General Synod Election Candidates 2026

The Revd Canon Donna Williams

Proposed by: Revd Phil Cansdale
Director of Mission and Ministry @ Manchester Diocese
T: 0161 828 1467
M: 07483 98362
Bury & Rossendale Deanery

Seconded by: Revd Rachel Watts
Director of Vocations
T: 0161 708 9366
M: 07918 185184
Bolton Deanery

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I am deeply moved to have been asked to stand for General Synod and thank Phil
for proposing me and Rachel for seconding me.

I was ordained at Manchester Cathedral in 2000 and have served all of my ministry
in the diocese. I bring 26 years of experience in supporting local parishes and
leading people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Throughout my ordained
ministry I have also served in a variety of ways that has been a joy and blessing to
me. During my curacy I was an archdeaconry healing advisor. I have also been an
archdeaconry prayer and spirituality advisor when we had them and have been a
spiritual director. I also was a tutor for SNWTP MODULE: Encountering and
Responding to Christ - Prayer and Spirituality. I have twice been part of the team
that led teaching and ministry including healing in Pakistan as well as looking at
positive parenting. I also helped to set up a Food Pantry and community hub to serve
the local estate in my last parish. I am a member of the Manchester Diocesan
Evangelical Fellowship and serve on the MDEF committee. It has been a huge
privilege serving as a parish priest in the diocese of Manchester.
I hold a traditional view of marriage - although I wholeheartedly believe that our
churches should be places of love and welcome to all.
I am totally on board with the Transformation Programme and believe that I bring
experience from a range of perspectives from within our Diocese – I have served as
a Mission Community Leader where I was a representative on the Transformation
Board– I have also served for two years as Area Dean for Bury & Rossendale
gaining a vast amount of experience as well as serving on Diocesan Synod.

I am committed to representing and supporting our clergy, lay leaders and parishes.
After a period of illness, I have now returned to parish ministry during this time I have
become even more aware of the need to champion clergy well-being as well as that
of our lay leaders. I have helped to organise a lay leaders conference for the B & R
deanery and a second one this September with a focus on wellbeing for our lay
leaders. I was elected to fill a casual vacancy on General Synod in July 2024 and
again have been able to support the uplift in clergy stipend and pension and the
importance of clergy well-being.
Although I haven’t served for very long on General Synod, I do believe that it is
important that we have some continuity as well as new members, I found that it does
take time to get used to the procedures. I hope to be able to represent you all and
enable your concerns to be heard both locally in our Diocese and nationally through
General Synod.
My own spirituality does not fit neatly into any one churchmanship and has been
influenced by the evangelical, charismatic and catholic traditions of our church as
well as the desert fathers and mothers.
I am an active member of the ReSource (ARM) family and I wholeheartedly believe
their ethos of supporting the small, local and ordinary churches. Enabling churches
to engage with the Holy Spirit for renewal, discipleship and mission. Alongside that I
regularly visit the orthodox monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex where I am
nourished and sustained by the rhythm, liturgy and Jesus Prayer. It was good to
support the first half night of prayer held at General Synod in July organised by Bp
David Walker and Bp Jill Duff.
I support and am happy to work within the existing structures of the Church of
England and I support the parish system and the local church, working to ensure that
it is properly equipped and resourced to build God’s kingdom.
I believe we are called to not only be disciples but to make disciples and so
encouraging and releasing our laity is hugely important if we want to see our
churches flourish and grow not only numerically but also younger and in a deeper
relationship and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This will always be my priority and I will
vote in a direction that I feel best supports this to see the nation reached with the
gospel and to see people growing deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
I believe that I will bring a prayerful discerning presence recognizing the significance
of all synod business and not just the big issues of the day.
If I am re-elected, I am committed to standing with you and representing you at
General Synod. Please do contact me if you wish to have a further conversation with
me and I would be grateful if you could give me your first vote in the election.

With every blessing
Donna

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