General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Reverend Tristan Mitchell
Curate in the Chase Team, Malvern
Who Am I?
I’m a recently-ordained deacon, serving my curacy
in a team of three churches in Malvern – All Saints
Wyche and Wells, St Andrew’s Poolbrook, and St
Mary’s Pickersleigh. I’m 47, married for 22 years to Jan and we have three
daughters aged 11, 14 and 16. I spent the last twenty years working in the IT
industry during which time I gained an MBA in Leadership and Management
and, following a call to ordained ministry, I trained part-time at Trinity College,
Bristol for a diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission.
I love watching films, whether at the cinema or at home, on my own or with
friends and family. I also enjoy running and run as part of the Malvern Buzzards
running club. I’ve competed in several half and full marathons and recently
completed my longest ever race running 70 miles from Carlisle to Newcastle.
Why am I standing for election to General Synod?
I believe the Church of England is at an important moment. There are issues
and debates which threaten to cause significant division within the church and
the next Synod will shape how we move forward together. I'm standing
because I care passionately about church unity. Jesus prayed that we, his
disciples, would be brought to complete unity so that the world would know
that he had been sent by the Father. Unity and mission are inextricably linked
and my prayer is that we can be a united, hopeful presence in our communities
and across our nation. I’m convinced that the priority for parish churches must
remain outward-focused mission: serving our neighbours and speaking hope
into communities in need of an encounter with Christ’s love.
A particular passion of mine is engaging younger generations. As a father of
three daughters, I want the church to be a place where young people can find
faith that feels honest and authentic, a faith that enables them to flourish. That
doesn't mean chasing cultural trends, but it does mean asking how we
communicate the good news with clarity, finding authentic ways to invite them
into faith, and creating a space where they feel welcome and can belong. Gen
Z and Gen Alpha are not only the church of the future; they’re the church of

today and we need to include them fully in the life of our church, allowing them
to contribute to worship and mission as much as any other member of our
congregations.
What experience do I bring?
Having spent two decades in business, with the last seven years as a Company
Director, I have learned an enormous amount about how to listen carefully and
to make decisions that serve people well. I’m a firm believer that when God
calls people into ordained ministry, he is calling them with all of their previous
experience for a reason. My prayer is that God will use the skills I developed in
business for his glory. I believe those skills can support Synod's work.
What will I do if elected?
If elected, I hope to be able to listen carefully to others, representing our
diocese to the wider church governance, seeking common ground where
possible and working prayerfully towards unity. Whatever our differences, I
want us to be a church that keeps pointing to Jesus, serving communities and
inviting the generations to come to encounter Christ for themselves so that they
too can grow as Kingdom People.

curacy,disciples,good news,mission,prayer,young people