General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Election to The House of Laity, General Synod, 2026

Why do I want to stand for General Synod?
My family have worshipped at All Saints’ Kempston for generations and I first became involved in the machinery of
the parish organisation in 2010: recruited as Hon. Treasurer for ten years, I remain on the PCC.

In the last few years I have been appalled by the devastation to parish finances, membership and unity resulting
mainly from diocesan exploitation of the supposedly voluntary parish share system. At a local level, I am already
fighting that. But this is a nationwide calamity: a threat to the whole parish system. I believe I have something
constructive to contribute to a reformation of the Church’s way of working that can see it both revive and thrive.

The Church is currently top-down and top-heavy: self-devouring and self-defeating. It is less than the sum of its
parts. To become more than that sum it must radically reorder its resources: it is its parishes or it is nothing. It seems
to be losing its focus on the essential and eternal in favour of the ephemeral, fanciful and fashionable.

The Save the Parish Manifesto offers the right approach to reform.

Why would you vote for me?
Primarily because I have detailed knowledge of the existential threat to our parish system and will help to protect
your church by supporting the Save the Parish Network Manifesto.

Secondly, as my CV shows, I love our parish system and churches and will further STP commitments, which include:
•
restoring Church Commissioners’ funds to their founding purpose: stipendiary parish ministry: this is the
single, most important matter - it addresses the existential threat to parish ministry.
•
reforming the Mission and Pastoral Measure: proposals affecting a parish to be parish-led, supported by
equal legal advice: this is the second most important matter to address – it will ensure that parishes are not
ridden over rough-shod by diocesan forces.
•
directing parish share to mission and the cure of souls, but reducing that demand on poor parishes;
•
adopting a Charter of Care to safeguard clergy from mental and physical exhaustion
•
renewing resourcing of good theological education as a crucial investment: ordinand-centred not budget-
centred;
•
adopting a Churchgoers Charter that honours the volunteers who hold our parishes together.
To read the Save the Parish Network Manifesto in full, go to savetheparish.com or ask me to send you a copy.

Thirdly, my training, career and over 15 years’ direct experience in PCC and Diocesan relations has
given me the necessary insight and preparation for the role. The good news is that “what” the
whole Church wants is to survive and thrive: my “CV” overleaf summarises my background and
ability to contribute to identifying and implementing the “how” to achieve that successfully.

If elected to General Synod, I will work to ensure that “real-world” action is taken to provide the clerical and
financial resources for increased local engagement to meet the unique circumstances of each parish.
Candidate’s Election Address

Brian Garner, MA

77 Beverley Crescent, Bedford, MK40 4BZ.
M.: 07860 765549; E.: [email protected]
All Saints’ Church, Kempston, Bedford.

Election to The House of Laity, General Synod, 2026

Who am I?
I am a life-long member of the Church of England. My family, probably Huguenot, has worshipped in All Saints’
Church Kempston for generations. I am:
• used to working with organisations of all sizes and cultures from start-ups to the NHS
• a semi-retired consultant but certainly not a “managerialist”
• able to offer new perspectives and initiatives, with pragmatic approaches and solutions
• approachable, straight forward, collegiate/collaborative - but willing to challenge group-think
• confident that General Synod is the right forum to save the parish
• saved by a sense of irony, humour and proportion - useful attributes for this kind of journey.

Qualifications:
BA Honours: English Literature (with minors in Education and Religious Studies)
MA (Systems in Management) developed from “hard-engineered” MBAs, this applies Soft Sytems Methodology
(SSM) and Critical Systems Thinking in conflicted organisations, it encompasses the “Small is Beautiful” aspects of
human activity. This “softer”, research- and evidence-based approach appears to be badly needed in the Church.

Commercial background:
1970s: Early life from management accountancy to business development of Volvo car dealerships.
1980s to 2015: Consultancy in strategic business/organisation planning and systems implementation and, 2000 on,
fire safety risk management.
Clients ranged across small and public companies; local government; government agencies; NHS and private
hospitals; hotels, schools and colleges.

Charitable background:
All Saints’ Church Kempston PCC: 2010 – present; Hon. Treasurer to 2019.
Worked with and for PCC in the setting-up of two businesses which provide increased, particularly youth, community
engagement and also a financial contribution to replace diminishing gift income.
Fundraising support for the purchase of “new” church bells.

The Friends of All Saints’ Church Kempston: 2015 to present; Trustee
A small charity supporting the maintenance of the church via fundraising concerts and “Kempston Conversations”.

We3 Charity: Secretary 1995 – present
A small charity delivering or supporting Education, Employment and Enterprise Projects

Rotary Clubs: since 2011; Past President of Kempston; Bedford; now Middle England
Projects for disadvantaged young people, educational, recreational and mental health; in UK and now Ukraine.

Bedford Inclusive Learning and Teaching Trust (BILTT) 2024 – present
Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

The Betjeman Society: retired Hon. Sec.
There are several links between Sir John’s writing, the Church of England and the survival of the English Parish
Church. Betjeman was a founder member of the Victorian Society and a committee member of the Society for the
Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) . If SPAB, Victorian Society, Friends of Friendless Churches, Churches
Conservation Trust, National Churches Trust and a host of smaller church preservation societies believe it is
important to maintain the nation’s churches, one has to question why the Church of England does not.

If elected to General Synod, I promise I will push for the preservation of these sacred spaces, sanctuaries to any
who wish to enter, to be a high priority for the Church of England.

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