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David Stuart Tyler – Election Address for General Synod Elections
A church confidently rooted in Christ and seeking to serve its communities
I am standing for election to the General Synod because I believe that the Church of England is
an amazing institution and has a significant opportunity to reach out to the communities it
serves.
Having had the privilege of serving in Oxford Diocese for nearly 20 years, latterly as Archdeacon
of Dorchester, I have been blessed to work with clergy, laypeople and churches across the
Diocese of Oxford. Every day I see the pressures facing the Church and yet also the remarkable
ways that God is working through his Church for the benefit of his world.
I would be delighted to bring to Synod the experience of parish ministry and diocesan leadership
working as I do alongside churches of very different traditions, sizes and circumstances. Above
all, I would bring a commitment to listen carefully, to be true to myself while also seeking to
represent the Diocese and to work constructively with others.
A Church that is confident in the Gospel
At the heart of everything we do must proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to our needy
world. My fear is that our world rarely hears us speak about good news or rarely hears us
providing a prophetic voice for the needs of the poor and marginalised.
Our national structures, strategies and debates matter. But they must always serve the mission
of the local church.
A Church that values its clergy
I am particularly conscious of the pressures that clergy can experience.
Ministry is an extraordinary privilege, but it is often demanding and can be lonely. Clergy carry
multiple responsibilities, from finances to safeguarding, from buildings to mission. We need to
make it possible for clergy to flourish rather than simply survive.
I would seek to be a strong voice for the wellbeing, formation and flourishing of the clergy.
A Church that takes the parish seriously
I believe passionately in parish ministry and have championed it throughout my ministry.
Our parish churches are often significant places for their communities, not just during worship
but as a quiet space during the week. The activities of the Church are so often vital to the
communities they serve. The church continues to ask more and more of the wonderful lay
people in our churches, but what we ask and how we resource people needs further work.
I would look to try and ensure that national strategy supports the local church, rather than
frustrating it.
A Church that can disagree well
The Church of England is a diverse church. There will always be issues on which we profoundly
disagree, but we need to increasingly find ways of disagreeing well. My ministry has been
characterised by working well with people with whom I don’t always agree, and I would wish to
bring a similar approach to Synod.

A Synod that recognises the issues facing the church and seeks a way forward
Synod has some challenges ahead.
Synod will return to the issue of Relationships, Sexuality and Gender. The challenge offered by
‘Save the Parish’ largely remains. Many dioceses are running a sustained financial deficit, and
the church needs further simplification.
The Church of England, as the church for our nation, needs to consider how it responds to the
continuing economic challenges, to wars and migration and to the challenge and opportunities
of AI.
We need to be more proactive in how we respond to increased interest from some young people
and how we better minister to all ages, but especially younger cohorts not well represented in
church. We need to consider how it better resources the Church in its ministry to the poor and
marginalised. We need to address the fact that vocations are running far below where the
Church needs them to be.
These are not easy issues to face, and there are no simple answers. But I believe that Synod
needs to be willing to face them honestly and openly, to listen to those with experience and
expertise, and to seek practical ways forward.
What I would bring to Synod
If elected, I would seek to:
Listen – taking seriously the experience of clergy and lay people across the Diocese of Oxford
and representing this at Synod.
Be constructive – willing to challenge, when necessary, but committed to finding solutions
rather than simply identifying problems and voicing them.
Build bridges – seeking, where possible, to bring people together from the diverse church we
are blessed to be a part of.
Be a voice for the parish – ensuring that national decisions are tested against their
consequences for real churches and real communities.
Pray – honestly seeking God’s will in considering the many issues before Synod.
I haven’t got all of the answers, but I will listen and pray as I seek to serve the Church faithfully.
I would be honoured and delighted to have your support.