General Synod Election Candidates 2026

1
Proposed by Dr Hilary Dawson ~ Retired Local
Gvt, Deanery & Diocesan Synod, Peterborough
Seconded by Monty Lynds ~ Lay Reader,
Lay Pioneer, Deanery Synod, Towcester
Vicky Brett
Feel free to contact me at:
1 Tower Court, Peterborough PE2 9AT
[email protected] (07957) 855790
https://www.facebook.com/vicky.bret
EVERY
session attended
542
papers read
~300
debates attended
ACTIVE
Speeches, questions, amendments & led worship
I also attend many fringe meetings to hear wider perspectives before making decisions.
Rooted in parish life
General Synod makes national decisions, but those
decisions ultimately land in local churches. National
Church policies have to work in real parishes.
I worship at St Mary's Church, Peterborough, where I
serve as PCC Secretary, keeping me involved with
governance, finance, buildings, safeguarding, mission,
volunteers and community engagement.
For the past three years I have worked night shifts for
NHS 111. This gives me flexibility for church, Synod
and community work, while enabling me to care for
my disabled husband, who often accompanies me to
Synod and enthusiastically follows the proceedings!
A Pioneering Spirit
I am a do-er with a pioneering spirit. As a Lay Pioneer,
I enjoy finding new ways of doing church,
strengthening communities and turning ideas into
sustainable projects.
"Let us not love with words or speech but
with actions and in truth." ~ 1 John 3:18
Mission, growth & public witness
I want a living, faithful and growing Church that
matters to its community: a place where people
encounter God and grow in faith, but also find
friendship, compassion, practical help and belonging.
With clergy increasingly stretched, we must recognise
and release the gifts of lay people. Churches thrive
when clergy and laity work together and collaborate
across denominations and with community
organisations.
Commissioned as a Lay Pioneer in 2018
That has included founding Inclusive Church
Peterborough, helping develop LGBT+ community
groups, supporting a Community Fridge, Warm Hubs,
Family Fun Days, mental health training days,
outreach cafes, online services etc. I bring the same
approach to Synod: listen, identify needs, bring
people together and turn ideas into action.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the
same Spirit.” ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4
As St Mary's representative on Churches Together in
Central Peterborough, I organise the annual Good
Friday Walk of Witness, bringing together Christians
from over 40 churches in a public expression of our
shared faith.
Peterborough Good Friday Walk of Witness
Standing for re-election to the House of Laity
It has been a privilege to represent you for
the past five years. I would be honoured to
have your first-place vote and the
opportunity to serve again.

2
Worldwide Church & creation care
Before joining NHS 111, I spent twenty years building
and running an international software engineering
business. I also spent seven years working in
partnership with YWAM in Madagascar, supporting
community enterprises and projects in education,
health, agriculture and renewable energy.
That experience gave me a lasting commitment to the
worldwide Church and to the connections between
mission, poverty, sustainable development and care
for creation - all relevant to General Synod.
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ
accepted you.” ~ Romans 15:7
Five years of experience
I jumped into Synod from the start, asking questions,
proposing amendments, and speaking in debates on
safeguarding, social care, Net Zero, neurodiversity,
inclusion and Church governance. Five years on, I
bring substantial experience of using Synod’s motions,
amendments, questions, procedures and legislation
effectively. If re-elected, I can bring that experience
from day one.
Following Bishop Donald Allister's retirement, I was
one of seven people - and the only woman - on the
Vacancy in See Committee producing the Statement of
Needs describing Peterborough Diocese and what we
needed from our next bishop, as part of the process
leading to the appointment of Bishop Debbie Sellin.
Creation care was a priority when I stood in 2021.
Since then I have helped St Mary's achieve the
A Rocha Eco Church Silver Award, and we are now
going for Gold, with our renewable energy project.
National Net Zero ambitions only become reality
when local churches have the practical knowledge,
resources and funding to deliver them.
Representing you
When people across the diocese contact me, I
respond and take their concerns seriously. But
representation does not mean simply voting as I am
asked. There is often much more to an issue than an
inflammatory newspaper headline.
I will research thoroughly, listen to all sides, consider
the consequences, think and pray, and then vote and
speak for what I believe is right.
Looking to the future
The Church has a vital place in the generations ahead,
but old ways of doing church will not always work. We
need the courage to pioneer new ways of sharing the
Gospel, building Christian community and serving our
neighbours, while remaining faithful to Christ.
In an increasingly technological, individualised and
divided world, the Church can offer belonging, hope,
meaning and community; affirm the value of every
person as made in God's image; speak for justice; care
for creation; and model reconciliation across
difference. Above all, we must proclaim the Gospel
afresh for each generation - not simply preserving an
institution, but being a living Christian presence in
every community.
Rainwater harvesting on a Bush Clinic in Madagascar
A Church for everyone
I continue to believe passionately in a Church for
everyone, regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity,
socio-economic background, mental health,
neurodiversity or sexuality.
We are all made in God's image and invited to Christ's
table.
I support women's ministry and equality for LGBT+
Christians at every level of the Church, including equal
marriage, while recognising that faithful Christians
hold different theological convictions.
I have built genuine friendships across Synod with
people whose theology differs profoundly from mine.
We listen, challenge and sometimes change our
understanding. I want a Church where we can
disagree without treating each other as enemies.
Neurodiversity Speech at General Synod

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