General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Revd Sarah Yetman – Candidate for House of Clergy
e. [email protected]
t. 01202 241507
Please do contact me if you have any questions

Nominated by: Revd Canon Jim Findlay and Revd Canon
Kathy Hicken

For the first time, I’m offering myself to serve on General
Synod. I am deeply committed to the flourishing and thriving
of the Church of England as, together in unity, we share the
hope we have in Jesus Christ in the places where we spend
our daily lives. I long to see the church grow numerically and
in depth across every generation, as well as in impact on the world around us. I hope to be a
part of helping to resource this, as well as enabling the care of clergy as they change and
adapt to ministry and mission in our contemporary world.

About me:

I grew up singing in the choir at my local village church along with my brother and a few
other children. Although we did a great job of looking the part, we spent a lot of the service
making paper aeroplanes and so the mother of some of the other children also joined the
choir to keep an eye on us! I had some Christian friends in the Youth Orchestra and at
school who encouraged me along to the Christian Union for an Alpha course which is
where I made a decision to follow Jesus for myself.

At university I studied French and Russian and spent most of my year abroad working in St
Petersburg with Agape Student Ministry, sharing the gospel with an incredible bunch of
students there. While I was there, I felt a sense of God calling me into Anglican ministry and
started to explore my vocation upon my return. After graduating, I worked with the students
at Christ Church in Winchester, before heading to training at Ridley Hall. In 2013 I was
ordained and served my curacy at St Peter’s Church in Yateley, before moving to
Bournemouth to be vicar at St John’s and St Mike’s in 2017.

I live 5 minutes from the beach with Jasmine, an enthusiastic yellow labrador who enjoys
her food (and, too frequently, other people’s). We’re often found running and swimming
locally and further afield, getting lost out on the trails, and having adventures in a
campervan. I also love spending time with friends and being creative. Recently I’ve joined
Poole Runners and I’m aiming for a sub 50-minute 10k!

I may be somewhat biased, but I find the churches where I serve to be amazing places. St
Mike’s has grown significantly from the verge of closure with a relaunch in 2021. We now
have a growing church family that represents the diversity of our parish community (our
school has around 55 different languages spoken) with over 15 nationalities represented in
our congregation. We’re celebrating new leaders and vocations as well as running a local
foodbank hub, helping rough sleepers through an amazing project called Half Time and
celebrating 150 years of the church building. 13 people were confirmed in January. St
John’s has a faithful congregation who care deeply for the marginalised and isolated in our
community and bake amazing cakes! Alongside my work as a vicar, I also serve as a trustee

for Faithworks, a local social action charity working to help people in crisis across urban
Dorset.

The Church of England:

I love the Church of England for many reasons. Among them lie the depth of historical
identity, story, and tradition we stand in in our worship and practice, the beauty and
splendour of our worship and our buildings that comes alongside the deep compassion for
our community and those in need that so many churches show. I love the breadth and
depth of our teaching and styles of worship, so that there is something for everyone to
participate in. The parish system is a gift to enable us to know our mission field and have a
ministry that is deeply embedded in our local context as well as ensuring that everyone
here in England has a church they can call their own. I love that our liturgy firmly and clearly
points to Jesus.

Since ordination, I’ve had the privilege of serving in some wider church roles, including for a
time as a Vocations Advisor and an Assistant DDO. I’ve been on Diocesan Synod since
2018, helping with the Common Mission fund reflection group in 2019. I was part of a
project group for Growing Younger which explored transitions between years 6 and 7 for
church children and youth ministry. In 2024 I was elected to Bishop’s Council.

If I’m elected to General Synod…

I believe that I have something to offer on behalf of the clergy of Winchester Diocese as
synod debates important issues such as how we spend our money and where our priorities
lie.

In recent years I’ve noticed the increasing pressure and responsibility clergy face. We may
have the best job in the world, but the sacrifice and cost of ministry in many places is
becoming a challenge. I’d love to be a part of helping clergy to flourish so that we can
minister from a place of fullness and joy, rather than the stress and exhaustion that I hear
about so frequently from colleagues. I’m concerned that the demands on clergy are not
matched by equal levels of support.

I’m committed to unity across the church, inside and outside of the Church of England. I’m
not afraid to ask questions and to gently challenge with kindness and care. I’d be keen to
ensure I represent all the clergy of Winchester diocese with compassion and
understanding. While I uphold an orthodox view on God’s design for human sexuality,
gender and marriage and believe that Scripture is clear that we are all loved and created in
His image, I feel strongly that our churches should be places where all are loved and
equally cherished and given the opportunity to come to know God’s life-giving love for them
through Jesus.

It’s easy to look around and see issues with finances, logistics and practicalities within the
church. It reminds us of the treasure we have in jars of clay. But we are people of hope,
remembering that the church is the beautiful bride of Christ, against which even the gates
of Hades will not stand against. I would be honoured to serve Jesus and His church through
General Synod.

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