General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Andrew Mumby
Rector of St Peter’s, Walworth [email protected]
Evangelism + Mission + Inclusion + Justice + Participation
General Synod Member 2018-2026
Proposed by the Revd Canon Gill O’Neill, Vicar of St John’s, Goose Green,
Woolwich Area Dean of Women’s Ministry
Seconded by the Revd Canon Stanley Njoka, Vicar of St Catherine's
Hatcham, Woolwich Area Racial Justice Chair

'You are precious in my sight and honoured, and I love you.' (Isaiah 43:4)

Who am I? - Ten things you should know about me:

1. parish priest of a growing, diverse, inner-city estate church, with a large proportion of children and young

people who play a full and active part in church life

1. in the relaxed modern catholic tradition: love hymns and songs by Graham Kendrick, Matt Maher, Gregory

Dix, west African choruses and more – happy to dance and clap and play my sax in church!

1. passionate about parish ministry and the full resources of the parish system for the flourishing of the whole

Church: focussed on the local church family and parish community outreach and pastoral care

1. deeply committed to both traditional patterns of worship and to new ways of sharing the Gospel with

people outside Church

1. passionate about outward-facing mission and evangelism in our community
2. served as an Area Dean in Southwark for five years, also a long-serving BAP Adviser and Examining Chaplain,

and honorary Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey

1. Jamaican born, Lincolnshire raised, Southwark by choice!
2. proud that my General Synod Private Members Motion on the Windrush Generation was voted for

unanimously across Synod and is credited

1. passionate Blood donor, as my Grandad taught me
2. runner, photographer, saxophonist, and houseplant lover!

My time on Synod so far (2018-2026: a term and a half!) I have (mostly!) enjoyed my time at General
Synod since being elected in a by-election in January 2018, but more importantly I feel that I have managed to make
a positive contribution both in the public sessions and debates, and also between Synod. So thank you for voting
for me if you already have! I hope you will consider electing me again as a Southwark Clergy member, so that I can
build on the knowledge and momentum I have gained in the forthcoming five-year period. I want to make a real
difference to our Church and our world! And I’m committed to helping make Synod as effective, kind, and Jesus-
Shaped as possible.

During my time on Synod I have:

1. learnt a lot about how Synod works, including securing a Private Members Motion on Racial

Justice (Windrush Legacy and Commitment, Feb 2018 – passed unanimously by Synod and covered
positively in the national press) – some have credited this debate with the steps which led to Lament to
Action and the establishment of the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Commission, and then the new Racial
Justice Unit

1. stood and been elected to serve as a clergy member of the Appointments Committee of

General Synod which plays a significant role in Synod and wider Church appointments: from chairs and
members of committees, to delegates to ecumenical gatherings, to members of the Faith and Order and
Liturgical Commissions, for example. I am always working for diversity of church tradition and people’s
protected characteristics, and it has been an opportunity to work well with people of very different
theological convictions for the good of the Church

1. listened carefully to the views of people who have contacted me about issues coming up at Synod
2. co-founded and co-facilitated both the General Synod Anti-Racism Network and Global

Majority Heritage Whatsapp support and strategy group. These have worked together to
plan official Fringe Meetings which have been very well attended and helped members including myself
God’s amazing love for everyone is what I am most passionate about sharing.
I want more and more people to know God’s love. I want more people to come to a joyful faith in
Jesus Christ so that together we can worship God and change our world.
If you do too, please place me as number ONE on your voting paper! (or as high
a number as possible!)

to plan for effective contributions to Synod debates, and to keep the work of Racial Justice on the
agenda and well-supported

1. spoken on a wide range of issues affecting our Church and world including: poverty, racial justice,

evangelism, digital communications and social media, climate crisis, Crown
Nomination Commissions, transparency, working class ministry, support for the
Commissioners’ Fund for Healing, Justice and Repair (Project Spire)

1. worked to increase my own capacity and to form relationships with other people committed to

issues of evangelism and justice in the Church for all people, across traditions

1. encouraged other clergy and lay people to consider standing for General Synod, as I really believe

Synod needs to be more representative and hear new voices and perspectives: I have been encouraged to
stand again by lots of people, but I don’t intend to serve forever – new voices need to be heard!

1. become convinced that General Synod can play a part in the real flourishing of Christ’s Church in our

mission and ministry, but needs to be more representative of the whole Body of Christ, and less
bound by process and standing orders..!

At this time in particular, I believe our nation needs a confident Christian voice speaking boldly and
prophetically for justice for everyone, and especially people who are poor, disadvantaged, and
discriminated against. National politics is becoming more and more polarised: I personally know where I stand on
full inclusion in the Church, and speak passionately for it: I also work for nuance, kindness and shared understanding
at Synod and in our Church.

I believe the voice of parishes like St Peter’s, Walworth – flourishing and diverse, but in many ways deprived – are
under-represented at General Synod. I believe I have brought a useful perspective as a Clergy representative for
the Diocese of Southwark, and would like to so in the next term. My main passions and priorities for the Church:

1. Evangelism: God’s perfect love is something I want to share. At St Peter’s we use as many possible ways to

share the Christian faith and invite people in: personal friendships, forming missionary disciples, a culture of
invitation, flyers, posters, social media, street evangelism, Ashes to Go, and more. To me, the Church exists by
evangelism as a fire exists by burning: the biggest difference a parish church can make is helping people to know
Jesus Christ and to see the world through a Christian lens. I believe the Church of England needs to be more
confident in our evangelism, and more varied, without a one-size-fits-all approach: attractive and accessible to
as many people as possible!

1. Mission: At St Peter’s we see our worship on Sundays as the place where we’re gathered, nourished,

challenged and blessed to be sent out in mission and service as individuals and as a community. We have taken
part in the Robes Project Winter Night Shelter, run small and large-scale events for the flourishing of our
community, operate an informal food and clothing bank, and work with our school, our local councillors and
other local groups and charities to serve the many needs of our community through support, prayer and
advocacy.

1. Inclusion, Justice & Participation: I’m passionately driven to work for a more inclusive church where

every single person, made in the image and likeness of God, is able to follow God’s call on their life, especially
those who are currently under-represented or excluded. This is a question of God’s justice, a kingdom issue,
about fullness of life for everyone in the Body of Christ! I want every single person to know, and to see that
they are welcome in Christ’s Church. To see that there are people, clergy, and bishops who look and sound
like them. When I first went to church as a young adult, I saw a black woman presiding as the vicar in my parish
church and knew that I was welcome too. Today, too many people of Global Majority Heritage, women,
LGBTQIA+ people, poor people, differently abled people and others outside of the Church do not feel fully
welcome. I long for change before anyone else feels they are not welcome in Christ’s Church.

I believe every person is made in the glorious image of God, that everyone who is baptized into
Christ is clothed with Christ, that we’re one in Christ in our wonderful diversity and that we each
belong to Christ. This inspires me to work for that day when every person who is baptized can be treated equally
in Christ’s Church and fulfil their individual vocation to engage in the life and evangelistic and missionary work of
the Church as they are called by God. I’m ambitious for the Church of England to grow in faith and numbers, in
mission and service, to the glory of God and for the good of our nation and world!

If you vote for me, I will work hard with others
to keep Evangelism, Mission, Inclusion, Justice & Participation on the
Church’s agenda! Please give me your 1st vote! Or as high as possible!

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