environment,injustice,mission,scripture,tradition

Leila Nikroo: Election Address
I am a priest in the Church of England, originally from Iran, with a Muslim background. Eighteen years ago, I came to faith
in Jesus Christ, which changed the direction of my life. Since 2021, I have served in the Diocese of Manchester. Alongside
my ministry with the Farsi-speaking community, I serve in an English-speaking parish as a Priest Assistant and Pioneer
Priest, working with clergy and lay people in the life and ministry of the parish. I have been married for 37 years and have
two sons, aged 36 and 30.
Serving across different cultures and communities has taught me that Christian ministry begins with listening —
understanding people, their needs and their experiences. It has also taught me that we may see the same issue in very
different ways, and that we can learn from one another without losing sight of what we believe. I believe strong convictions
and an open heart can go together.
I believe the Church should be able to disagree well — with honesty, respect and love. We do not have to agree on
everything to listen to one another, work together and serve. The Church should also have the courage to speak against
injustice, hear voices that are often overlooked, respond to human need with love, and care faithfully for God’s creation and
the environment.
My Christian faith is rooted in Scripture and the Holy Trinity. For me, faith is not simply about what we say we believe; it
should be seen in the way we live and serve. I believe that before people hear us speak about Christ, they should be able to
see something of His love, mercy, truth and hope in our lives.
I value the Anglican tradition of the Church of England and its calling to serve both the Church and the wider community. I
want to see a Church that is confident in Christ, faithful to Scripture, and willing to meet the needs of people and the
challenges of our time.
If elected to General Synod, I would bring my experience of parish ministry and of serving across different cultures, together
with a willingness to listen carefully to clergy, lay people and local churches.
I am ready to listen to different perspectives, to learn from others and to engage honestly and respectfully in difficult
conversations, while remaining true to my faith. I would seek to bring the voice of local communities into the decisions of
the wider Church, and to support a Church that is strong in Christ, faithful in its mission and attentive to the people it serves.
For me, Paul’s words capture the kind of service I would seek to offer:
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).
I would seek to serve with the mind of Christ — with humility, compassion, courage and a willingness to listen, learn and
serve.