General Synod Election Candidates 2026

General Synod Election Address: Revd Dr David Goodhew,
Vicar of St Barnabas, Linthorpe & Ayresome, Middlesbrough,
Diocese of York (Clergy)

I am standing for General Synod for three reasons.
To Support the local church, as the primary focus of Church of the England
Local churches are not the only part of Church of England, but I view them as the central expression
of the church. Sector ministry matters. But, whether long-established, or recent church plants, local
churches are the primary way through which communities are served and people encounter Jesus, are
nurtured in faith and receive the sacraments. If elected, I will encourage Synod to make its primary
focus all that builds up local congregations, whether old or new, high, low or in between.
I have spent most of my ordained ministry in parishes of varying sorts. Currently, I am vicar of St
Barnabas Church in Middlesbrough, where I have been since 2019. I have previously served as vicar
of two parishes in York, as a staff member of Cranmer Hall (the theological college in Durham) and as
a college chaplain at Cambridge. This experience means I have a good understanding of the huge
range of parishes in York diocese, from urban to rural, economically struggling to affluent. I have
written and researched widely on the contemporary church and that work will be of use to the Synod.
To Support parish clergy as key to the health of the Church of England
To have flourishing local churches, we need flourishing parish clergy. Parish ministry is tough. A
secularising culture and a bureaucratising church have placed many burdens on clergy. If elected, I
will seek to be an advocate for better stewardship of the human resources of the church. As someone
with wide experience of promoting ordained vocations, if elected, I will seek a synod which promotes
a much needed increase in vocations to ordained ministry.
To Support a Gracious Orthodoxy
The last few years have been tough for the church partly because of division over sexuality. I stand for
what I see as a gracious orthodoxy. This means, firstly, welcoming everyone equally and
wholeheartedly; secondly, it means I support retaining the existing doctrine of marriage, expressed in
Canon B30. I also believe the LLF process was seriously flawed, however well-intentioned. In future,
I would seek a Synod that acts in a manner less bruising for all sides of the debate.
Nominator 1: Revd Mary Rolls, Rector of the Benefice of Thirsk and Area Dean of Mowbray.
Nominator 2: Revd Canon Sam Taylor, York Diocesan Advisor for Vocation and Director of
Ordinands

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