General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Christine
Burgess laity

Proposed; Judith Harrison,
lay chair Appleby Deanery
Seconded; Peter Clarke,
lay secretary Kendal deanery

If re-elected to General Synod, I would;
• Make every effort to understand the
issues being debated
• Be open to the views and opinions of others
• Be present for the whole agenda and not just matters of popular interest

About me
The reason that I’m standing is that I want the Church to be more inclusive. Before
retirement I taught English in a secondary school. In my church I help to run a
parent and toddler group, I coordinate a Life Group, and I do some wardening for
our Sunday services. I have lived in Cumbria for most of my life, and although my
church is in a town, I am aware of the challenges and joys of rural churches, and all
that they offer in terms of preaching the Gospel and being a loving community.

Children and families
It is a privilege to serve our children in church, and I am very grateful for the
Children and Families’ Leaders and Coordinators in our diocese. As a national
church, we need to do all that we can to support and encourage work with children,
families and young people.

Inclusion
I am committed to equality for everyone, at all levels and roles within the church,
regardless of economic power, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning
disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. I support the use of the
Prayers of Love and Faith for those parishes that opt in, and I support the right of
those parishes who choose not to opt in, to not use them. I’m aware that some of
us will disagree with each about this, and I ask that we disagree well.

Climate Change and Care of God’s Creation
This is an urgent issue for us as individuals and for our churches. I embrace the
Church of England’s position;
•
Worship God – we honour God when we care for creation.
•
Work for justice – climate change hits hardest the poorest countries and
poorest people of the world.
•
Show love for neighbours, locally and globally.

Racial Justice
We live in a society where, when there is an atmosphere of ignorance and
prejudice, racism thrives. We need to:
• Call it out in our church locally and nationally.
• Recognise that Christianity is a World Religion.
• Be curious about monuments in our churches linked to enslaved people; do the
research, lament and inform.
• Learn from our Global Majority Heritage siblings, and be enriched by their
theology and application of the Bible.
• Nationally, help those church communities that still suffer from the terrible legacy
of enslavement.

Safeguarding
Having been on General Synod for the past five years, this has been one of the
most difficult and distressing subjects that we have debated. What is important now
is that the Church;
• Listens to victims and survivors
• Removes those who are resisting the necessary reforms
• Ensures that the safeguarding officer in each diocese is given the power to act
independently where appropriate
This will be an important and necessary part of the next five years.

Comments from nominators;

Judith Harrison;
“I am very happy to nominate Christine
Burgess as a candidate for election to
General Synod, where she will continue
to provide a valuable contribution, as I
know her Christian faith will guide her
in her strong desire to grow the Church,
particularly by promoting inclusivity and
encouraging our mission to young
people.”

Peter Clarke;
“I am delighted to second Christine
Burgess s nomination as a candidate in
this election. She has demonstrated a
deep commitment to growing an
inclusive and engaged Church and for
caring for God s creation. In her first
term, as well as prayerfully fulfilling her
role at the General Synod, she kept
members of the Kendal Deanery Synod
informed through her thoughtful and
sensitive reflections after each
session.”

Please give me your first-choice vote.

climate change,disability,equality,gender identity,global majority,global majority heritage,gospel,inclusive,justice,mental health,mission,neurodiversity,prayers of love and faith,racial justice,racism,retirement,safeguarding,safeguarding officer,sexuality,survivors,victims,young people