accountability,church mission society,deaneries,diocesan board,finance,mission,safeguarding,survivors,theological education,victims,vocations,witness

The Revd Dr Jonathan Rowe
Rector, St Matthew’s & St Paul’s, Winchester

Proposed: Revd Canon Angie Smith (Chair, House of Clergy)
Seconded: Revd Canon Liz Stuart (Area Dean, Winchester)

| write to encourage you to vote in the elections to General Synod and to ask you to
elect me as one of your representatives. The elections are held using a Single
Transferable Vote, so please place me high on your list — first place would be ideal.

Why am | standing?

o General Synod is important. It takes decisions affecting the whole Church,
decisions that get noticed: what happens at Synod affects mission and ministry.

o To speak on your behalf. My experiences of parish ministry, cross-cultural mission
and theological education enable me to represent you thoughtfully and well.

o I care about the Church of England. We need to fulfil our calling to be God’s holy
people. This means focussing upon Jesus and facing the challenges before us.

What are the challenges we face? What will | support?

o The Church of England’s vision is to be Jesus
Christ centred, becoming ‘simpler, humbler, ! commend Jonathan to you. His

bolder’. | will support biblically and character, profound sense of calling and
authentic Christian leadership will be an

theologically cogent proposals to turn this immense blessing to General Synod.

Revd lan Dighé
(Chair, Diocesan Board of Finance)

vision into reality.

o Simpler. During the last General Synod,

work began to simplify national structures.
However, parliament deemed the proposals ‘not expedient’ — they were rejected.
| will support improved efficiency and accountability of the National Church
Institutions. But / will resist moves to centralise power away from parishes and
our diocese — the principle of subsidiarity.

o Humbler. Our call is to love God and our neighbours. We fail when we forget that
this is the way of Jesus. Good safeguarding — as one way of loving our neighbours
— will be a continued focus for the next Synod. | will support excellent

safeguarding provision throughout the church, including moves to ensure
appropriate independent scrutiny of safeguarding practice and the care of victims
and survivors. | will also support partnerships with other churches and groups
which promote the Common Good.

o Bolder. It continues to amaze me that God invites us to join in his mission for his

| thoroughly endorse Jonathan’s calling to put world. ! will support proposals that

himself forward for General Synod. He will be an bolster parishes’ witness to God’s

excellent ambassador for all of us — for our grace in Jesus Christ across all five

parishes and chaplaincies, our Deaneries and ‘marks of mission’. And | want our
Diocese. | know Jonathan will discern wisely, church to model God’s open-armed
enter discussions thoughtfully and vote carefully.

Revd Canon Andrew Micklefield
(General Synod Representative 2015-26)

welcome of all people, so support
offering permission to use Prayers of
Love & Faith in standalone services.

What can | offer?

o Adetermination to listen to you as your General Synod representative — | am not
standing as a member of any particular interest group.

o Astrong desire to reflect biblically and theologically about issues brought to
Synod, so we drink deeply from the well of God’s grace and truth.

o Knowledge of the Diocese of Winchester and the wonderful variety of churches
and chaplaincies within it — I’m a member of Diocesan Synod.

o Good understanding of the complexity of church life — | chaired the Winchester
School of Mission review and am the clergy representative for the Diocesan Team
review.

o Experience of the national church’s work around vocations and education.

o Acommitment to speaking up for local churches and parishes.

Who am I?

A follower of Jesus Christ; a pilgrim. The joys and privileges of parish ministry drew
me to St Matthew’s & St Paul’s, where | have been Rector since 2022. | was
previously Director of Ministry in the Diocese of Truro and Joint-Principal of the
South West Ministry Training Course. Before that, | served for 12 years with the
Church Mission Society. | have a BSc in Economics and a BA, MA and PhD,
respectively, in Bible, mission and Old Testament Ethics, fields in which | have
published and that | love teaching. And | enjoy Christian ministry!

Please vote, placing me first in your list of preferences.

Feel free to get in touch: [email protected] / 07754 616611

a St Matthew's & St Paul's
Q 9 Pilgrims on a journey