General Synod Election Candidates 2026

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A Church rooted in Christ. United in mission. Hopeful for the future.

Why am I standing for The General Synod?
Because I believe in the Church of England, I believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I believe that God
has entrusted us with an extraordinary opportunity to serve the Church and our nation at this time.
I want to help build a Church that is Christ-centred, spiritually alive, mission-focused, united and confident
about the future.
I would be honoured to bring my experience, perspective and gifts to the General Synod and to serve the
Diocese of St Albans.

A wide Anglican experience.
I have been an ordained priest for 18 years, with extensive experience of ministry and church leadership in
Nigeria before coming to serve in the Church of England.
My ministry has taken me beyond the parish into diocesan and national leadership. In the Church of
Nigeria, I have served as:
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Bishop's Chaplain
•
Secretary to the Diocesan Board of Finance
•
Assistant Chaplain for the Diocesan Youth Ministry
•
Diocesan Director of Media
•
Delegate to the Church of Nigeria General Synod
These roles have given me practical experience of leadership, governance, finance, communication, youth
ministry, decision-making and working collaboratively across different parts of the Church.
They have also taught me that good church leadership begins with listening, prayer, humility and a
willingness to work with others for the sake of Christ's mission.
My experience of ministry across Nigeria, the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion
gives me an intercultural perspective which I believe can make a valuable contribution to General Synod.

My vision for our Church
I want to see a Church of England that:
➢ Keeps Christ at the centre.
Whatever decisions we make, our first question should be: How does this help us proclaim Christ
and make disciples?
➢ Responds to spiritual hunger.
Our society is searching for meaning, hope and belonging. We must be confident in sharing the
transforming hope of the gospel and creating churches where people can encounter God, ask honest
questions and grow in faith.
➢ Reaches the younger generation.
Children, young people and young adults are not simply the future of the Church, they are part of
the Church today. We need to listen to them, invest in them, disciple them and give them
meaningful opportunities to lead and serve.
➢ Flourishes in every community.
I want to see our parishes strengthened and encouraged, with clergy and lay leaders equipped to
serve effectively, evangelise confidently and develop new expressions of ministry where
appropriate.

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Values unity.
The Church of England contains a breadth of traditions, perspectives and experiences. I will seek to listen
carefully, engage respectfully and work for the unity of the Church, without losing sight of our common
calling to follow Christ and proclaim the gospel.

Looks beyond itself.
As part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, we have much to learn from one another. The Church in
Africa has much to contribute to the global Anglican conversation, just as we in Britain have much to learn
from the experience of Christians elsewhere.
What I would bring to the General Synod.
I would bring experience without assuming I have all the answers; conviction without losing the ability to
listen; and a global Anglican perspective alongside the experience of parish ministry in England.
I would seek to be a voice that listens to the concerns of clergy and parishes across the Diocese of St
Albans and contributes constructively to the national Church.
I am passionate about mission, discipleship, evangelism, prayer, young people, strong parish ministry and a
flourishing Church of England.
I also understand that General Synod is a place where difficult decisions must sometimes be made. I would
approach those decisions prayerfully, thoughtfully and with integrity, seeking to build bridges rather than
walls.

A hopeful future
I do not believe the Church of England should approach the future with fear.
I believe we should approach it with faith.
There are challenges before us, but there are also enormous opportunities. Across our nation, people are
still searching for God. Communities still need hope. Young people still need purpose. And the gospel of
Jesus Christ is still good news.
I want to be part of the General Synod that helps the Church of England seize that opportunity.
If elected, I will serve with humility, energy, courage and prayer, seeking to make a positive contribution to
the life and mission of our Church.
I would be grateful for your support and for the opportunity to serve the Diocese of St Albans and the wider
Church of England.

Christ-centred. Mission-focused. United. Hopeful.
Rev Canon Joseph Adewale

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