General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Election Address
Revd Martin Davy
Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Theale

Proposer: Revd Joy Mawdesley
General Synod member and Associate
Rector of St Nicholas, Newbury and St
Mary, Speen.

Seconder: Revd Matthew Beer
Vicar, St Mary’s, Cogges

Thank you for considering your vote in this General Synod election. | was elected in a by-
election, and it has been a privilege to serve during this quinquennium. | am standing again
because, having served just half a term, | believe | am now better equipped to represent the
clergy and parishes of our diocese with greater confidence, clarity, and effectiveness.

During this term, | have served on a Crown Nominations Commission for the appointment of
a diocesan bishop. | have also spoken on military chaplaincy and the pastoral demands
placed on those who serve, governance surrounding the appointment of bishops, and the
national debate on end-of-life issues.

Three priorities for the next quinquennium

1. Clergy wellbeing — ensuring national consistency

During the final sitting of this Synod | championed clergy wellbeing, especially the need for a
guaranteed 36-hour weekly rest period. My own experience of illness this year — and the
extraordinary support | received — has strengthened my resolve to ensure that every
member of the clergy has access to proper rest, pastoral care, and practical support. This
must not become a postcode lottery.

| will continue pressing for:

e Anational expectation rather than diocesan variation;
e Clear guidance that reflects Synod’s mind;
e Structures that enable clergy to flourish, not burn out.

1. Supporting churches with the rising cost of essential subscriptions

Across the country, churches now face a growing burden of subscriptions that did not exist a
generation ago. Once, parishes worried mainly about utilities. Today, many must pay for
CCLI licences—sometimes several in multi-parish benefices—along with livestreaming
services, bank account fees, finance software, church management systems, Microsoft or
Google packages, live translation tools, Sunday school materials, media and presentation
software, and more.

These costs are rising and unevenly distributed.

| intend to bring a Private Member’s Motion asking the Church Commissioners to explore
how the national Church can support parishes in navigating this new financial landscape.
This is a practical issue affecting every tradition, every parish, and every deanery.

1. A renewed focus on welcome and discipleship

The original purpose of LLF was to help us ask: How do we welcome people well,
irrespective of sexuality, in the name of Jesus Christ?

Too much energy has been spent on doctrinal brinkmanship — “how far can we go?” —
rather than on the Gospel imperative of welcome and the call to discipleship.

| want to help Synod:

e Re-centre itself on welcome, hospitality, and pastoral care;

e Encourage a culture in which people can delight in the Gospel’s declaration, “Come
as you are,” while also hearing its call not to “stay as you are”, because a better story
and abundant life are found in Jesus;

e Build trust across theological differences;

e Focus on the mission of the Church, not the management of conflict.

This is not about taking sides. It is about helping us rediscover the heart of the Gospel.
Experience | will bring

My ministry continues to be shaped by the breadth of parish life and the varied
responsibilities | hold. As the Incumbent of a parish that has both a rural and semi-urban
feel, | bring experience of communities that span different needs and expectations. Through
my previous work on the Oxford Diocesan Board of Patronage, | have gained deep insight
into clergy appointments, interregnums, and the realities facing parishes seeking new
leadership. My commitment to mission and evangelism is grounded in lived experience of
local church growth, and my passion for children and young people reflects the New
Testament vision of intergenerational discipleship, where the older saints model the
Christian walk to the younger.

Ministry in schools remains a central part of my vocation, from leading weekly assemblies to
serving as a governor and helping to strengthen the vital relationship between church and
school. My chaplaincy to the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, alongside regular
engagement with local authorities and community organisations, has given me a clear
understanding of how the Church can serve its civic partners and maintain a faithful
Christian presence in public life. These experiences help me speak not only for clergy, but
also for the daily life, pressures, and opportunities of parishes across our diocese.

| would be grateful for your first preference vote. Please do contact me if you have any
questions.

Revd Martin Davy

martindavy @holytrinitytheale.org.uk

07306 618147

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