assisted suicide,children's ministry,clergy training,conversion therapy,environment,gender identity,immigration,marriage,mission,ordinands,outreach,racism,safeguarding,secular society,traditional,young people

LOUISE SINGODIA
STANDING FOR GENERAL SYNOD HOUSE OF LAITY
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: 0796 365 4096
Hello. I am Louise, a member of St Botolph’s church, Barton Seagrave,
married, and a mother. I work in a local secondary school as a Teaching
Assistant and aspire to train to be a Science teacher in a few years’ time.
The reason I’m standing for General Synod is because I’m worried.
Worried about the UK. Worried about growing extremist views (right and left), and
worried that in an increasingly secular society, we’re losing our moral compass and good
sense of where we’re heading as a country. I think many people understandably feel
pessimistic about the future, and while many politicians, charities, and public servants
are doing a good job, I believe that ultimately what will save our country is God’s Church:
what Christians will do (and stand up for) across the denominations. Consequently, the
decisions made by General Synod, and the way those decisions reflect the character of
God and his Church are vital, and I believe I can play a part in that.
From my convictions and experience the key things I would bring to Synod are:

A passion for the local parish to be strong and well-resourced, and to make a

difference in its community

Particular interest in education and in children’s ministry
Concern for the Church’s influence on the significant moral and social issues of

our time, especially freedom, tolerance, and respect for all in our diverse culture

Faithfulness to the Church’s traditional heritage of teaching and of priority for

mission and outreach

A concern for better clergy training and welfare

I’ve lived in Kettering since 2013 after moving from Hertfordshire where my three
younger children were born. Prior to that, we lived in London where we were married and
had our first child. My husband is Gujarati which has introduced me to Indian culture.
As someone who enjoys learning about other countries and languages, this has been
wonderful. However, I’ve also learned about the sad reality and consequence of racism
and unconscious bias that still persists in this country.
Not having attended church very often growing up – I moved around a lot until I was 10

I became a Christian in my final year of university and spent my 20’s growing and

backsliding in roughly equal measure (!) while studying for a PhD in Scotland and in Spain.
After qualifying (and before marrying), I worked in marine fisheries policy and then at
the London City Mission.
While my children were still fairly young, I returned to part-time work in 2017, working
in several different primary schools (in various roles) until my current job began in 2023.
Prior to having paid work, I enjoyed serving in children’s and women’s ministry in several
churches over the years. For a couple of weeks this summer, I served with one of my
sons in a church holiday club and with the United Beach Mission in Scarborough.
My interests include walking and reading. Reading Christian books has played a huge part
in my spiritual growth. I enjoy listening to music – a bit of a lifeline for me – and I enjoy
the cooking and gardening aspects of life at home. I hold a traditional view of marriage
and have a particular interest in education (having home-educated my oldest son for a
year), the environment and conservation, and safeguarding.
Over the last few years, more of my free time has also been spent engaging (mainly via
letters to my MP) with significant issues that affect our society and that may threaten
the freedom and tolerance we enjoy in the UK. Things like the social media ban for young
people, gender identity, assisted suicide, conversion therapy, illegal immigration, and the
right to home educate. I think that things like freedom of speech and freedom of religion
are issues that increasingly we have to fight for. We cannot just assume that they will
automatically prevail.
All Christians are called to testify to God’s faithfulness in their life. But that said,
priests represent God in a special way in society. Their role is pivotal (even if they’re not
universally appreciated), so I’m concerned about the decline in numbers of ordinands and
by the pressures faced by clergy. I would definitely support efforts to reverse this and
to make sure ministers feel sufficiently trained, mentored, remunerated and are given
adequate pensions. Simply put, a decline in the number of priests will mean a greater loss
of hope generally, a huge impact on congregations (sheep without shepherds) and a
decline in society.
At the moment, my favourite Bible verses are from Colossians 1:10-14: a call to live a life
worthy of the Lord and to bear fruit in every good work. Christians can be assured that
God’s love for us doesn’t change, regardless of what we do or don’t do. He doesn’t become
more or less loving. However, as we try and walk in the Light, we can hear His voice, and
it’s this prompt from Him (I believe) that leads me to stand for Synod. If He opens this
door then I am ready to serve Him, the lay people of Peterborough Diocese, and the
wider Church.
Thank you for reading my statement. I hope you will give me your first preference vote.