General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Candidate Statement 2026
House of Laity
Nominated by:
Proposer: Caroline Herbert – Thetford and Rockland Deanery
General Synod: House of Laity former member
Seconder: John Brydon – Norwich East Deanery
General Synod: House of Laity former member
DAVID RYCZANOWSKI
LOTHINGLAND DEANERY
Email: [email protected]
WHY I AM STANDING FOR GENERAL SYNOD?
I am standing for the House of Laity because I believe
the Church of England has a vital role to play in
proclaiming Jesus Christ, serving our communities,
and blessing our nation.
I believe that the Church of England is at its best
when Christians of different traditions listen to one
another, disagree graciously, and work together for
the flourishing of the Church and the nation. I would
seek to be a constructive and principled voice—firm
on the essentials of the Christian faith, generous
towards those with whom I differ, and determined to
find common ground wherever possible.
My Christian understanding of leadership is one of
service. The Church needs people who can combine
conviction with practical wisdom, listen carefully,
ask difficult questions, and turn good intentions into
effective action. I would bring energy, tenacity and a
strong commitment to making the most of the
resources entrusted to us.
WHO AM I?
My family story has also shaped my understanding of
service and gratitude. I am the son of a Polish
immigrant and, in many respects, the product of
bravery. My father fought with the British 8th Army
during WWII. After being wounded, he settled in
Britain and built his life here. His courage, sacrifice
and determination have left me with a deep
appreciation for this country, for those who serve it,
and for the opportunities and responsibilities we
inherit from previous generations.
I grew up on a council estate in Swindon, an
experience that gave me a strong appreciation of
community, opportunity and the importance of
people supporting one another. I began my working
life on the shop floor as a machinist with British Rail
Engineering Ltd, gaining first-hand experience of the
dignity of work, the value of teamwork and the
contribution that every individual can make. I
then studied Engineering at the University of
Wales, Cardiff, where I met my wife, Kate, who
was training for a degree in nursing.
EXPERIENCE
My professional career has prepared me well for
the responsibilities of the House of Laity. I have
been a secondary school teacher for 20 years in
several Norwich schools, including director of
science and a regional director of an educational
trust. Before teaching, I was an operations
manager, an experienced engineering, a project-
management professional and a supply chain
manager. I bring practical experience of
governance, leadership, complex projects,
difficult decisions and, importantly, bringing
people together behind a shared purpose.
I moved to Lowestoft in 1996 and have been
proud to call Suffolk home ever since. My career
has taken me from managing production at Bird’s
Eye, through senior leadership with Unilever as
European Head of Automation, to factory
management and, ultimately, teaching.
Along the way, I have led teams, managed
significant change and worked on government
projects involving the development of procedures
and legislation. These experiences have taught
me the importance of listening, bringing people
together and turning good ideas into practical
action.
Now retired early, I have the time, energy and
commitment to serve on General Synod. I want to
use my experience to make a positive
contribution to the Church of England and, above
all, to listen to the people I represent and ensure
their voices are heard.

General Synod Candidate Statement 2026
House of Laity
I became a Christian in 1991. The year before, my
wife and I were married in church, and we soon
realised that if we were serious about the vows we
had made, we needed to make church a regular part
of our lives.
It was through an Alpha course that the Gospel of
Jesus Christ truly came alive to me. I began to
understand who Jesus was and what He had done
for me. I knew God was calling me to put my faith
and trust in Christ and to serve Him and His Church.
That call has remained at the heart of my Christian
journey ever since. I am deeply grateful for God’s
grace and for the privilege of serving Christ and His
Church. I now serve in my church by leading
services, occasional preaching and running mid-
week groups and clubs for teenagers. This includes
attendance on Christian summer camps as a
qualified pool lifeguard.
I ran an ecumenical youth group for young people
aged 11–14, bringing together members from the
Baptist, United Reformed, Roman Catholic and
Church of England traditions. This experience was
particularly formative, teaching me the value of
listening to different Christian perspectives, working
collaboratively and finding unity in our shared faith.
These experiences have given me a deep
appreciation of the importance of lay ministry,
ecumenical cooperation and investing in the next
generation. They have also shaped my conviction
that the Church is at its strongest when people are
encouraged, equipped and given the opportunity to
use their gifts in the service of God and their
communities.
Should I be elected, I would seek to serve
collaboratively, engage respectfully with differing
viewpoints, and approach every issue with prayerful
discernment, seeking the good of the whole Church.
I have a passion for:
•
Strengthening parish ministry.
•
Encouraging evangelism and church growth.
•
Supporting clergy wellbeing.
•
Ensuring financial decisions benefit local
churches.
•
Improving theological education.
•
Discipleship of all.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY VIEWS:
On unity: I believe the Church of England is
strongest when we remain committed to one
another despite our differences, seeking to speak
the truth in love and to preserve our unity in Jesus
Christ.
On listening and representation: While I hold
my own theological convictions, I am committed
to listening carefully to those with whom I
disagree and being a faithful representative.
On Scripture and discernment: I believe that the
Holy Scriptures are God's Word and that the
Church is called to proclaim that word in all its
fulness and to discern how it should be applied to
Christian discipleship and to the world.
On mission: I want to see every parish equipped
to proclaim the gospel, serve its community, and
make disciples of Jesus in ways that are
compassionate and hopeful.
On parish life: I will be a strong advocate for
parish ministry, recognising that every parish has
a significant role in the Church's mission.
On safeguarding: All people – regardless of age,
gender, sexuality, colour, ethnicity, race or
disability – are precious souls made in God’s
image. The Church, therefore, must continue to
strengthen safeguarding, ensuring that every
person is safe and treated with dignity and care.
On stewardship: I will work for wise stewardship
of our resources so that local churches are better
equipped for worship, mission, and service.
On younger generations: I believe investing in
children, young people, and new disciples is
essential to the Church's future. I will look to
support the National society for Education.
Thank you for reading this, and please feel free to
contact me should you have any questions. I
would be so grateful if you would consider giving
me either your first or highest available
preference vote.
With every blessing in Christ,
David Ryczanowski

baptist,catholic,church growth,clergy wellbeing,disability,discernment,disciples,discipleship,ecumenical,evangelism,gospel,make disciples,mission,next generation,reformed,roman catholic,safeguarding,scripture,sexuality,stewardship,teenagers,theological education,young people,youth,youth group