, values local
churches and makes good use of the gifts of its laity. I want to help build
a Church where many can find a home and a family among God's people.

I hope to bring to
Synod a younger lay voice
shap ed by different parts of the Churc h, with five
years ’ experience of diocesan governance
and a passion for reaching the next generation .
General Synod needs people who will represent those who elect them, scrutinise proposals
carefully and contribute constructively to the life of the Church. I would be honoured to do that for
you. Thank you for your service in your church and on your deanery synod
, and for reading this far .
I would be very grateful for your first or high preference vote
.