General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Simon Taurins

Nominators: Mike Rowe and Heather Batho, St Austell.

Loving the Church of England for its diversity, its presence, its legacy and its potential to reach everyone in
our nation: Believing that if we hold Jesus close, we can shift the atmosphere, and welcome renewal and
positive transformation to our land, through His Spirit.

Ambitious to see our Church get back to first principles: a New Testament body of believers that seeks to
be holy; has integrity; cares for the young, the old, the alone, the poor and disadvantaged; witnesses a
message of Jesus as Saviour; embraces a pathway of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration, freedom
and wholeness.

Frustrated with the bureaucracy of our structures: with the need to simplify, keep accountability (while
enabling/empowering lay ministry); facilitate more local decision making and de-politicise; spend/invest
money where it really matters and can have impact; be good custodians.

Astonished and concerned at the legal complexity of General Synod: The background papers on LLF/PLF,
for example, comprises hundreds of pages of argumentation. Reading though past agendas, there is far
too little time given to church growth, new forms of ministry, young people, and the Great Commission.

Not afraid to speak out and challenge: | pushed at Diocesan Synod and then, once a member, at Bishop’s
Diocesan Council, to have a full review of Transforming Mission- with a report about to be circulated.

lam unconvinced by the Deanery led planning model, despite best efforts of everyone involved, and
believe we have to get better at allocating/using/monitoring resources across our Diocese (and indeed the
whole of the Church of England). | want to help ensure investments deliver purposefully.

Married to Katie. Four adult children, youngest just completed her Diploma at Duchy college.

Church CV

Familiar with operating procedures at Diocesan, Deanery and Parish levels. Active member of Holy Trinity
St Austell, part of the preaching team and prayer ministry team. Experience as Church Warden.

Member of Truro Diocesan Synod for last five years. Member of Bishop’s Diocesan Council since Autumn
2024 and member of the Programme Board for Change and Renewal since December 2025.

Member of Crown Nominations Commission for the appointment of +David and the Advisory Committee
for the appointment of +James.

Professional CV

Vice Chairman of Global Banking at UBS AG. 30 years of experience dealing with major clients in UK and
abroad - large scale projects/ventures.

Very familiar with legal documents and multipartite negotiation. Significant experience in navigating large
organisations and complex decision-making processes.

accountability,church growth,crown nominations,crown nominations commission,diocesan council,great commission,llf,mission,plf,prayer,young people