General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Lesley JONES 1
Hello, I am asking for your vote because
having served on General Synod for just
over a year, there is much more work to
be done! I believe I bring a wealth of
experience around ministry, mission,
governance, communication and
representing communities at local,
regional and national level.
We live in a time of great change for our nation as well as the Church of England. I feel I can be a
strong voice for the diocese having previously lived in Dorset, and later served as a parish priest as
both self-supporting minister and in full-time stipendiary minister in the Dioceses of Durham,
Canterbury and more recently, a return to Salisbury as Rector of Corfe Mullen.
In the 12 years our family lived in Dorset I held a number of community and representative roles
including Dorset County Councilor, right here in Corfe Mullen! The knowledge gained in that time
informed the early years of ministry, especially in a benefice that was rural, semi-rural and urban in
character.
I have a particular passion for encouraging congregations to not only offer inclusive sacred places
of worship but also to develop missionally to become centres for mission, where everyone feels
welcome and all gifts are recognized. As we learn and grow together, as followers of Jesus, wherever
we are, I long to see a time where we are all the hands and feet of the Lord, and pray for a future
when the well-being of all ministers - lay and ordained - is better supported across the C of E.
I am married to Richard (for 30 years) and we have one daughter, Rosie, (28) and share our lives
with two adorable golden doodles and a cat called Melody. L. Jones, August 2026

Lesley Jones (August 2026)
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Diocese of Salisbury – General Synod Elections

1992 to 2004 - Dorset
• Lots of experience representing people as a
Dorset County Councillor;
• Consistent. Ran a successful environmental
campaign over four years to protect clean air
in a community of 65,000 people.
• Supporting at a national level as MP’s
Assistant in Westminster & Constituency.
2004-2013 – Durham Diocese
•
I joined the staff at a large C of E Secondary
School in 2005 and by the time I left in 2013 I
was ordained priest. During this time, I gained a
valuable insight and experience working with
children, young people and families as we seek
to become a ‘younger church’,
2013 – 2020 Canterbury Diocese
• Serving in two benefices as a curate, and later
Team Vicar, mission activities included opening a
Community Bank, Place of Welcome, Community
Wardrobe and working in partnership to reduce
homelessness and wider community. I am keen to
speak up around resources and sharing best
practice so that all communities can flourish.
2020 - 2026 -Durham Diocese
•
Service as Rector of a multi-church benefice
in Jarrow as well as T.I. and as a member of
the Bishop’s advisors for ministry.
•
Mission projects included launching a
Community Money Advice Centre.
Background Experience
Why I’m nominating Lesley:
‘Lesley loves the Lord and
brings fantastic energy to all
she does in ministry. It would
cheer my heart to see her
continue to serve on General
Synod where she has so much
to offer by way of experience,
passion and acumen.’
Revd David Reed
(Wimborne Deanery)

Call/Text: 07881 555580
or Email: [email protected]

Lesley JONES
Why I’m nominating Lesley:

‘Lesley is an active, highly experienced
priest and previous member of General
Synod. I gladly support her nomination and
strong ethos of welcome for all,
inclusive church and issues of justice. She
will be an asset.’

Revd Helen Bailey (Poole Deanery)
& Dean of Women's Ministry for Salisbury Diocese
Tackling Poverty
I believe that the Church of England, as the
national church, needs to be present for
everyone in society with a bias towards the
marginalized and those caught up in poverty,
and if elected I will continue to speak up on
this issue.
I have consistently looked for practical
ways in which churches can support
communities through projects that ease
financial pressures and the isolation poverty
brings. This includes a number of projects
delivered with community partners in
Durham and Canterbury dioceses:
• ‘One for the Basket’ helping food banks;
• Set up a Community Bank & Hub;
• Introduced a Community Wardrobe;
• Opened a Breakfast Club for
vulnerable/homeless adults;
• Supported Places of Welcome, Warm
Spaces and access to Free Debt Advice.
Having gained experience during the last
General Synod I am keen to encourage
greater financial support for parish ministry,
funded by the Church Commissioners.
1
Encouraging Ministry
where all can flourish
It is vital we support the well-being of all
ministers including ongoing training and
changes to the clergy conditions of service. I
supported the motion to improve clergy
pensions and also see the need for long-
term thinking on sustainable clergy
renumeration and housing - including
retirement housing - as well as clear access
to additional practical support for clergy
and members of their family when needed.
Everyone is Welcome
I believe in an inclusive church which
does not discriminate and where there is a
space for all at the table. I believe the
Prayers of Love and Faith should be
available for clergy to use where pastorally
appropriate - on an opt-in basis - and also
respect the right of clergy not to use the
prayers as a matter of theological
conscience.
We need to listen to one another and
allow space for people to minister
according to their calling and conscience,
respecting differences and finding our unity
in Christ. I also support the emerging
national strategy to encourage people from
working class backgrounds discernment,
training and ordination.

Diocese of Salisbury - General Synod Elections

A t a G l a n c e
• Encouraging Ministry and clergy
well-being in service and retirement;
• Inclusivity. Being a church where
everyone is welcome and all flourish;
• Tackling Poverty supporting post-
industrial and low-income communities
•
Member of WATCH, Together for the C of E,
Inclusive Church, and supporter of National
Estates Churches Network, Sabeel-Kairos
and Save The Parish

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