addiction,domestic violence,finances,good news,mission,revitalisation,violence

Revd Benjamin Jones
St Peter’s Brockley
Wickham Road
SE4 1LT
[email protected]
I am standing for General Synod because I believe deeply in the parish church and its potential to
bring the Good News of Jesus to every community in our nation.
Vicar of St Peter’s Brockley
For the past eight years I have served as Vicar of St Peter’s Brockley. During that time I have seen
first-hand what parish revitalisation can look like:
• A small, faithful congregation growing into a church of around 500 people representing the
diversity of our parish.
• More than 700 people from the local community coming through our doors each week to access
many ‘Love Brockley’ ministries including free therapy for families with children with additional
needs, subsidised professional dance classes, support for those suffering from domestic
violence, parenting support, recovery from addiction and practical help getting back into
employment.
• A social supermarket growing from emergency food provision into wraparound support, working
alongside Citizens Advice and our local council.
• A church graft to Kidbrooke sending people and finances to revitalise the parish and provide
ongoing support to meet the unique needs of Kidbrooke without simply seeking to ‘franchise’
what we do here in Brockley.
These experiences have convinced me that the parish church has a central role to play in bringing
heaven to local communities and our nation.
What I want to bring to General Synod
An advocate for parish ministry
I want the realities of parish ministry - its opportunities, pressures and extraordinary potential —
represented in the decisions of our national Church.
A commitment to revitalisation
I don’t believe some churches should just keep getting bigger and bigger by attracting Christians
from surrounding parishes, instead, I think it is the responsibility of larger churches to resource
and give sacrificially to enable other local parishes to thrive.

Funding that enables mission
From experience I know that the way national funding is distributed can have an enormous impact
locally. I want to advocate for funding that enables sustainable parish revitalisation, mission and
service.
Unity across our differences
Southwark contains a remarkable breadth of traditions. I want to represent clergy across that
breadth and work constructively with those with whom I may disagree.
If elected, I will
•
Report back to Southwark clergy after each group of Synod sessions
•
Gladly visit and speak at deanery chapters
•
Listen to and represent clergy from across the traditions of our Diocese
•
Work and pray for a Church of England in which parishes thrive, communities are served
and more people come to know Jesus
I would love you to pray and consider me as your first or high preference vote in the upcoming
elections.
With Love,
Revd Benjamin Jones