General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Election address · General Synod 2026
David Lilley · St Mary’s, Chesham · Diocese of Oxford · page 1

David Lilley
Standing for the House of Laity of the General Synod
Parish of Great Chesham (Church of St Mary’s, Chesham), Diocese of Oxford
Nominated by Martin Paxton · Seconded by Andrew Patterson
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I am asking for your first-preference vote so that I may serve our diocese on the General Synod. I feel strongly called to
stand for Christ at this pivotal time in this country’s history. It is an offer of service: to bring honesty and humility under
God’s word as I listen and speak in Synod. To undergird that with prayer, and to help the Church of England remain a
Church that can make Christ known in every parish and every community of this land.

Who I am
I am married, aged 60 with 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren. I have been a Christian since I was 21, converted
through the ministry of St Leonard’s, Chesham Bois, of this diocese. Having been awkward and uncooperative during the
outreach event someone told me to pray openly and honestly for God to open my eyes. I did and He did.
Recently we have worshipped at St Mary’s, Chesham. I am on the DCC, lead Pathfinders (age 11–14) and have helped
lead numerous youth and children’s groups in the 18 years we have been here. I have served on a number of Christian
boards including UCCF and OCCA House. I am currently a trustee and am seeking to reinvigorate a Christian trust called
the Tend Trust.
In daily life I work as a metals and mining investor and trader. I am owner and CEO of my own firm of 24 people and the
board are supportive of this application. Running my own companies since 2005 has taught me much about governance,
operations, responsibility, risk taking under pressure, finance, regulation, stakeholder relations, the law and even
government relations. There is not much I have not seen in a 39-year career in metals trading and investing. Our largest
recent investment was as a cornerstone investor reopening a tungsten mine in Devon. Tungsten is a highly critical metal
and recently the mine was backed by the UK National Wealth Fund. It is bringing high quality jobs to the local area and
critical metal security to the nation. I am also a founder and director of Exurban Limited, a UK company bringing the
best technology to electronic waste recycling in the USA.

Why I am standing
General Synod is the Church’s national assembly. I believe the nation is in more urgent need of the word and work of God
through its national church than for many centuries.
The church must be a channel of offering gospel hope to the nation at a time of apostasy, or it is nothing. Decisions taken
at Synod shape what the nation believes the gospel is and only by humble leadership under God will we win our nation
back.
I love the gospel of Christ, there is no hope apart from it, and I believe the Church of England is by far the best placed
institution to place that gospel hope before this nation. To do that effectively we need humility before God and boldness
before men.

What I would bring
– A parish-first instinct. National strategy only matters if it strengthens worshipping communities on the ground:
clergy and lay ministers who are supported, buildings that are usable, and mission that is local as well as faithful.
– Humility to always be under the authority of the word and gospel of our Lord before speaking. Christ
before politics, popularity and the rulers of this world. Acknowledgement of the audience of one.
– Practical experience of governance / risk taking / finance / safeguarding / teaching / youth and children’s work.
I am used to reading papers, asking inconvenient questions, and then helping a meeting reach a decision.
– Time and stamina. I have founded over 15 different companies and performed many church and charity roles in
both administration and front line (mostly youth & children) teaching and leading. I have thought and prayed about
the commitment, and I believe I have been called to it.
– Low ego.

Election address · General Synod 2026
David Lilley · St Mary’s, Chesham · Diocese of Oxford · page 2

The issues that will matter
No election address can cover every paper that will come before Synod in the next five years, but these are the attitudes I
will seek to deploy:
– The parish and mixed ecology. I welcome new worshipping communities where they plant the Gospel in places
the inherited parish cannot easily reach. My second son is currently assistant minister in just such a church plant in
central London.
I will not support approaches that starve the gospel or distract for political or partisan ends from the primacy of God’s
word.
This means
– my only authority is scripture
– Money and simplicity. National and diocesan structures exist to serve congregations and parishes, not the other
way around.
– I have a traditional view of marriage and believe we can only judge any such social questions on the basis of
God’s revealed will. A biblical church may only bless, with the authority of the bible, what the bible blesses.
– The nation we serve. Protection of communities, relief of poverty, care of creation, education and the dignity of
every person are aspects of the Gospel and can be used to love our neighbours. They are places where the Gospel has
something to say. However, Synod should speak with theological seriousness, not as a pale copy of party politics.

How I will serve if elected
I will make myself available to deaneries and parishes who want to brief me or challenge me. I will vote according to
conscience, Scripture, the formularies of the Church, and the good of the gospel. I will treat opponents as brothers and
sisters, including when I think they are wrong.
I cannot promise to get every decision right. I can promise to prepare, to pray, to judge all issues only by what I believe
is consistent with the revealed scriptural authority of Christ.
If this picture of service resonates with you, I would be grateful for your first-preference vote — and, if not first, then as
high a preference as you can give. Please do get in touch if you would like to ask a question.

With thanks, and in the hope of the Gospel,
David Lilley
[email protected] · mobile: 07776 254250

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