abuse,archbishops,finances,pcc,tradition,traditional

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Please consider electing me as a member of the
House of Laity in the new General Synod.
My wife Mary and I are worshipping members at
All Saints in Northallerton; I have also been a
PCC member, Church Warden and Treasurer.
Though some years ago now, I’m particularly
proud of my work in helping to turn round the
ﬁnances of our struggling Parish when our family
lived in another Diocese.
Some of my approach to the Church has been inspired by the late Bishop John Robinson, famous
(or infamous to some!) author of !"#$%&'&"'(") and other books. In +$',$-'.$/"012&3"#, Robinson
suggests that many people look to the Church ﬁrstly as a 40253"6%'#$34+7"60 before they hopefully
look for and come to &+$'(0253"6%'8"0). I could put it no better – likewise, his deﬁnition of God as
&+$'40"6#)'"/'"60'7$3#4.
I love the traditions of our Church, though am equally comfortable in traditional and modern
services. But I am increasingly concerned that tradition merely for tradition’s sake is holding our
beloved Church back in 2026. If elected, I would strive to help make the Church more relevant to
today’s needs – but without in any way diluting its core messages. Likewise, I would push for our
Church to be placed on more sustainable ﬁnancial and administrative footings. I’d argue against
making /$$9:4"")'4$%&60$%'-3&+'"&+$0';$";9$<%'1"#$=, whether donated, inherited or bequeathed.
I admire both our Archbishops and deplore the treatment they sometimes receive at the hands of the
media. Honest disagreements are healthy but must never stray into personal abuse or even dislike.
Who am I? I studied Electrical Engineering at what was then Kingston Polytechnic and English at
Birkbeck College in the University of London – an unusual combination, but a good one for a
technical writer which is what I’ve been for most of working life. I also have an MBA from the
London Business School. Mary and I fostered for 20 years starting when our own children were still
at school. For obvious reasons, we could then usually only “preach the Gospels in silence”. I still
train foster carers and support those facing serious allegations, mainly on Tyneside and Teesside. I’m
also a Board member of the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements in North Yorkshire.
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