General Synod Election Candidates 2026

G E N E R A L SY N O D E L E C T I O N S 2 0 2 6
Jim
Nurton
Candidate for the House of Laity
Diocese of Southwark
My belief in a church that is truly welcoming to all and is a positive
force in our communities has led me to stand for election to
General Synod. I would love to see the Church of England become
a place of greater inclusion and equal opportunities, challenging
discrimination wherever it exists and assuring everyone of the
unconditional love of God.
P R O P OS E D BY
Joy Taylor
Member, Diocesan Synod
S EC O N D E D BY
Lucy McGrath
Lay Chair, Dulwich Deanery
About me
I grew up in the Church of England and was confirmed
in my teens. Since moving to Peckham in 2003, I have
been a member of St John’s East Dulwich, an inclusive
church that welcomes a broad range of worshippers,
for the past 20 years.
During that time, I have served two terms as church
warden; have been a member of the PCC and Deanery
Synod; and am a founding member of the Racial
Justice Group.
Projects I have worked on include:
— Jointly leading a project to build a new entrance
and toilet facilities to improve safety and
accessibility, which involved raising £100,000
in funding
— Helping develop a new audio and video system
during COVID for live streaming church services
— Co-leading an online discussion group on Living in
Love and Faith, with 12 participants
— Overseeing the commissioning and installation of
a new heating system for the church
I live in Nunhead with my wife Becky, who is a charity
worker and volunteer, and my cat Katy. I enjoy cycling,
walking, cricket, cooking, theatre and concerts.
Career experience
After studying history at university, I spent 20 years
working for a major media company. Since 2017, I
have been a freelance editor and writer, specialising in
business and technology law. Relevant experience for
General Synod includes:
— Familiarity with legal processes and language
— Knowledge of media, publishing
and communication
— Experience of setting up and running a
small business
— The ability to process information, extract key
points and present them in discussion
Volunteering experience
I volunteer for a number of charities. I am a team
leader for the Robes Project winter night shelter for
the homeless at the Copleston Centre in Peckham. I
help at the Goose Green Lunch Club, which provides
affordable hot meals for people once a week during
term time.
I’m also chair of a small charity based in Bermondsey,
south London, which makes grants to a wide range of
organisations working with young people in London.

J I M N U R TO N · H O U S E O F L A I T Y · D I O C E S E O F S O U T H WA R K
My priorities for General Synod
01 INCLUSION
I am fully committed to equality for everyone, at all levels and roles within the church. In particular, I believe there
should be no discrimination based on disability, economic power, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability,
mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. While we have made some progress in recent years, I know we still
have a lot more work to do, especially in the areas of LGBTQI+ rights and racial justice. I also believe in listening
respectfully to those with different views, and if elected I will seek to engage as widely as possible.
02 SAFEGUARDING
As a member of the St John’s Safeguarding Team, I
recognise the importance of upholding safeguarding,
listening to survivors and putting in place effective
measures to prevent abuse. I am committed to
working with others in General Synod to address
historic abuses and create effective structures to
protect people.
03 ENVIRONMENT
I would love to see the church leading the debate on
improving our environment and tackling climate
change. Having helped obtain a Bronze Eco-Church
award, I recognise the opportunities for the church to
take action and provide leadership in this area. I
also believe in the impact that incremental changes
can make in improving the environment and setting
an example.
04 CHURCH BUILDINGS
The Church of England is blessed with some beautiful
architecture and spaces. As a former church warden,
I’m aware of the challenges this can bring. I believe we
should look at how to make better use of our buildings
to benefit our communities, including by making them
more accessible and welcoming, and by exploring
diverse and creative uses for these spaces.
05 MISSION
The church has a vital role to play in supporting
everyone who faces challenges in our parishes,
including loneliness, disability, disadvantage, the cost
of living and lack of empowerment. Drawing on my
volunteering experience with elderly and homeless
people, I want to explore how we can better reach
out to show God’s love and offer hope in our
local communities.
Lunch Club volunteers and visitors
“I’m delighted to endorse parishioner, ex-
churchwarden, and all-round fabulous person, Jim
Nurton, for election to General Synod. Jim has a
passion for justice and inclusivity, and a deep care
for the wellbeing of the whole church. He will bring a
calm and intelligent approach to the task, do give
him your vote!”
Revd Canon Gill O’Neill
Vicar of St John the Evangelist East Dulwich
Thank you for reading my statement. I very much
hope you will give me your first preference vote.
A N Y Q U E ST I O N S ? P L E AS E C O N TACT M E
[email protected]

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