General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd Jonathan Macy

Proposed: Revd Lindiwe Maseko / Seconded: Revd Doug McHardie

Ordained in 2010, I have been Team Vicar at Church of the Cross (Thamesmead)
since 2014, a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) in a Low Income (LInC) area. I am
also Chair of NECN (National Estates Churches Network) advocating nationally for
churches in LInC areas, the Southwark Diocesan Disability Adviser since 2022, a
Woolwich Area IME Director since 2015 (supporting curates), and I also teach on
IME, CME and the Bishop’s Certificate. Prior to ordination I worked for 15yrs in
the social care sector, mainly with people with learning disabilities.

I have been on General Synod since Autumn 2023. Over that time, I have asked
formal questions, made speeches, and proposed amendments on issues based
around my Gospel passions – parish churches in low-income areas (LInC), poverty
and disability. These passions have led me to fight for local church funding,
mission and vocations, and specifically I have spoken to:

◦
Foodbanks & The Essentials Guarantee (July 24) – I spoke to the sad
importance of Food Banks, and the need for basic support for people struggling
with food poverty.

◦
Funeral Fees Amendment (Feb 26) - the potentially crippling c. £1000
increases were defeated by my amendment(s).

◦
Assisted Dying and People With Disabilities (July 25) -I argued that proper
palliative care needs to be offered equally to all, including those with disabilities.

◦
PLF & Teams (from Feb 2024) - From the start I have challenged the
Bishops over the question of Teams / multi-church benefices & parishes, and LLF.
Teams (2/3 of CoE) are usually accidents of geography and poverty not theology,
and more prone to the friction the PLF process created. I was the only person in
Synod consistently chasing them for a workable solution with workable
guidelines for those in plural contexts, regardless of the personal position held.

◦
LInC Funding Rethinking / Transparency (from Feb 2024) - Woolwich Area
should qualify for LInC funding, but due to a geographical quirk, does not. I have
challenged this throughout my time on GS through both speeches and questions.

◦
Working Class Group (Feb 25 - Feb 26) - I supported Fr Alex Frost’s motion
and was part of the working group that drove it home over the following year.

◦
Mental Health & The Church (Feb 26) - In areas of poverty, people with
mental health issues are over represented, and clergy under-resourced to meet
those needs, and so prone to mental health issues.

◦
I am serving as the Anglican ecumenical representative to the Methodist
Conference until 2028.

With regard to LLF / PLF, I hold the traditional historic Anglican view of marriage.
I was part of Shared Conversations many years ago, maintaining relationships
across the piece since then, and served in the LLF Working Groups over the last
couple of years. I am committed to working across the Church to find a properly
workable settlement to the questions before us - as demonstrated by my
questions about workable “team” contexts for whatever views one holds.

If I am elected, I will continue to advocate for, and speak into, these areas. Please
give a high vote for me as one who has worked positively and successfully across
many issues and traditions for many years.

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