General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Michaela Suckling
CANDIDATE FOR GENERAL SYNOD
Standing for re-election

[email protected]
07960 660073

Proposed by: Dr Sue Gentle (Attercliffe Deanery)
Seconded by: Julia Newton (Ecclesall Deanery)

Dear Elector,

Hello, I am Michaela. I am married to Rupert, and we
have one adult daughter, Tilly.

I qualified as a nurse in 1994 and have worked in a wide variety of health settings.

I have worshipped at St Matthew’s Carver Street for 8 years now, where I have been able
to flourish in both my calling as a Christian and in my passion for mission through my role
as a parish nurse and involvement with running Alpha. It has been a delight to see others
flourish in their gifts, and God has blessed us with a growing, diverse congregation of all
ages.

I am a Trustee and Literature Secretary of the Guild of All Souls, working to support the
bereaved and those caring for the dying and teaching about Christian death. I am also a
Director of the Fellowship of St John (UK) Associate Trust, a charity that works across the
Anglican Communion to support the mission and ministry of the church.

In Luke 4:18, Jesus said:

“The spirit of the Lord is on me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed
free.”

This has inspired my nursing and my heart for mission. I see those around me struggling
with poverty, imprisoned by false hope or no hope at all and blinded by the charms of this
world. I have seen how people can be transformed by the love of Christ, including those
whom society has given up on, the homeless, the lonely and those addicted to drugs.

The parish is the essential building block of our Church. With proper resourcing it is a
place where all can discover their God-given gifts and flourish in using them to draw
people into the kingdom of God here and now.

Five years’ service on General Synod

I was elected to General Synod 5 years ago and it has been a privilege to serve. I have
particularly enjoyed getting to know people at Deanery and Diocesan synod. Thank you
to everyone who helped me to learn the ropes and gain a much better understanding of
church structures and functions.

I am seeking re-election because there is important work to complete.

When I stood for election 5 years ago, I wanted to make a contribution in the areas of
safeguarding, clergy workload and speaking up for the poor and marginalized.

I have been faithful to this calling during my time on General Synod. I have spoken in
debates on a wide variety of subjects including safeguarding and the safeguarding
redress scheme, burial and funeral fees, the clergy dignity and fairness retirement review,
support for looked after children, the Armed Forces Covenant and the cost of living. An
internet search will highlight my contribution in debates and you can check my voting
record on the Church of England website.

I have corresponded with those who have contacted me directly and kept them up to date
with progress of their particular concern while at synod and highlighted opportunities for
them to feed into the review system.

I have been an active member of both Deanery and Diocesan Synods, feeding back from
General Synod, raising questions relating to safeguarding and successfully introducing
the Armed Forces Covenant.

I have been invited to join the diocesan safeguarding advisory panel in September and
look forward to learning more about their work and contributing where I can.

If re-elected, I will continue to ensure the safeguarding restructure and redress
scheme are fit for purpose, stand up for the parish and fight for a preferential option
for the poor. I will do this by continuing to ask questions, speaking up in debates and
engaging fully with both deanery and diocesan synods.

Thank you for taking the time to read my address. If you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to get in touch with me either via email or telephone.

Please consider giving me your first vote or as high a preference as you can.

My prayers are with all candidates standing for election.

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