gospel,safeguarding,safeguarding officer

Hello my name is Penny Sholl. I am a married, semi-retired GP with two wonderful, grown up
children and have lived in Folkestone for over forty years.

I was baptised into the Church of England aged 4 months and have always worshipped at my local
Anglican churches.

A real passion of mine, both at work and within the church, has always been safeguarding. I believe
that safeguarding the young and vulnerable is truly God’s work. I have been a Parish Safeguarding
Officer for over twenty five years and serve as an independent member of the local Diocesan and
Cathedral Safeguarding Advisory Panel.

I feel that so many good things are being done within the Church of England but am very saddened
by some of the divisions which threaten the unity of the Church body. This does not feel Christ
centred. We need to respect one another’s opinions and learn to disagree well. I have worked
collaboratively with people who hold very different theological views to my own and hope that,
were I to be elected to the General Synod, I could bring some resolve for all to listen well.

Church needs to be a place where God’s work is being done. Where all people feel safe and
welcomed. Where the Gospel is taught always remembering that whatever we do for the least we
also do for Jesus, keeping the words of Jesus at the centre of all our decision making.