Candidate Statements

A WARM AND INCLUSIVE CHURCH A genuine welcome for everyone, committed to equality at all levels and roles, supporting LGBTQ+ Christians, championing women and making our churches accessible.

A SAFE AND TRUSTED CHURCH Putting safeguarding first, learning from the past and building a culture of trust, compassion and accountability.

I believe passionately in a Church of England that is rooted in its parishes, at the heart of our communities and confident in its mission: sharing the love of Christ, serving others and being a beacon of hope in an increasingly uncertain and turbulent world.

My experience in local government, education, the emergency services, community organisations and my professional work supporting people affected by hate crime has taught me the importance of listening, building bridges between people and delivering practical change.

I became a passionate advocate for our environment and a keen gardener, and today one of the ways I serve St Luke's is by helping to look after our church garden.

Professionally, I spent five years working in the emergency services and now work to tackle hate crime across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

A WARM AND INCLUSIVE CHURCH A genuine welcome for everyone, committed to equality at all levels and roles, supporting LGBTQ+ Christians, championing women and making our churches accessible.

I will champion a Church that is safe and worthy of people's trust; a Church that bridges generations; a Church that reaches beyond its walls; a Church where equality, dignity and opportunity are extended to everyone; and a Church that cares for God's creation.

A SAFE AND TRUSTED CHURCH Putting safeguarding first, learning from the past and building a culture of trust, compassion and accountability.

A CHURCH FOR EVERY GENERATION Giving young people a stronger voice and building an intergenerational Church.

I want to bring my lived experience, professional skills and experience of parish life to the debates and decisions of General Synod. “I will advocate for a Church that is open and welcoming to all, where every person knows that they belong.” A CHURCH WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS I am grateful that the Church of England already has lay and clergy voices willing to speak up on LGBT issues.

These roles have deepened my connection to St Paul’s and strengthened my belief that practical service is an important part of Christian discipleship.

I am proud to play an active part in parish life through the serving team, sound team and PCC.

At St Paul’s, I am a member of the serving team, sound team and PCC, contributing both to worship and to the decision- making life of the parish.

My faith journey began in the Roman Catholic Church.

Today, too many people of Global Majority Heritage, women, LGBTQIA+ people, poor people, differently abled people and others outside of the Church do not feel fully welcome.

Evangelism + Mission + Inclusion + Justice + Participation

Evangelism + Mission + Inclusion + Justice + Participation

Church: focussed on the local church family and parish community outreach and pastoral care

4. deeply committed to both traditional patterns of worship and to new ways of sharing the Gospel with

5. passionate about outward-facing mission and evangelism in our community

5. passionate about outward-facing mission and evangelism in our community

evangelism, digital communications and social media, climate crisis, Crown Nomination Commissions, transparency, working class ministry, support for the Commissioners’ Fund for Healing, Justice and Repair (Project Spire)

issues of evangelism and justice in the Church for all people, across traditions

mission and ministry, but needs to be more representative of the whole Body of Christ, and less bound by process and standing orders..!

Evangelism: God’s perfect love is something I want to share.

share the Christian faith and invite people in: personal friendships, forming missionary disciples, a culture of invitation, flyers, posters, social media, street evangelism, Ashes to Go, and more.

share the Christian faith and invite people in: personal friendships, forming missionary disciples, a culture of invitation, flyers, posters, social media, street evangelism, Ashes to Go, and more.

To me, the Church exists by evangelism as a fire exists by burning: the biggest difference a parish church can make is helping people to know Jesus Christ and to see the world through a Christian lens.

I believe the Church of England needs to be more confident in our evangelism, and more varied, without a one-size-fits-all approach: attractive and accessible to as many people as possible!

Mission: At St Peter’s we see our worship on Sundays as the place where we’re gathered, nourished,

challenged and blessed to be sent out in mission and service as individuals and as a community.

This inspires me to work for that day when every person who is baptized can be treated equally in Christ’s Church and fulfil their individual vocation to engage in the life and evangelistic and missionary work of the Church as they are called by God.

I’m ambitious for the Church of England to grow in faith and numbers, in mission and service, to the glory of God and for the good of our nation and world!

If you vote for me, I will work hard with others to keep Evangelism, Mission, Inclusion, Justice & Participation on the Church’s agenda!

If you vote for me, I will work hard with others to keep Evangelism, Mission, Inclusion, Justice & Participation on the Church’s agenda!

2. in the relaxed modern catholic tradition: love hymns and songs by Graham Kendrick, Matt Maher, Gregory

I am always working for diversity of church tradition and people’s protected characteristics, and it has been an opportunity to work well with people of very different theological convictions for the good of the Church

We have taken part in the Robes Project Winter Night Shelter, run small and large-scale events for the flourishing of our community, operate an informal food and clothing bank, and work with our school, our local councillors and other local groups and charities to serve the many needs of our community through support, prayer and advocacy.

Evangelism + Mission + Inclusion + Justice + Participation

Hatcham, Woolwich Area Racial Justice Chair

Hatcham, Woolwich Area Racial Justice Chair

Justice (Windrush Legacy and Commitment, Feb 2018 – passed unanimously by Synod and covered positively in the national press) – some have credited this debate with the steps which led to Lament to Action and the establishment of the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Commission, and then the new Racial

Justice (Windrush Legacy and Commitment, Feb 2018 – passed unanimously by Synod and covered positively in the national press) – some have credited this debate with the steps which led to Lament to Action and the establishment of the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Commission, and then the new Racial

Justice Unit

4. co-founded and co-facilitated both the General Synod Anti-Racism Network and Global

to plan for effective contributions to Synod debates, and to keep the work of Racial Justice on the agenda and well-supported

to plan for effective contributions to Synod debates, and to keep the work of Racial Justice on the agenda and well-supported

5. spoken on a wide range of issues affecting our Church and world including: poverty, racial justice,

5. spoken on a wide range of issues affecting our Church and world including: poverty, racial justice,

5. spoken on a wide range of issues affecting our Church and world including: poverty, racial justice,

evangelism, digital communications and social media, climate crisis, Crown Nomination Commissions, transparency, working class ministry, support for the Commissioners’ Fund for Healing, Justice and Repair (Project Spire)

evangelism, digital communications and social media, climate crisis, Crown Nomination Commissions, transparency, working class ministry, support for the Commissioners’ Fund for Healing, Justice and Repair (Project Spire)

evangelism, digital communications and social media, climate crisis, Crown Nomination Commissions, transparency, working class ministry, support for the Commissioners’ Fund for Healing, Justice and Repair (Project Spire)

issues of evangelism and justice in the Church for all people, across traditions

At this time in particular, I believe our nation needs a confident Christian voice speaking boldly and prophetically for justice for everyone, and especially people who are poor, disadvantaged, and discriminated against.

Inclusion, Justice & Participation: I’m passionately driven to work for a more inclusive church where

This is a question of God’s justice, a kingdom issue, about fullness of life for everyone in the Body of Christ!

Today, too many people of Global Majority Heritage, women, LGBTQIA+ people, poor people, differently abled people and others outside of the Church do not feel fully welcome.

Today, too many people of Global Majority Heritage, women, LGBTQIA+ people, poor people, differently abled people and others outside of the Church do not feel fully welcome.

If you vote for me, I will work hard with others to keep Evangelism, Mission, Inclusion, Justice & Participation on the Church’s agenda!

Justice (Windrush Legacy and Commitment, Feb 2018 – passed unanimously by Synod and covered positively in the national press) – some have credited this debate with the steps which led to Lament to Action and the establishment of the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Commission, and then the new Racial

General Synod which plays a significant role in Synod and wider Church appointments: from chairs and members of committees, to delegates to ecumenical gatherings, to members of the Faith and Order and Liturgical Commissions, for example.

evangelism, digital communications and social media, climate crisis, Crown Nomination Commissions, transparency, working class ministry, support for the Commissioners’ Fund for Healing, Justice and Repair (Project Spire)

General Synod which plays a significant role in Synod and wider Church appointments: from chairs and members of committees, to delegates to ecumenical gatherings, to members of the Faith and Order and Liturgical Commissions, for example.

I also co-lead a women’s prayer group and meet regularly with the clergy and my co- LLM’s.

Human Identity and Sexuality: I am one of many who wish to uphold the Church’s received teaching, while listening carefully and treating those who disagree with seriousness and respect.

I would carefully scrutinise the legislation before the Synod and seek to ensure that, in matters of safeguarding, finance and national structures, the local parish church is supported and enabled in its ministry.

The Church is at its best when it is rooted in the gospel, generous in service, and engaged with the everyday lives of the communities it serves.

Trustee of Bible by the Beach and Chair of Trustees for the Sussex Gospel Partnership.

Mission trips to several countries, including supporting the training of pastors and lay people in Kenya and Uganda on multiple occasions.

Discipleship of Children and Young People: It has been a privilege to serve in congregations with growing children’s and youth ministries.

I would support Synod initiatives that strengthen the discipleship of children and young people.

Evangelism: In a society searching for hope, meaning and belonging, I believe Jesus is “the Light of the World”, who came to “seek and save the lost”.

I would encourage and support effective evangelistic initiatives, so that more people may come to know Jesus Christ and discover the hope and life he offers.

General Synod plays a significant role in shaping the life, witness and governance of the Church of England.

I would carefully scrutinise the legislation before the Synod and seek to ensure that, in matters of safeguarding, finance and national structures, the local parish church is supported and enabled in its ministry.

Worked as a church-based youth worker for four years, during which I explored the possibility of ordained ministry.

Worked as a church-based youth worker for four years, during which I explored the possibility of ordained ministry.

Discipleship of Children and Young People: It has been a privilege to serve in congregations with growing children’s and youth ministries.

Discipleship of Children and Young People: It has been a privilege to serve in congregations with growing children’s and youth ministries.

I would support Synod initiatives that strengthen the discipleship of children and young people.

How I have voted in that time is a matter of public record, particularly in favour of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) legislation.

How I have voted in that time is a matter of public record, particularly in favour of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) legislation.

gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability and neuro diversity are equal in the eyes of God.

As an example to ensure that the prayers and agreed service of LLF can be used in stand alone services to value all relationships.

February 2025, to make Safeguarding totally independent of the National Church.

represent at Synod Meetings, as I have done in the last 18 months with national and local Safeguarding and Burial Fees.

subjects from Clergy Pension provision to relations with the Methodists, energy conservation and Food Bank provision to name but 4.

gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability and neuro diversity are equal in the eyes of God.

Continue to push for the Church to move to Net Zero as soon as possible, but to ensure that

subjects from Clergy Pension provision to relations with the Methodists, energy conservation and Food Bank provision to name but 4.

After considerable feedback from Deanery Synod members and PCC’s, spoke in the debate in

To continue to consult with Church Members and Deaneries to inform the positions I should

Am currently Lay Chair of Evesham and Pershore Deanery and have been a member of Inkberrow PCC since 1997.

To represent and breathe new life into our Covenant and relations with the Methodist Church.

As such a big and complicated institution, the Church of England can be making and encouraging all sorts of changes towards better safeguarding creation so that we can meet our own targets and so that we can continue enjoying what God has given us for generations to come.

Whether it is safeguarding, creation care, clergy wellbeing, or building management, everything we do needs to be rooted in love for God and for one another.

It is very encouraging that in recent years Synod has been thinking about some of these issues - discussing race, class, neurodiversity and other factors which have traditionally been barriers to involvement in the church.

Whether it is safeguarding, creation care, clergy wellbeing, or building management, everything we do needs to be rooted in love for God and for one another.