provinces
But in my present role I serve parishes in 32 of the 42 Dioceses, across both provinces, and so am uniquely placed to bring that wider perspective and shared learning into National Church deliberations.
In recent years, I have become increasingly concerned about certain approaches being taken within the Church, particularly those involving financial leverage through withholding of common fund contributions, and proposals for alternative episcopal oversight or parallel provinces.
It is also true to say that the family and resource commitment required to participate in the synodical life in the Church of England is disproportionally prohibitive compared to other provinces within our Communion that I have known.
My own missional life experience, my current contextual priority and my cross-cultural work across many provinces in our Anglican Communion, means that I often bring different assumptions and perspectives to critical
Alongside my day jobs, amongst other things I have served on the General Synod of two provinces; been Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, DDO, an Officiating Chaplain to the Military, Acting Dean of a Cathedral and a member of a lifeboat crew!
Governance: I have served as a lay person, clergyperson and bishop across the General Synods of two provinces in the Anglican Communion.
I’ve been a churchwarden, Diocesan Synodsman, Diocesan staff member, and parish priest in three Anglican provinces on two continents.
We must surely also, as a synod, condemn those Anglican provinces which support their countries’ legal measures against gay people, imposing harsh prison sentences and even death penalties.
Prior to ordination training I had the great privilege of serving across varied missional contexts in both northern and southern provinces (CEMS participant in Sunderland with a four group benefice of churches and work as pastoral assistant at St Martin-in-the-fields) I whole heartedly affirm the aims of the Save the Parish network because I believe that our greatest strength lies in our historic parochial model of church.