General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd Mike Duff
Team Rector, Upper Wylye Valley
Proposed by Area Dean Cliff Stride,
Seconded by church-planter Tom Morgan

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Let me
tell you a little about myself. I’m married with two
children. After university, I worked in database
software for 10 years and then for a Christian retreat
house. I took my leisure pursuits to a high standard, performing
around the country as a Dramatist, Mime-Artist and choral musician. I
have worshipped in urban, inner-city, suburban, city-centre and village
settings, and in catholic, traditional and evangelical congregations.
Since my ordination 27 years ago, I have served in Indonesia for 4
years, in Southsea for 16 years, for CPAS for 6 years, and now in the
Upper Wylye Valley for 9 months.
In Indonesia I worked for CMS as a consultant to the Indonesian-
speaking Anglican Church, where I shared responsibility for national
strategy including translation of Anglican liturgy into Indonesian. I was
in charge of national training in Anglican theology, identity and models
for ministry and acted as liaison with the Diocesan leadership in
Singapore, where I was a member of the international synod.
In Southsea, I had responsibility for a large, growing and lively
congregation with a strong children & youth ministry which included an
intern programme, a parish school for which I was a foundation
governor, and a PCC-owned Nursery. The ministry of women at every
level was celebrated at St Jude’s. We planted a new community
congregation into a neighbouring parish which was due for closure. I
was associate area dean, a member of the Bishop’s Council and of the
Diocesan Patronage Board.
At CPAS, I led the Patronage Team with responsibility for 700
churches of every description in every English diocese. As Patron I
worked with Bishops, Archdeacons and Parish Reps to run supportive
and effective appointment processes for new incumbents. I supported
curates & incumbents seeking a new role, and visited and prayed with
clergy serving in parishes for which we were patron. I was privileged
to hear the struggles and joys of parishes across the country and to
discover what God has been doing through Covid and beyond.
In the Upper Wylye Valley team, it is my privilege to have
responsibility for 10 churches and 8 PCCs in this beautiful valley which
has been part of my family history for five generations.

And wider… I am a council member of Trinity Theological College,
Bristol, where I have been privileged to support the leadership and
staff in navigating the challenges of these last 6 years and in
remaining vibrant and relevant in a changing national church context.

If sent by you to General Synod, my voting decisions would rest
upon a faith founded in a firm conviction of the power and relevance of
God’s scripture for our life, understood with reference to the faith of
our historic church and interpreted for today’s cultural context by
prayer and the grace of the Holy Spirit.
•
My longing for the Church of England is that we regain
confidence in the gospel; that through a Holy Spirit empowered
engagement with the nation across the whole breadth of God’s Mission
we might see lives turned to Christ and communities transformed.
•
I passionately believe in the power of the local church as the
place of God’s compassion, healing, liberation, protection and
empowering for His world. My experience is that as our congregations
become healthier, they can and should be experiencing growth in
numbers as well as in discipleship and impact.
•
I long that the current levels of anxiety which I have seen across
the country at every level of church life be replaced by a growing unity
based in shared opportunities for outreach, ministry, honest and
honouring relationships, and mutual hospitality in Christ’s name.
•
I’m passionately committed to the development and appointment
of God’s leaders for our church, including the contribution of
theological colleges and the historic role of patronage which distils
centuries of wisdom whilst seeking the discernment of the Spirit.
•
I am determined to find ways to encourage the ministers of
multi-parish-benefices who lead such complex and demanding
ministries with so little support.
•
Above all, I want to share with others the encouragement of
Christ at work in this Diocese and to bring back a better understanding
of how He is at work across the country, so that we can be part of
what Christ is already blessing.

I am happy to offer myself to serve the Diocese in this way if you wish
me to do so. I have no doubt the other candidates have a similar
motivation, and am praying for whoever you choose, that God will
equip and enable them to contribute to wise and Godly leadership for
our national church at such a challenging time.

I hope you might consider voting for me as your first preference.

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