General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod 2026 – Election Address by IAN BOOTHROYD
Nominated by:
Martyn Bowler
(Lay Chair,
Newstead
Deanery)
Michael Bolton
(Gedling Deanery;
member of
Bishop's Council)
Why vote for me?
• I've been a Christian all my adult life,
and I remain committed to the Gospel as
good news for everyone who will hear it
and who decides to follow Christ
• I've experience of the C of E as
parishioner, Reader, employee and
trustee; and a member of General Synod
• there's much more I want to tackle at
GS if re-elected (see page 2)
• I'll always report back in the Diocese
and I welcome your opinions
More about me…
I grew up in Bradford and studied at
Cambridge and Nottingham Universities
(whilst in Nottingham, I worshipped at
St Nic's). After a career in local
government my last paid job was
Diocesan Secretary in Durham.
I served as an elected trustee of the C of
E Pensions Board from 2014 to 2019.
I've been a Reader for many years;
in Stapleford until 2005, and since
2016 at St Michael's Farnsfield (some of
my sermons are on the parish website!).
I became a member of General Synod at
the start of 2023.
I'm married, with grown-up children. I
lead a music group and the church choir.
I play lawn bowls, I support a football
team, and I enjoy walking in the hills.
…and my work on General Synod
In the last 3½ years I've attended every
session of the Synod and taken part in
every vote. From the start I pressed for
clergy stipends and pensions to catch
up with inflation – largely achieved this
year – with extra provision made for
clergy retiring since 2021, which I
proposed two years ago.
I've been asking for more open-ness
to give more influence to ordinary GS
members – for example: on who gets
appointed from the Synod; and on the
distribution of national funds. In June
the two formulas for distribution of the
Church Commissioners' money to
Dioceses were published, at my request.
I've been appointed (if I'm re-elected) to
a group which will look at the financial
proposals for the 2029-2031 period.
I'm a member of the GS Environment
Group, and since my time on the
Pensions Board I've pressed for strong
up-to-date policies on climate change. I
supported the national decision in 2024
to disinvest from major oil companies.
I supported the LLF process, and the
further work now proposed by the House
of Bishops on same-sex relationships.
Here in our Diocese, I've reported about
GS regularly to Diocesan Synod and my
own Deanery. I've also reported to 4
other Deaneries which have not had a
resident member of GS – I've been to
29 Deanery Synods since 2023!
page 1

General Synod 2026 – Election Address by IAN BOOTHROYD
Here are some more priorities
– if I'm re-elected…
The parish church and parish
ministry are the basis for the work of
the C of E, and I agree with 'Save the
Parish' that it's vital to support this
wherever possible. National funds
should be used primarily to support
parish ministry in communities and
dioceses which don't have enough
income and resources. I'm sceptical
about competitive grant schemes – and
about funding new churches, if they cut
across existing parishes.
The Government's new 'Places of
Worship Renewal Fund' for listed church
buildings is a competitive grant scheme
which falls far short of the former Listed
Places of Worship scheme under which
VAT could be recovered. The Synod
should protest because scarce
volunteers, working hard to maintain
church buildings on behalf of their
communities and the nation, now have
to raise more charitable funds to pay to
the government in tax.
The proposed new Independent
Safeguarding Authority should be set
up as quickly as possible – to increase
confidence within and outside the
church, and limit the continuing damage
from cases of abuse, and from the
failures to deal with them effectively.
The Synod will need to expedite the
proposals and the legislation.
I support Inclusive Church and
Together in the C of E. I hope that it
will become possible to accept and bless
faithful and committed same-sex
relationships in the church.
I'll continue to support full inclusion of
women at every level of the church.
I'll support the Church Commissioners'
proposed “Project Spire”. This is
intended to acknowledge that some of
the church's assets derive from historic
involvement in the slave trade; and to
make modest investment in communities
affected by it.
The Commissioners have large
holdings in high tech and social
media companies, including Amazon,
Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta. I want to
ask them about engagement with these
companies on their ethics – including the
safety of social media, environmental
impacts and workers' rights.
The election
I hope you'll vote for me, and any other
candidates you want to support, using
your Single Transferable Vote. Support
for more than one candidate, in order of
preference, gives you more influence in
the election, and it can't harm the
chances of your top choices.
If you have any questions or comments,
please contact me:
[email protected]
'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you all.'
page 2

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