stewardship
Through caring for creation And this call of love extends beyond loving and caring for one another to loving and caring for the world of which we have been given stewardship.
If elected, I would want to speak and vote for: encouraging church growth through parish evangelism and mission; growth in lay discipleship including an emphasis on stewardship; sustainable support for parish ministry including simplification of governance and safeguarding and practical help with HR and policies and procedures; good theological formation for clergy and lay ministers; and would pay keen attention to matters of morale, retention and ongoing clergy training.
Proven Governance and Stewardship
STEWARDSHIP
The Church faces significant missional, theological and organisational challenges: declining participation and engagement with younger generations; safeguarding and rebuilding trust: racial justice; changing patterns of ministry and stewardship of resources.
I think we must also all be willing to adapt and accept some level of sacrifice in our stewardship of God’s wonderful creation, as well as persuading our Government and Industry to change things on a larger scale.
The climate crisis, family breakdowns, mental health all remain areas where faith can effect positive change – enabling a culture of stewardship in these and finances is vital.
My name is Mike Hodson, and I am standing for election to the General Synod, House of Laity, because I believe deeply in the future of the Church of England — a future which must be rooted in strong parish life, confident Christian values, and diligent stewardship of our shared and limited resources.
Stewardship with courage.
Churchwarden for 10 years of St Botolph’s Aldersgate, a mission- focussed church in the City Deanery; I previously served 10 years as treasurer: I know how much our churches depend on disciplined fundraising and strong financial stewardship.
As a former church treasurer, I know from personal experience how much depends on disciplined fundraising, creative stewardship, and a realistic understanding of what parishes can bear.
I work alongside churches of many traditions and sizes, helping them develop cultures of generosity, stewardship and sustainable ministry.
Given the climatic catastrophes of recent years and in particular this summer, Environmental Stewardship and Hope for All Creation should be major topics for us all and is something that I take a keen interest in.
Good governance means open accountability, vigorous safeguarding and responsible stewardship.
Serving on the ground as a Churchwarden has given me a clear view of the joys and strains of sustaining worship, mission and stewardship of our ancient church buildings.
Unless the church leads in decarbonisation and green stewardship there will be no parishes to care for.
Third, financial stewardship and investment in parish ministry.
Faithful Governance & Financial Stewardship: Bringing rigorous, transparent oversight to national
I am standing to champion a welcoming, inclusive Church of England; properly resourced parishes which serve their communities; excellent, consistent safeguarding; and strong governance with sound financial stewardship.
Good governance as faithful stewardship
I will speak and vote for change, while recognising the need for patience across deep divisions. ‘I warmly commend Catherine for election to General Synod: a person of deep diocesan knowledge, parish experience and integrity, who listens carefully, understands the pressures of ministry in rural, coastal and lower-income communities, and will bring to Synod a strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, sustainable ministry and wise stewardship, engaging difficult questions with conviction and grace’.
What I Bring: Faith, Leadership, Stewardship and Global Perspective By way of background, when I lived in New York for a decade, I worshipped at St. Thomas Church in Manhattan, where I was also confirmed.
Rigorous Financial Stewardship & Governance:
Ethical and responsible stewardship
Ensuring transparency, accountability, and wise stewardship at every level of Church life, through careful scrutiny and effective legislation.
If elected to the General Synod, I will continue to practice faithful discipleship for effective mission, considered stewardship of creation with constructive engagement within our diverse church traditions.
A financially sustainable Church will ultimately depend on healthy, growing local churches, alongside wise stewardship of the considerable resources held nationally.
Stewardship of Resource: There needs to be a greater conversation about how resources are used within the Church of England.
Wise stewardship: I care about the transparent and sustainable use of money, buildings and national resources, so that clergy, lay leaders and local churches are well supported and trained for future ministry.
▪ Faithful in witness. ▪ Responsible in stewardship. ▪ Effective in action.
as Trustee and Board Member for several charitable and not-for-profit organisations, supporting good stewardship and community development.
Good stewardship: Supporting responsible governance and financial decisions that resource parish ministry sustainably.
I went to church schools between the ages of 9 and 17 and there I learned some valuable lessons about social accountability and good stewardship, which were woven throughout the curriculum, not just in religious education.
Stewardship and dovernance
In all of this, it’s my firmly held belief that sound financial stewardship is essential if we are to build a sustainable future for the church.
On stewardship: I will work for wise stewardship of our resources so that local churches are better equipped for worship, mission, and service.
e Committed to good stewardship and governance, ensuring that the resources
charity governance and financial stewardship.
• Good stewardship of resources
We must continue to invest wisely in parish ministry, mission and evangelism while exercising careful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us.
These discussions deserve thoughtful scrutiny, respectful debate and a clear focus on faithful stewardship.
Environmental stewardship will also remain high on the agenda as the Church continues its commitment towards Net Zero
Many of you will know my wife Ann works for the Diocesan Stewardship Team, and (although she is always careful to keep confidence around individual churches) I have seen anew through her the financial struggles many churches are facing.
The discussion around finances and how they are distributed is also a key area of interest, helping to advocate for good stewardship and the delivery of resources where most required, for our ministry across the nation to be supported.
I bring twenty years’ professional experience of stewardship, parish development, governance, fundraising and organisational leadership in the church and its institutions; but my heart remains firmly with the local church.
My work life has included Stewardship Adviser in our Diocese of Leeds, membership of the National Stewardship Committee, leading York’s Generous Giving Team, and parish development work through HeartEdge and Holy Nativity, Halifax.
Creation Care: I’m passionate about environmental stewardship as a keen beekeeper and gardener.
Am particularly interested in the theology of stewardship.
We need prayerful vision accompanied by sound governance, careful stewardship and practical action.
Translate Christian stewardship into practical action.
This includes funding for the stewardship of creation & conservation of our heritage.
Frontline Stewardship: Directing resources
I sit on the Stewardship and Missional Activities committees.
Alongside this, my experience of running a data protection business and serving on the Diocesan IT and Data Protection Board, and the Investment Committee has given me practical experience of governance, digital responsibility, risk management, and financial stewardship all of which are important aspects of Synod’s work.
Wise Stewardship: I am an advocate for transparent, prayerful allocation of resources to enable effective ministry through the country.
And uphold stewardship of creation as part of our responsibility to the world entrusted to us.
I have also supported ethical investment policies and responsible stewardship of the earth’s resources.
Despite much city-dwelling, I am part of a Sussex farming family, and those who live in the more isolated patches of England, and their churches, will not be forgotten; Stewardship of Church of England finances.
If elected, I will seek to be an advocate for better stewardship of the human resources of the church.
For me, that stewardship includes taking seriously the Church’s ability to proclaim the gospel, form disciples and serve the communities in which we are placed.
I will press for clear information, responsible stewardship, proper accountability and debate shaped by evidence and lived experience rather than factional point-scoring.
3- Stewardship Generosity Report 2026
This teaches me the importance of careful stewardship of resources.
My background as a former MAT CEO and school inspector provides the skills to ask the right governance questions and promote good stewardship of resources whilst leaving employed leaders to take operational decisions.
Sustainability and Responsible Stewardship: Having served in parish life, Deanery
Stewardship: The Church of England needs to set an example of good stewardship of God’s good creation, and care for the marginalized and disadvantaged.
Better stewardship of these resources means more vicars and youth workers, (1714 more5 churchwide and 54 more for Winchester6) so more parishioners are reached and the dominant narrative between diocese and parish is mission not money.
Stewardship also involves property assets; the Church holds in trust a great heritage of buildings which we must cherish and protect.
and lay leaders, promote wise stewardship of resources, and enable parishes to prioritise worship, discipleship, pastoral care, and mission.
I have a keen interest in many areas of Synod's work, mission, safeguarding, governance, and the responsible stewardship of resources, but my particular passion is ensuring every community, especially our rural ones, benefits from visible, well-supported parish ministry.
Governance, Finance and Resourcing – recognising that the church’s stewardship of its resources, including its money and its people, are fundamental to the thriving of the church.
Since 2010, I have worked hard to be a strong, independent voice for parish ministry, church growth, responsible stewardship and support for the most vulnerable.
Through careful stewardship, we transformed its future.
If you value strong parish ministry, responsible stewardship, accountability and genuinely independent representation, please give me your 1st preference vote and continue to hold me and our Church in your prayers.
My work with A Rocha and Eco Church has highlighted how much of a difference we can make through grassroots efforts to engage young people, to address the growing climate crisis that affects our Suffolk farms, and to foster good stewardship of our churchyards.
Church Finances and Stewardship: The Church Commissioners have a duty to ensure resources reach the parishes where assistance is most required.
• Resources: And most responses recognised a real need to grapple with stewardship and
This topic has many strands and I do wish to explore and better understand the role of the National Church and its stewardship of national heritage buildings, many of which are in rural parishes.
I am committed to safeguarding, to the flourishing of clergy and lay people alike, to the faithful stewardship of resources, and to ensuring that every community is served by a visible and welcoming Christian presence.
Encouraging transparency and good stewardship in diocesan life For me, holding on to the Church’s core beliefs is not about looking backwards—it is about building a faithful future for the next generation.
Our churches need to be encouraged and helped to take all measures possible to work for the care and stewardship of creation.
GENERAL act of stewardship; the altar and the dining table are intimately linked.
While centralised structures that promote effective managerial coordination and financial stewardship are important, they are not of its essence.
We need strategic thinking, sound stewardship, clear accountability and the courage to make decisions — while remembering that behind every policy are real people and real communities.
I am standing for General Synod because I want to help the Church of England become more confident in mission, wiser in its stewardship of people and resources, more representative of the communities it serves, and better equipped to face the ethical challenges of a changing world.
I would bring four particular priorities to Synod: ● Mission and growth: helping the Church reach communities that are often overlooked and become more confident in sharing the gospel. ● Formation for ministry: ensuring that clergy and lay ministers are trained flexibly and effectively for the realities of ministry today. ● Faithful stewardship: making wise decisions about buildings, finances and other resources so that they serve the Church’s mission. ● A representative Church: encouraging vocations and supporting a clergy whose ethnic diversity more closely reflects the communities we serve.
- Good governance and stewardship: using my leadership and management
Across all of these roles, I have learned that trust is built through listening, good communication, wise stewardship, compassion and a clear vision for the future.
I am particularly passionate about helping the Church remain effective in its mission, sustainable in its stewardship of resources, and relevant to the communities it serves.
Encourage good governance, prudent stewardship, and decision-making that is rooted in prayer, evidence, and pastoral wisdom.
have been so badly communicated as to act as a serious handbrake on our stewardship, however well-intentioned.
Championing climate responsibility means recognising that environmental stewardship is integral to Christian witness and strengthens its social and ecological commitment to justice, care and long-term stewardship.
I believe this begins locally, in our homes and parishes, through practical stewardship of the world entrusted to us.