General Synod Election Candidates 2026

I’m a very new incumbent, so am standing for election to the house of clergy for the
first time, but I previously served as a lay member of General Synod between 2015
and 2021. At that time, I was a clergy spouse and mum to an 18 month old… I’m now
ordained myself and mum to a nearly teenager. I stood for election then because I
wanted to see the best possible future for the Church of England for my daughter’s
sake. I stand again now for the same reason.
I genuinely loved every minute of my previous term serving the Church on its
legislative body. I believe that good legislation should be the underpinning of what
we do. It should be fit for purpose and clear cut, but driven by and designed for
pastoral need and praxis. Throughout my previous term, I attended every meeting of
Synod, and often didn’t leave the chamber during session. I love the detailed debate
on legislation just as much as the perhaps more lively debates on contemporary
issues.
I speak often of my love of the glorious dichotomy of the Church of England. I think
it’s wonderful that no matter where you’d place yourself on the candlestick-spectrum,
you can find a place to belong within the Church of England. Having been raised in a
very conservative evangelical free church, I would now describe myself as
somewhere fairly middle of the road. I appreciate and understand both high and low
worshipping traditions, and am grateful for the diversity of our church. I think this is
of particular importance in rural churches, where the charism of each church
community is more likely to be tied to its location than its style of worship.
Being able to disagree well is increasingly unusual in our society, yet I strongly
believe it is the calling of the Church to model holding differences of opinion with
love and respect. Whilst I hold a more conservative view of marriage and sexuality, I
found the shared conversations process, which I took part in in 2016, to be incredibly
helpful and deeply moving. I have not changed my mind, or the way I read Scripture,
but I do long to see us move forwards together, with love and respect - holding our
shared differences.
As the established Church, I believe we have a special responsibility to speak out
prophetically and publicly, not shying away from the gospel message, wherever it
needs to be heard. I think General Synod has a role to play in that, which is a
responsibility I would take very seriously. I’m a particularly passionate advocate of
good safeguarding practices; my maiden speech in the House of Laity was on
safeguarding, and I will seek to be a voice for the voiceless.
Thank you for your consideration - it would be an honour to serve the diocese and the
Church in this way.

conservative,conservative evangelical,established church,evangelical,free church,gospel,marriage,middle of the road,safeguarding,scripture,sexuality