General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Graham David Jonathan Stone

Candidate for General Synod 2026
House of Laity, Diocese of Southwark

[email protected]

A careful, practical and grounded lay voice for Southwark
I worship at St Bartholomew’s, Horley, where I serve on the PCC and play in the worship band. My wife
is in the third year of her curacy in the Horley Team Ministry, which brought us here from Oxted in

1. I was previously involved with St Mary’s, Oxted and St Peter’s, Limpsfield, including serving on

the PCC in Oxted. I grew up in the Church of England in the Diocese of Rochester, where my father
was ordained and worked for the diocese, so parish and diocesan life have shaped much of my faith
and service.
I am standing as a candidate for the House of Laity to represent the Diocese of Southwark on General
Synod because I think I can make a meaningful contribution. I understand the practical realities of
parish life, governance and finance, and I am used to working through difficult issues carefully,
practically and with attention to the values behind the decisions.
Professionally, I have worked in the non-profit sector for the past 20 years. I am currently Director of
Corporate Services at the Homecare Association, the UK membership body for organisations
providing care to people in their own homes. My work covers governance, finance, risk, compliance,
HR, systems and organisational leadership. I am vice-chair of a local charity, was previously chair of a
mental health charity, and was a formal attendee of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Southwark
Diocese Board of Education Multi-Academy Trust. My working life has been about helping
organisations make sound decisions while staying true to their ethos, culture and values.
Safeguarding and trust
I think safeguarding has to be more than a set of
policies; it’s absolutely critical for processes to be
robust and effective. It should be based on culture,
accountability and a willingness to listen and act.
A genuinely inclusive Church
I support a Church where people are welcomed,
included and valued across difference, including
those who can too easily feel overlooked or
excluded.
Financial sustainability
I feel that we need honest, evidence-based decisions
about money, focussed on sustaining mission,
ministry and local parish life for the long term.
Grounded in local realities
I would want Synod to keep national decisions
connected to the realities faced by parishes,
charities, communities and the people they serve.
Sustainable ministry
Healthy churches need supported clergy and lay leaders. Through parish life, PCC involvement and my wife’s
curacy, I have seen how much depends on people serving faithfully under great pressure. Synod needs to be
realistic about what is asked of clergy, parishes and volunteers.
If elected, I would diligently represent Southwark with care and reasoned judgement. I would take
seriously the House of Laity’s role in testing legislation, worship, national priorities and the money that
supports the Church’s work. I would listen to all views, read all papers, scrutinise all proposals
carefully and seek to represent the ethos, culture and values of this diocese, keeping Synod’s
decisions connected to the realities of parish life, clergy wellbeing and the communities we serve.
I’d be grateful for your support and for your vote. Jon
known as Jon

accountability,clergy wellbeing,curacy,finance,inclusive,inclusive church,mental health,mission,pcc,safeguarding