General Synod Election Candidates 2026

FIONA EVERETT

Dear Elector,

I am standing for election to General Synod and humbly ask for your support. I
believe passionately in the mission of the Church of England, and hope that I might
contribute something through General Synod.

• I believe parishes should be enabled to get on with making Jesus known,
evangelizing, discipling people and serving their communities. In Rochester, we
are very fortunate to have a diocesan bishop who is genuinely committed to
the work of the parish, as we can see from the Diocese of Rochester’s Called
Together mission programme, but this same level of confidence in the
grassroots church needs to be extended throughout the Church of England.

• I believe the Church has good news to tell the world about the nature of
humanity. It should reaffirm its traditional, biblical teaching on marriage and
human identity, asserting that marriage is strictly between one man and one
woman. This is a joyful gift.

• I believe that, if Prayers of Love and Faith go forward, it is important that
structural provision be made for spiritual oversight and pastoral provision for
parishes that cannot in conscience endorse them. The system of alternative
episcopal oversight set up by the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the
Ministry of Bishops and Priests 2014 has worked well, and I believe the
Archbishop when she talks about mutual flourishing. I therefore will not
support any change which will weaken the present arrangements or
undermine the Five Guiding Principles, but rather hope to see such
arrangements extended.

• I believe that Project Spire is profoundly misguided. The Commissioners’
money should be spent, as is their legal duty, on the support of parish
ministry, not on a piece of sad virtue-signalling. We cannot atone for the sins
of our ancestors; Christ has already done that! We need to build on the
positive work of many parishes in integrating and caring for people of different
backgrounds rather than obsessing about the past.

• I believe in the parish system and will oppose diocesan restructurings that
amalgamate parishes, close local church buildings, or reduce the number of
stipendiary clergy. It is obvious that many dioceses are finding money to fund
appointments at the centre while leaving parish posts unfilled; this is deeply
mistaken.

• I believe our parish priests deserve the wholehearted support of the
institutional Church. It is clear that the Clergy Discipline Measure is not
merely unjust but cruel, and needs thorough reform. It is absurd that parish
clergy should feel the need to take out insurance against vexatious CDM
claims.

• I believe that decisions made at Synod should reflect the biblical, historical
faith rather than be directed by secular cultural shifts. Outside commentators
often observe that the Church of England is known for entering a room just
as others are leaving it, and sadly this is often true. We should concentrate on
scripture, tradition and reason, rather than secular trends.

• I believe in the fruitfulness of collaboration, and that Christians of different
traditions and understandings can work together faithfully. In my lived
experience I can testify to the truth of this; in my work I regularly lead groups
of widely differing Christian backgrounds, and know that we are all enriched
by the experience.

I am a member of St George, Bickley, where my husband Henry is the Vicar. In
Bickley I have been involved with confirmation preparation and enquirers’ courses,
and in our previous, inner-city, parish I learnt about the challenges and joys of life as
a clergy spouse. Before my marriage to Henry I was a member of All Souls, Langham
Place, serving as a Bible study group leader and as a regular Christianity Explored
table leader.

I work as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide specializing in Christian heritage tours in
London and around the country. This is my second career; previously I was a
professional ballet dancer, dancing with Scottish Ballet and then with Cape Town
City Ballet, where I was a soloist.

If elected I will devote the time and effort to fulfil my responsibilities faithfully and
prayerfully. Thank you for reading this address. Please consider giving me your first
(or at least a high preference) vote. If there is anything you would like to ask me,
please email me at [email protected].

Yours in Christ
Fiona Everett

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