discernment,discipleship,ecumenical,marriage,mission,pcc,prayer,tradition

Melanie L Pozzo
The Bothy
Bestwood Lodge
Arnold
Nottingham
NG5 8NF

Election address:

| am standing for election to General Synod because | would
welcome the opportunity to serve our diocese and contribute to the
life of the Church of England. | would seek to listen carefully to
different perspectives, contribute constructively to discussions and
take seriously the responsibility of representing our diocese.

| have been part of Trinity Church, Nottingham, since August 2021,
after returning to the UK following 13 years in Mauritius, | have had
the opportunity to gain a wider perspective on the Church of England
through a placement at St Mary Magdalene, Hucknall, with the Revd
Helen Chantry. My experience of the Church of England’s
discernment process also gave me a greater awareness of the
breadth of traditions within the Church. While most of my church life in recent years has been
within one tradition, attending different churches for services and ceremonies has helped me
appreciate the variety of worship styles and perspectives found across the Church. Engaging
with the Daily Prayer and other spiritual disciplines has also broadened my understanding of the
ways in which people grow in faith. | would seek therefore to listen respectfully to people whose
experiences and convictions differ from my own.

Since the age of 12, | have been involved in churches of different denominations and in
ecumenical settings, both in the UK and abroad. These experiences have given me an
appreciation of the many different ways in which people worship, serve and engage with the
Christian faith.

At Trinity, | currently serve as a Discipleship Leader. | have been involved in the student
mentoring programme, prayer team and Soul Care team, now known as Pastoral Care. | have
led a discipleship group for several years and, alongside my husband, have helped facilitate the
Prepare/Enrich marriage course for couples in our church. | have also attended PCC meetings
and contributed to other church projects, areas of responsibility and leadership.

Through my involvement in Trinity, Nottingham South Deanery and the wider community,
including Safe Families, | have come to value the importance of listening well, practical and
compassionate leadership, bringing people together and turning good intentions into practical
action. These experiences have also helped me to understand the different circumstances and
pressures faced by churches across our diocese.

| have been encouraged by the growth in attendance at Trinity among people of different age
groups and by the increasing diversity of those who are represented within our church. This
growth brings opportunities, but also practical challenges. Churches need appropriate
resources, including funding, buildings, training and clergy, if they are to respond well and
continue serving their communities. If elected, | would seek to support thoughtful and

sustainable growth across the Church of England, while recognising the very different contexts
in which our churches minister.

My understanding is that General Synod has an important role in shaping the ministry and
mission of the Church of England. It is also the Church’s legislative body, and the decisions
made there can have significant consequences for local churches, clergy and congregations. |
would approach this responsibility carefully, prayerfully, constructively and positively.

If elected, | would seek to listen to and represent the experiences and concerns of churches
across our diocese, while also bringing my own considered contribution to discussions. | would
aim to keep the needs of local churches at the centre of national conversations and to
communicate clearly with electors about the work of General Synod.

| would be grateful for your first-preference vote. Thank you for considering my nomination.
Melanie Pozzo

Trinity Church/St Andrews Nottingham
Nottingham South Deanery