General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd Dr Steffan Mathias
Tutor in Biblical Studies and Academic Dean,
College of the Resurrection, Mirfield

Proposer: Revd Dr Erica Longfellow, New College, Oxford
Seconder: Revd Dr Sam Hole, University College, Durham

Background:
As a teenager, I became a Christian at a small charismatic Church in Wales parish, because a
friend took the risk of inviting me to Church. While an encounter with Jesus Christ was at
the core, my early faith was sustained by a Church that was confident in reaching out,
serving the community, taking teaching and Scripture seriously, and deeply rooted in prayer.
This experience of Church still informs my understanding of what the Church can be at its
best, and I am standing for Synod with a vision of the Church of England that loves and
celebrates the parish, theological education, and Christ.

To do this, the Church (and Synod) needs to listen carefully to the voices of those it seeks to
represent. Despite the riches of our parishes, congregations, and theological education
sector, attentive listening to the voices of those we are called to serve requires honesty
about the sense of anxiety, pressures on resources both in terms of time and finance, the
crisis in clergy wellbeing, the hurt felt by both GMH and LGBTQIA+ people, and
uncertainty for TEIs about their viability and future.

I stand for Synod with an academic background in biblical studies and extensive experience
in parish and vocational work, and as a Tutor at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield,
dedicated to its commitment as a theological and spiritual resource in the Northern
Province. I have ministered in congregations that reflect the wonderful diversity of the
people of God, and in parishes that creatively use limited resources to reach out to their
communities in love and service. I am committed to being a voice for parishes where there
is a growing awareness that they are generously giving their time and money to support
their ministry, while vast resources are directed to other projects and churches. During this
time, I have worked with those testing a vocation and am immensely humbled by the
diversity and calibre of those going forward for lay and ordained ministry, and by their
hunger for a solid grounding in theology and ministry. But I am alive to how our current
system can hold back candidates, particularly from diverse backgrounds. I have seen this
same desire for a solid grounding in experience of those I have taught in residential and
non-residential TEIs, matched by the energy and enthusiasm of tutors and staff, despite a
backdrop of a lack of resources inhibiting proper formation and a general sense of
uncertainty for the University-TEI sector; a strong voice for University-TEIs is needed now
more than ever as the review of theological education takes place. Across various areas of
ministry, I have been deeply struck by people calling out for honesty, and by how the
actions and culture of the national Church have inhibited the confidence with which we
proclaim the gospel.

Priorities:
Therefore, I understand the priorities for the next Synod to be:
•
A proper and fair distribution of resources that enables parishes and clergy to
flourish in ministry and mission, particularly those that serve our most deprived
communities, and a shift in culture to ensure the national and diocesan Church
supports parishes rather than burdening them with endless projects and targets.
•
Build trust in the institution by ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding
culture, putting survivors and victims at the centre of our response, and recognising
that our failures have jeopardised our mission and place in the public square.
•
Supporting TEIs and the vocational process, encouraging vocations that reflect the
people of God and offering a strong voice for theological education across our
diverse pathways. It is vital that Synod, and our ordinands, are properly resourced
theologically, including in our finances – this is not a distraction from ‘real issues’,
but vital in ensuring that our discussions and decisions are rooted in Scripture and
Christian tradition. Serving on Synod would also allow me to represent the voices of
ordinands in national debates.
•
Ensuring that the Church is a safe and inclusive space for all people, regardless of
disability, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, socio-economic status,
ethnicity, sex, gender identity, or sexuality. I support Prayers of Love and Faith, and
the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the life of the Church.
•
Being honest about our past, and ensuring the Church takes a clear and visible step
towards a just response to its historical involvement in colonialism, racism, and the
slave trade.
•
Modelling the Church and its governance on the person and example of Jesus
Christ, ready to fulfil its calling to minister to and evangelise our communities.

Experience and what I offer:
•
Nine years’ parish ministry, as curate and then incumbent, and a love of our parish
system, working alongside chaplaincy to minister to the whole community.
•
Experience of theological education in both residential and non-residential, part-
time or mixed-mode settings, at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, St
Augustine’s College, Southeast, and within the Diocese of Southwark.
•
A deep understanding of the vocations process as an Area Director of Ordinands
and Examining Chaplain in the Diocese of Southwark, and what matters to those
going through the process.
•
A robust theological background, with a BA and MA in theology, and PhD in Biblical
studies, with academic publishing in biblical studies, liturgy and missiology.
•
Additional roles working in clergy wellbeing, interfaith work, Diocesan Synod, and as
a school governor.

Please consider giving me your 1st-preference or high-preference vote.
I am happy to answer any questions or hear your concerns about issues going forward. You
can contact me at [email protected]

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