While Inclusive Church are an ecumenical educational charity, being involved in and aware of denominational governance structures and mechanisms are an important aspect to how we will encourage and enable the changes that we pray and hope for of better appreciation of the value of being accessible, inclusive and diverse. Inclusive Church are committed to working with a wide variety of churches of various denominations and traditions, but the Church of England remains dominant in the UK’s religious and public life. As the established, state church, its policies and decisions have substantial influence, both on its members but also on the wider perception and understanding of Christianity in the UK.
General Synod is the national elected body of representatives who discuss, debate and discern the governance of the Church of England. Members stand for election locally, in their diocese and are elected to serve a term of five years, called a quinquennium. General Synod discusses and sets policy and priorities across a number of areas, many of which have a direct impact on the communities and individuals IC is committed to working to include and support. Members of General Synod have a say in how the Church of England engages with wider society. Thus the welcome, inclusion and affirmation people can expect or might experience from and in “The Church” regarding their personal characteristics of disability, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, economic power, neurodiversity, gender identity or mental health. Therefore Inclusive Church invest time and resources in equipping inclusive people to be members of General Synod.
Inclusive Church has actively campaigned for and supported the elections for the last two General Synod terms. You can read more about those campaigns here https://www.inclusive-church.org/synod-campaign/ Due to managing to increase the inclusive voice so significantly in 2021, we have seen substantial shifts in the overall rhetoric and outlook of the CofE. We hope to build on this even more during the 2026 elections.
It is probably fair to say that the vast majority of those who would consider themselves to be members of the Church of England tend to be middle-of-the-road, not likely to rock the boat, faithful, peaceable folk for whom church is often an integral part of their life and community, but not perhaps the source of dynamic emotions or reactions. That is more than ok! General Synod is not an ongoing concern of the average churchgoer, but as the work and decisions of General Synod can impact on local churches it is important that there are plenty of ‘pretty normal’ folk on General Synod. Taking part in 5 full days of church meetings multiple times a year is not everybody’s idea of fun, nor practical and possible for many, but there are some who love it and willingly give their time to do it. General Synod members are more diverse than you might assume, but not as diverse as we would like to be!
Key contributions from inclusive voices over the 2021-26 term have included:
- Tabling motions calling for a full ban on conversion therapy
- Speaking out against institutional racism, sexism and ableism in church structures
- Leading on safeguarding reform and calling for greater transparency and survivor-led processes
- Contributing to the Living in Love and Faith process, advocating for greater inclusion and affirmation of the LGBTQ+ community, not quite the equal marriage many of us really want but…
- Tabling amendments to resist regressive language on gender identity and trans inclusion
- Championing working class vocations
- Sharing personal lived experiences as disabled, LGBTQIA+, neuro-divergent, young, working-class and lay people
Plus much more behind the scenes, writing letters, speaking to the press, supporting each other and sharing updates with our local churches, taking part in working groups and sub-committees… There’s a long list!
The Inclusive Synod Election Campaign for 2026 is now live!
Inclusive Church will be working closely in partnership with Together for the Church of England, with support from a number of other inclusive groups on this. Together has formed since the 2021 campaign, as a direct result of seeing the positive impact being able to organise, coordinate and focus efforts has had.
The elections themselves are not until late summer 2026, but there is plenty to be getting on with already! We would love for you to get involved and add your voice to this campaign. You don’t have to put yourself forward for election to play an important part! Here are some examples…
Nic Tall, national coordinator of Together, has many a complicated spreadsheet tracking the numbers, likely candidates and possible extra seats we can focus on. If you are interested in standing, please contact him. We are trying to ensure we are able to offer a strong set of candidates, but not too many that we end up splitting the inclusive votes!
Read up on what is likely to be on the agenda to be discussed and think who you might know that you think would be an assett in those conversations and topics.
See who is currently representing your diocese. Find out how they have contributed, spoken and voted this quinquennium. (You can see the 2021 inclusive candidates list here, though there have been a number of changes https://www.inclusive-church.org/2021/09/15/synod-campaign-is-go/ link to candidates from 2021 )
Chat to your church community and listen to what matters to them. Are these concerns likely to be voiced and recognised by your current representatives?
Keep an eye on the Together and Inclusive Church social media channels for news and information as the campaign progresses and help spread the word.
You can also donate financially to support the election campaign. Either through IC with allocated giving, or by going to https://justgiving.com/campaign/inclusivesynod .
Speaking personally, for a moment… I was elected to be part of the House of Clergy for Durham Diocese in 2021. I don’t really think of myself as much of a ‘meetings person’ but had felt this increasing call to get involved more in the governance stuff. I was the only ordained woman who stood in Durham, and I was elected quite convincingly. I am much younger than my colleagues, although I have been ordained a similar length of time to some of them. My first General Synod was incredibly overwhelming and intimidating. But being on Synod for the last four years has been an incredible journey. I feel so very humbled and in awe of the phenomenal people I have encountered through it. It isn’t an easy place to be and some debates can be incredibly bruising and painful, it definitely brings out the best and the worst in people! Yet I have also found there friends, mentors, peers. So many faithful, hopeful, wise and deeply committed people helping do their bit to ensure the Church of England is able to be what it should be for people. People and places of love, compassion, care and joy. Passionate about justice, serious about safeguarding and excited by the gospel. Oddly, being on Synod, even when it has been really hard, has helped me value my denomination more and see why I am called to be a Church of England priest, to find my voice and play my part. I hope those who voted for me have felt I’ve used their vote well!
Over this quinquennium I’ve actively contributed on various issues of justice and hopes for equitable inclusion including on Living in Love and Faith, Estates Ministry (see https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/1-march/news/uk/general-synod-digest-life-is-hard-on-estates-money-is-scarce-members-hear) Maternity rights, funding of support for women in ordained ministry (or the lack there of), reducing the use of exclusively patriarchal terminology when talking about God, and probably other things I’ve now forgotten! Being a member of General Synod and growing more committed and inspired to actively seek to challenge and change the CofE for the better, has brought me to becoming National Coordinator of Inclusive Church.
Some of my personal highlights that I commend to your viewing pleasure or enjoyment:
Miranda Threlfall-Holmes on the history of marriage, LLF debate February 2022
Graham Kirk-Spriggs’s memorable speech on clergy pay and pensions and the social injustice of it (Feb 2024)
“It might be all right for those of you who bought your house in 1973 for a packet of crisps and 14 pence… The rest of us are left behind.”
Alex Frost’s Private Member’s Motion on Working Class Vocations, Feb 2025. There were some stonking speeches given during this too, especially from Rachel Mann on the “cringe” .
Kenson Li – both his contributions to the raising of young vocations and listening to young people more proactively, but also his powerful final speech where he highlighted the disingenuity of supporting young vocations in principle but then blocking the proposed reforms to CNC membership.
Kate Massey on the need for structural reforms to the CNC to address the gender imbalance and under-representation of women in leadership. (Feb 2025)
Sarah Mullaly’s final speech when she finished leading on LLF
I’ve started collating a YouTube playlist of particularly great speeches I remember, but am struggling to find some of them, hence the list without links above. But I’ll keep trying. Do let me know if there’s one you found especially helpful and I’ll add it to the list. I’ve now realised there are so very many. I’ll share the link to the playlist soon…
Hopefully though, this has given you a taste and got you interested in supporting the Inclusive Synod Election Campaign 2026. We might not have to got to where we hope for, but we’re not done yet! Watch this space!