Frances Howard
Salisbury
House of Laity
Election Address to the General Synod House of
Laity
The parish sits at the heart of Christian life in the community. I
want to highlight the pressures many parishes are facing and the
questions these raise for the future of local church life.
Too many clergy are leaving because of overwork and job
insecurity. Many benefices, some comprising as many as seven
churches, are being led by lay people and retired clergy. The
number of new ordinands is not keeping pace with the number of
clergy leaving. How will it be possible to maintain a church in
every community in the future? This is one of the questions I
would ask if elected to the General Synod.
Parish life and local challenges
As an organist who plays in many different churches, I know this
question is on many people’s minds.
• How can we maintain church buildings and pay for their
upkeep?
• How can churches continue to serve their local
communities?
Children, families and church connection
Through my teaching experience in secondary schools, I have
seen that many children have little or no connection with a
church.
Changing Sunday routines
For many families, Sunday mornings are now more likely to be
spent in activities outside church, such as:
• choir practice;
• sports clubs;
• Scouts or Guides; or
• time in a coffee shop with parents.
These activities can be valuable, but they can also reduce
children’s opportunities to meet others and build friendships
through church life.
Why I wish to serve
I know the General Synod must address many important
concerns. For me, however, the parish is central to the life of the
Church, and it is the reason I wish to stand for election and
represent the House of Laity.
ordinands
ordinands
