clergy wellbeing,creation care,neurodiversity,safeguarding,young people,youth,youth ministry

General Synod Elections 2026
House of Laity
Susie Dowsett
[email protected]
St Clement’s, Cowley Deanery
About me:
I am 25 and work full time as a youth minister. I first came to Oxford
to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 2019 and moved away
after graduating to do the Church of England’s Ministry Experience
Scheme in Durham Diocese, but found myself back only a year later.
I have attended Anglican churches for my whole life, taking in a range
of churchmanship along the way as well as serving in many areas of
church life from refreshments to tech teams to bellringing to children
and youth ministry and others in between.
Growing up, I moved around various parts of England, mostly in the
North so I am familiar with more than just the local challenges.
When I’m not at church you’ll probably find me cross-stitching or
playing board games with friends.
Children and young people:
The Church of England has set itself big targets around under 18s and
those who work with them. If we are serious about doubling the
number of children and young people and seeing thousands of new
CYPF ministers, we have to listen to those we already have and do our
best to engage with those yet to join us. We must understand this as
not just the future of our church, but part of its present.
From working with under 18s in church and school settings and
regularly spending time with other adults involved in CYPF work I
know the key challenges being faced in this area. Our ambitious
targets are worth fighting for, and Synod needs to continue its work
of taking in what is currently happening and finding new and creative
ways to move forwards to the future we hope to see.

A church for everybody:
It is essential that the Church of England enables the whole body of
Christ to engage in worship and feel welcomed, valued and cared for.
Unfortunately, this is not something that we have always managed to
do well. It is very encouraging that in recent years Synod has been
thinking about some of these issues - discussing race, class,
neurodiversity and other factors which have traditionally been
barriers to involvement in the church. I hope that this work continues
and we build on what has already been put in place by the previous
Synod. My personal experience as an autistic Christian definitely
shapes how I interact with this issue, but this shouldn’t just be
something for those of us directly affected to care about without
support of our wider church family.
Creation:
The climate crisis has been one of the most widely talked about issues
in recent years not just in the church but across society. As Christians,
we have a particular responsibility towards creation which has been
entrusted to us by God.
This is not an issue any of us can solve singlehandedly or overnight,
but there is a place for all of us to be involved in taking steps in the
right direction. As such a big and complicated institution, the Church
of England can be making and encouraging all sorts of changes
towards better safeguarding creation so that we can meet our own
targets and so that we can continue enjoying what God has given us
for generations to come.
Final notes:
There is only so much that you can reasonably squeeze into just two
pages - but that does not mean there is nothing else to cover.
Whether it is safeguarding, creation care, clergy wellbeing, or
building management, everything we do needs to be rooted in love
for God and for one another. We don’t reach this by acting rashly, and
I would aim to give as much care to each decision as the next.
We need some more younger perspectives on Synod, and I believe
that I have relevant background and experience to do this well.
I hope that what I have shared here is a valuable insight into why I’m
running this year, and will always be happy to listen and talk further.