accountability,clergy wellbeing,ecumenical,interfaith,living in love and faith,mission

General Synod Election 2026

The Venerable Bob White
Vicar of St Mary, Portsea and General Synod Member (2004 – 2026)
Proposed by Revd Canon Nick Ralph

Seconded by Revd Clive Gardner
Executive Director CSR and Residentiary Canon Priest in Charge St Cuthbert’s Copnor and
Area Dean of Portsmouth

I am a very local lad (having grown up in
Southsea) and served all my 41years of
ordained ministry in Urban Parishes within
the Diocese of Portsmouth. As such I have
played an active part in the development of
many of the initiatives we have seen in recent
years and continue to have a concern for all
such parishes in facilitating the LINC
network. Many of these challenges are also
shared in rural and semi-rural parishes alike. I
am also concerned at how we develop our
ministry as clergy in support of one another
across Parish boundaries and in partnership
with the laity. I have been a member of the
Diocesan Synod for many years and have
always tried to ensure that the voice of the
Parish clergy from all traditions are heard in
debates. It is clear that the pressures and
challenges we face are increasing
and we need to be aware of the
impact on clergy wellbeing. I
recognise the need for the
voice of the parochial clergy to
be heard within our Diocese
and in the wider Church.
As Chair of the House of Clergy,
and an Archdeacon (and previously an Area
Dean), accountability of central structures to
the wider body has always been a priority for
me. It is also important to seek to ensure
that the structures support and ‘understand’
the Parishes and their mission and ministry
alongside that of new initiatives and models
of ministry. As we develop our funding
models for the national Church it is
important for there to be an awareness of
how this will affect our ministry and parishes.
An understanding of the issues faced at
parish level must be part of the future
of planning and resourcing, in enabling
the growth, mission and worship of
Christ’s Church
I have served on 2 General Synod working
groups which has enabled me to express
within them the experience of a Parish priest.
The linking of the work of the ‘central
church’ with the mission of the Church in the
Parishes and communities is something I
enjoyed. It is this commitment to
supporting Parishes and Parish Clergy
that I would hope to continue to carry
into the work of the next General
Synod.
Throughout my ordained ministry I have
been committed to seeking the unity of the
Church – both within our own communion
and with our ecumenical partners. In more
recent years I have also been keen to
develop our interfaith networks, especially in
the city. Seeking ways of holding together
divergent views while maintaining the mission
of the Church is a challenge we continue to
face. The last group of sessions
showed that General Synod still has
to learn how best to address issues
which can easily divide us. The
failure of the ‘Living in Love and
Faith’ process means we need to
find a better way to ‘disagree
graciously’ and to seek mutual
‘flourishing’ . It will be important as we move
forward to ensure we are able to seek to
honour and respect each person as a loved
child of God. I believe that the living out of
the Pastoral Principles and applying them to
the work of the General Synod will be crucial
in this. We must constantly find ways of
listening to one another and respecting
one another’s views, ensuring that
those views are honoured as far as is
possible.
If you want to know more about me, or why
I would like to continue to represent you on
General Synod then please give me a call on
07341 569233
or email
[email protected]
I hope you will consider voting for me
in this election for the General Synod.

Please remember that while you are voting for 3 members of Synod
the order in which you vote for them is important.
If you wish me to represent you
please give me your ‘1’ preference