General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Election Address: Mrs Emma Robarts DL. Candidate for the House of Laity,
St Albans Diocese, 2026-2031
Why I am standing again: In September 2025, I was elected to the
General Synod to fill a vacancy. I stood for election then because our
parishes were being starved of the resources they need. This has not yet
changed, but General Synod has ordered a review of how national money
reaches dioceses and parishes. In July 2025, a vital Synod debate on
restoring central funding to support dioceses and parishes was
controversially postponed. It is now promised for July 2027. My hope
is to be re-elected in order to be able to contribute to that crucial
finance debate and rebalance central spending priorities.
The CofE’s own published accounts show that in 2024 only 13% (£85m) of historic funding
intended for parish ministry (£653m) was actually spent on it. I serve in my village church,
leading the choir from 1995, cooking parish lunches for all ages together, and co-organising
food bank collections and litter picks.
What I would bring: I value and would aim to represent all traditions
within the Church of England. At General Synod, two gaps in
membership were evident. First, Synod’s Rural Interest Group confirms
that rural churches are under-represented in Synods at every level: the
small, poor and rural churches need a voice. My debut speech in
February succeeded in having a motion about Lowest Income
Communities (“LiNC”) - funding for poor parishes -
debated. Second, many members leave the
chamber when important financial and legal
issues are to be discussed. Synod needs
rebalancing with new members who; (i) represent
rural deprivation issues; and (ii) have financial, legal or governance
experience. I attend a rural church. I trained and worked as a lawyer,
so am comfortable with issues of governance, process and legislation.
I now work as a freelance journalist under my maiden name, Emma
Thompson. I write and speak about my faith in God and about the
Church’s funding and strategic issues. Nationally, we are again debating
what a parish is for and how growth can be measured and delivered; my
articles have contributed to this.
What must change: Funding failures abound. Particularly in smaller communities, increasing
parish share per church member above inflation annually (as St Albans has been doing), while
30% of parishes are already unable to pay, can only fail. St Albans diocese has 20 of England’s
most deprived parishes, yet they are not currently entitled to LiNC funding. This should
change. Parishes need a return to formula funding: Bishops are increasingly voicing
dissatisfaction with the present central grant funding system. Studies show that under this
system the poorest parishes suffer most. Redirecting resources away from parishes is causing
cuts in paid parish clergy posts, sales of vicarages and mergers of parishes into unmanageably
large groups. This is a false economy and a contradictory strategy; it deters would-be priests
and undermines ambitious growth plans, which require keeping up clergy numbers. The 2025
“Living Ministry” study makes clear that ministry model changes (unapproved by Synod and
inconsistent with priestly vows) are damaging clergy wellbeing. The latest Ministry Statistics
show more clergy resigning than retiring. I will argue passionately for this sad state of affairs to
be addressed and reversed.

I support Save The Parish. Please see the Save the Parish manifesto for thriving parishes:
https://www.savetheparish.com/general-synod-manifesto-2026/ I stand with STP’s aims
for the next Synod: fund the priests our parishes need, creating manageable clergy jobs;
spend parish share on parish ministry; improve clergy wellbeing; train ordinands properly
without skimping; adopt a charter to support church volunteers; make church closure harder
than survival. I co-founded STP in 2021 and am on its Steering Committee.

The next five years: In the next Quinquennium, STP hopes to increase
LiNC further, adjusting the allocation basis to include the most
deprived parishes wherever located. In May, I travelled to Cornwall to
speak at a hearing against turning an entire deanery of six benefices
with six stipendiary (paid) priests into a single megabenefice with two
priests. I consequently have much to say in Synod’s proposed revision
of the 2011 Mission and Pastoral Measure governing parish
reorganisations, especially the unfairness of its processes for parishes,
undermining trust. I also hope to advise Synod’s Business Committee
on reform of Synod agenda and process. Many members agree that it
feels as if our opinion is not seriously wanted. The papers are too many,
far too long and arrive too late. They are not written in clear, plain
English.
Please vote for me (and other STP supporters) to represent you. We will work to press for
logical, coherent national and diocesan decisions visible at grassroots level, generating
confidence and hope. The best recruiting officer for ministry
is a confident, joyful priest. Parish jobs rather than
administrative roles should be seen as the pinnacle of
vocational fulfilment, via the fundamental theological
principle of the Incarnation. Just as God in Jesus became
flesh and “dwelt among us” (John 1:14), the Church is called
to be incarnationally present in every community.
I would work with goodwill with fellow Synod volunteers
whatever their position on other matters vexing the
Church, to save the parish system for future generations.
I offer you a strong, committed Christian voice that is not
afraid to speak up publicly (but politely). Thank you for what
you do for your church and for reading this. I am willing to
work hard to represent you, diligently, sincerely and vocally,
to the best of my ability and integrity.
Please consider giving me your first or high preference vote. Please also feel free to be in
touch.

[email protected]

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