General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Izzy McDonald-Booth
Standing for the House of Laity
Proposer: Kay Plumley, Central Deanery, DDG
and Diocesan Synod member
Seconder: Lynne Craggs, Bedlington Deanery and
Diocesan Synod member
What issues are important to me?
Inclusion
After being involved in the long LLF (Living in Love and Faith) project as a Diocesan
Advocate, and on 2 national Church groups discussing the same topic, I am disappointed we
haven’t got any further. Being able to bless a same sex civil marriage in the same way as any
other couple is a basic ask, but we haven’t even got there. We have been discussing whether
LGBTQI+ people are welcome in the Church or accepted in ministry for over 30 years
(much longer if you include the CofE’s support in the decriminalisation of sex between men,
which eventually came into law in 1967). I am still advocating for the Church of England to
step up and be a Church that welcomes everyone. I am committed to equality for everyone,
at all levels and roles within the church, regardless of disability, economic power, ethnicity,
sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. I have
worked tirelessly on General Synod with people I disagree with and I passionately believe we
have to work with everyone no matter their point of view, theology or cultural background.
Only by being ‘one body’ can we fully make progress and move forward.
I have been privileged to serve on General Synod for 2 terms. I am
standing for another term because I feel I still have much to give to
the national Church. I feel passionate about issues of inclusion, the
way we order our life as a Church together missionally and financially,
and in particular the importance of safeguarding independence. We also need to work towards
Net Zero and take care of the creation entrusted to us.
I have lived in the North East for over 35 years and have worked in paid employment as a Retail
Manager for Waterstones, Retail Manager at National Glass Centre and latterly Head of National
Glass Centre. My volunteer work for church and community has included being a founding
trustee of Byker Lighthouse Project, transforming St Michael’s church into a youth centre. I have
also been a trustee of the Diocesan Board of Finance and Diocesan Lay Chair for 6 years. I was
also Board Chair of Lindisfarne College of Theology between 2016-2022. In my own parish of St
George’s and St Hilda’s Jesmond, I serve as a Reader, regularly preaching and leading services of
the Word. I am also commissioned by the Bishop as a volunteer LGBTQI+ Chaplain for the
Diocese. I am a lifelong Christian, and care deeply for the Church of England; I want us to be a
Church for everyone.
About me

Finance
I feel very strongly that Dioceses and
parishes could be funded in a better way.
Many Dioceses and Cathedrals across the
country struggle to make ends meet, and
the national Church hasn’t yet recognised
the change of sentiment to address this
more urgently. I am not convinced that
applying for project funds by individual
Dioceses is the best and most effective way
to distribute money. It doesn’t encourage
long term thinking, and many Dioceses
struggle to cover basic operational and
ministry costs, which very often do not
come under this type of funding. We need a
more radical re-think of how to fund the
Church and how to use our resources in
the best way possible.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is one area of the church that
we are judged by. The secular world looks
on horrified that our house is not in order.
Our safeguarding should be more
independent. Nationally we are not
supporting victims and survivors, and not
implementing changes (due to past and
present incidents) in the straightforward
and timely way we should. Over and over, I
read reports relating to safeguarding
incidents containing the same issues that
the national Church is not addressing. As
Christian people, believing that we are all
made in the image of God, we need to take
this more seriously, be honest about
mistakes and respond in a profoundly
pastoral way. I also feel it is incumbent on
us to implement the changes needed to
stop these terrible events from happening.
Local safeguarding in Newcastle Diocese
works really well, we lead the way with a
Chaplaincy for Survivors and we have a
fantastic team in place to support parishes
with their needs. The national picture does
need attending to.
Ministry and Mission
The core of our purpose to be a ‘Christian
Presence in Your Community’ is a
responsibility to support our communities
in knowing that they are loved by God and
that everybody is welcome. The ministry
and mission we offer in each and every
parish is a precious gift we have been given
as part of the established Church. We have
a responsibility to take this gift and make a
real and tangible difference in people’s lives,
and in our communities. We also need to be
more transparent when we set up other
structures that are not traditional parishes,
like Bishop’s Mission Orders, church plants,
mission workers and the myriad other ways
we do ministry – to ensure that they are
set up with the correct governance
structures to prevent things going wrong.
Good and fruitful mission and ministry is so
important.
Being on General Synod in the last few years I have been on the Panel of Chairs, chairing
debates and being careful to be seen as neutral. As this particular role comes to an end, if I
get your vote I look forward to being free to speak in debates and being more upfront about
what I believe in.
Please do feel free to contact me and ask any questions
[email protected]
Voting opens 21 September and closes 13 October. Do consider voting for me as
your first preference vote, I will work hard for your voice to be heard!

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