baptist,broad church,catholic,charismatic,disability,ecumenical,environment,finance,foodbank,gender identity,homelessness,housing,mental health,methodist,mission,neurodiversity,outreach,pcc,poverty,prayer,retirement,safeguarding,sexuality

Pam Spychal
Standing for the House of Laity of General Synod

Nominated by Kandi Kammoun (Diocesan Lay Chair)
Seconded by Amy Simeons (Deanery Representative)

I am married, with three children and two grandchildren. I have
lived in Norfolk for 21 years. I worship in the Parish of Great Yarmouth, mainly at St
Paul’s, Newtown, but also at GY Minster and St Mary’s, Southtown - three lovely
churches with different styles of worship. I am active at parish, deanery and diocesan
level.

My work experience includes many years as a classroom teacher, from nursery to adult
education. From 2005 I worked, as deputy head, in one of Great Yarmouth’s secular
primary schools. I then became a ‘teaching’ head in a rural Church of England primary
school. These experiences taught me two things:

• Children, families and teachers, whether in a secular or a religious setting, are
generally very welcoming of involvement in the local church;
• Children and families in both rural and urban settings can experience hardship and
disadvantage.

Since retirement I have become more involved in both church and community:

• Taking on the roles of Deanery Lay Chair and Diocesan Synod Representative;
• Establishing a Place of Welcome and a Garden Project - serving the needs of the
community around St Paul’s;
• Helping people look for ways out of food poverty, as Support Coordinator for
Great Yarmouth Foodbank;
• Joining the deanery-wide Churches in the Community - an ecumenical group
wishing to transform the lives of local people though our faith in Jesus Christ;
• Spearheading the Faith House Project - raising funds and renovating a ‘spare’
property, to house three vulnerable adults;
• Joining local groups (the Christian in the room), including GY Inter Faith and Belief
Network, GY Unity Project, GY Housing Alliance, Norfolk Anti-Poverty Alliance, and
GYBC Homelessness Prevention Board;
• Sitting on the PCC’s Safeguarding, Inclusion and Communication groups.

Don’t forget to use your vote. Votes must be in by Tuesday 13th October.

I would identify as ‘broad church’. I came to faith through the ministries of a charismatic
Baptist church. I married a Catholic in a Methodist church! These days I attend a
eucharistic service every Sunday, and listen every day, online, to Morning Prayer and
Everyday Faith. I have recently, and belatedly, completed an Alpha course, which I can
recommend to anyone, whether they are new to church, or stalwarts. In my spare time I
try to keep fit and I swim in the sea every week.

General Synod 2026
I have followed the General Synods for a few years now, sometimes picking up the live
feeds, reading the online summaries and receiving reports from our GS representatives. I
feel ready and able to commit the time and energy to this important endeavour and in
particular, my interests include:
• Mission and ministry, including the development of lay ministries;
• Community development and outreach to those who need us most;
• Inclusion, in the whole life of the church, regardless of disability, economic power,
ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health,
neurodiversity, or sexuality;
• Reconciliation, mending fractured relationships, in our churches, communities,
nation and world;
• Safeguarding, particularly encouraging a culture which makes everyone safe;
• Environment - caring for God’s creation;
• Finance, especially as it affects small churches and congregations, in
rural and deprived areas. I appreciate the hard work and sacrifice
which goes into keeping our churches open - I have done a fair share
of cake bakes, fêtes and sponsored (sea) swims!

I believe in sharing the Love of God, with all people.

I will leave the last word to Kandi, who nominated me:

Thank you for reading my electoral statement. I hope you will give me your first
preference vote. If you want to contact me about anything, I would be very happy to
hear from you.

Pam Spychal, 16, Marine Crescent, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4ET.
[email protected]
"I wholeheartedly support Pam's nomination. Their faithful leadership, sound judgement,
and ability to listen with grace and respect would be a great asset to General Synod."