General Synod Election Candidates 2026

Gerald Fox
Nominated by:
Yvonne Bowling - co-chair of Racial
Justice and Intercultural Ministry Task
group, Mowbray Deanery
Rosemary Stewart Lay Dean,
Howden Deanery
My church experience
Authorised Lay Minister.
PCC Deputy chair & member.
Diocesan Synod Representative.
Deanery Synod Representative.
Former Member of Deanery
Leadership Team - 7 years.
Foundation School Governor at
Liberty Academy (CofE), Hull.
Former Churchwarden -4 years.
Currently employed as the Racial
Justice Education Adviser for the
Diocese of York.
My work experience
My current role as the diocesan
Racial Justice Education Adviser
involves creating and delivering
training as well as promoting and
advocating for racial justice across
the diocese.
I was a teacher for 10 years in a
variety of settings including a SEMH
(Social, Emotional & Mental Health)
school 5-11years), a medical PRU
(Pupil Referral Unit), a CAMHS
(Children, Adolescent Mental Health
Service) unit and a mainstream
secondary school.
I was self-employed for 12 years as
an actor, writer, theatre maker, and
drama facilitator. This often involved
working as part of a creative team
devising and performing work
commissioned by schools, the NHS,
charities and local authorities. These
projects were often aimed at
vulnerable and marginalised groups
in varied contexts.
My name is Gerald Fox, and I worship at St. Helen’s in Welton,
which is part of the Inclusive Church network.
I grew up in the village of Welton, but I now live in Hull with my
husband and our dog, Jasper. My family still live and worship in
Welton and we remain very close. As a family, we support my
remarkable mum as she cares for my father who has Alzheimer’s.

I am passionate about justice and have always been involved
with campaigning for the rights of oppressed and marginalised
communities, particularly asylum seekers and refugees. The Jesus
who I read about in the Bible and seek to follow is deeply
concerned with justice. Advocating for justice is therefore the
principal way I seek to live out my faith.
Being the diocesan Racial Justice Education Adviser is not only
the best job I have ever had but it is also the most challenging. I
love the opportunity it gives me to facilitate open, honest, and
safe discussions about issues of race and racism. I am continually
encouraged and challenged by the wisdom and experiences that
people are willing to share.
I love books and am always reading. I read theology, philosophy,
and Biblical studies. Much of what I read and learn informs my
parish ministry and my work as the Racial Justice Education
Adviser. I especially value books that will challenge and expand
how I think about the Bible, my faith, and how I live that out in
the world.
I would have liked to be able to explore a vocation to ordained
ministry but as a married gay man, that isn’t an option open to
me; even if were now possible, at fifty-nine, it would be probably
too late. I would like to think that if I were elected, I could play a
part in ensuring that is an option for those who come after me.
About me

My Priorities
Safeguarding
In its recent audit of safeguarding in the church, INEQE acknowledged that while there has been progress,
there was a danger of ‘institutional drift’. The newly elected General Synod should respond to this latest audit
as a priority. As a member of General Synod, I would work to:
Continue to build on the good work identified by INEQE by ensuring that the momentum of change is
maintained;
Ensure that where there is resistance to change it is met with robust challenge;
See that the recommendations of the 2025 safeguarding audit are implemented.
Diversity and Inclusion
One of the priorities of Living Christ’s Story is reaching people we currently don’t. I think we need to be asking
why we don’t we reach those people. It may be because they don’t think they will be welcome, and by
welcome, I mean an invitation to full participation and representation in our churches, helping them to
develop a genuine sense of belonging. Christ’s table is open to all. The vision of God’s Kingdom is one where
every nation, tribe, people and language come together in praise and worship (Rev 7.9). I am committed to
work for a Church that is inclusive of everyone, at all levels and roles within the church, whatever their status
of disability, economic power, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity,
or sexuality.
The Role of the Laity
I have been fortunate enough to be in a parish where successive incumbents have encouraged the different
gifts of the laity. I have also benefitted from excellent theological training from the diocesan Lifelong Learning
Team. With increasing workloads for our stipendiary clergy and the rapid pace of change in society, I believe
that growing healthy churches will depend on a laity who are well resourced, well trained, and well supported;
this would be one of my priorities as a member of General Synod.
Why Vote for me?
I would bring the experience and knowledge I have gained from listening to all kinds of people in varied
contexts across our diocese. I have a passionate commitment to inclusion and am not afraid to speak about
difficult things. Thank you for reading my election statement and I hope you will give me your first preference
vote. If you want to speak further, please don’t hesitate to contact me: [email protected].

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