disabled people,gospel,inclusive,living in love and faith,mission,outreach,pccs,safeguarding,scripture

Why am I standing for General Synod?

I am standing for General Synod because I love the Church and believe passionately in
its mission. I want to help shape a Church that is rooted in Christ and Scripture, confident
in sharing the gospel, and genuinely welcoming and accessible to all.
I want to bring the voice and perspective of a disabled woman of colour, while
representing the whole Diocese. I believe it is important that those whose voices are not
always heard have a place at the table, and that national decisions reflect the reality of
life in our local churches.

Who am I?

I am a priest, pastor and community-minded person who is passionate about Jesus,
people and making a difference. I enjoy working with people, listening to their stories
and helping them discover their gifts and their place within the Church.
I am practical and positive, and I am not afraid to ask difficult questions. I like to turn
ideas into action, while recognising that every parish is different and that what works in
one place may not work in another.

What is important to me

For me, inclusion is about belonging. It is about making sure that everyone is seen,
heard and valued, and that the things that make us different are not barriers to
participation, leadership or belonging.
I want to be a voice for those who are sometimes overlooked or not always heard
including women, disabled people, people from different ethnic and cultural
backgrounds, those from less advantaged backgrounds, and LGBTQI+ people.
I believe the Church should be a place where people know they are welcome, where we
listen to one another with respect, and where we can have honest and sometimes
difficult conversations while continuing to walk together. The Living in Love and Faith
journey has reminded us of the importance of listening deeply to one another,
particularly where our experiences and convictions differ, and of seeking to remain
together in Christ.
I want to bring my own experience and perspective to General Synod, while listening
carefully to the experiences of others. For me, being inclusive is not about putting
people into categories; it is about recognising the dignity of every person, removing
barriers and helping everyone to know that they have a place within the family of God.

Experience

I trained at St Mellitus College and was ordained in 2021. Since then, I have served in
different churches and communities and experienced a variety of church traditions.

My ministry has included parish leadership, PCCs, safeguarding, pastoral care, mission
and outreach. I have organised community fairs, children’s holiday clubs and family
activities, worked with schools, and developed partnerships with food banks and other
local organisations.
I have also been involved in communications, fundraising and practical parish projects.
These experiences have given me a good understanding of both the opportunities and
pressures facing local churches and the importance of making national decisions at
parish level.

Looking forward

I see General Synod as an opportunity to listen, learn, contribute and serve.
I would bring a practical parish perspective, my experience of ministry and community
engagement, and my own lived experience. I would seek to be a warm, thoughtful and
constructive voice, willing to listen to different views and speak up when something
needs to be challenged.
Above all, I look forward with hope. I believe the Church has an important part to play in
our communities and in sharing the love of Christ, and I would be honoured to play my
part in helping shape its future.