General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Very Revd Jeremy Crocker

St Luke's Battersea

Proposed: Archdeacon of Wandsworth The Venerable Bridget Shepherd

Seconded: The Revd Ian Luke-Macauley, Battersea Area Dean

I would like to offer myself to represent this Diocese - to serve on the General Synod. I have
a lot to offer with many years of experience, skill, and wisdom - previously serving two
terms on the General Synod: as a Church Commissioner from St Alban's Diocese. I also
served on the National Ethical Investment Advisory Committee. During this time, I served in
Uban, Rural and City parishes, also heading up a Team Ministry for 11 years, all in the
Diocese of St. Albans.

I left the Church of England, and stepped down from General Synod, and was for ten years
Dean of St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral Nicosia, in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle
East being closely connected with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The
Cathedral also moved under my leadership to support refugees.

The Breakdown of Trust, the Church, and the Nation. Professor David Ford and Vanessa
Hope Hailey reported at the end of last Synod on Trust and Trustworthiness. I hope to be a
unifying figure on Synod in discussing the many difficult issues facing the Church. I feel
Synod has become very divided, often acrimonious and needs to do much better. Synod
must not split into camps, but be more united, as Archbishop Sarah is endeavouring to
achieve.

Safeguarding - I welcome the steps Synod have taken. Huge misjudgements have been
made and more needs to be done to have more transparency from the top down and to
rebuild trust by the nation in the Church of England.

Human Sexuality. This is going to take a lot of time. I have an MA in Christian Ethics, and as
Anglicans we are part of a strong moral tradition. I am against anything that excludes
anybody, we need to be open to one-another in love, respect, and care, and finally allow
same sex blessings. This will never change the nature of marriage. Synod needs to move on
this as a united church.

Finances. I have an MA in international Business, and I will support the national church and
the various community strategies to help those who are struggling with the cost-of-living
crises; to support the vulnerable and marginalised, and to look at various strategies to use
our resources better to support church growth and clergy wellbeing.

Clergy Well-being. I spend some of my free time in supporting clergy who are vulnerable.
The church needs to do more to help and support many of their clergy in times of mental/
physical and spiritual health difficulties.

archbishop,catholic,church growth,clergy wellbeing,cost of living,finances,human sexuality,marriage,orthodox,refugees,roman catholic,safeguarding,same sex,same-sex blessings,sexuality,tradition,transparency