vocations
During this time, I have been especially passionate about supporting working-class vocations, promoting racial justice and inclusion, and advocating for the Church's discernment through Living in Love and Faith.
I speak up I’ve spoken in debates, asked questions and proposed amendments on a issues including Living in Love and Faith (LLF), working-class vocations, estates ministry, women's ministry, finance and neurodiversity.
and Ministry webinars I helped to plan and lead with members of the national vocations team, I've created spaces where people's previously unheard experiences can be shared, explored and taken seriously.
I am passionate about the work I do now, and in enabling the varied and diverse gifts and vocations God has given to all of us.
I have spoken in a number of debates that matter to me and our diocese, including safeguarding, motions on encouraging working class and lay vocations, Living in Love and Faith and the importance of the parish.
Supporting the well-being of clergy and encourgaing vocations to lay and ordained ministry I have had the privilege of fostering and encouraging the vocation of numbers of people including those called to authorised lay ministries and have supervised and trained context-based ordinands and curates.
The Church of England is facing crises in vocations, in funding for theological training and parish ministry and in clergy morale and retention; all set within the wider context of national and global challenges such as the rise of extreme ideologies and the impact of global warming.
However, there is also much to celebrate and it is not hard to find signs of God’s work in people and parishes across the land including: growing numbers of young people turning to Christ, burgeoning vocations in some dioceses across all kinds of churches, but particularly those from deprived areas, confirmation and ordination candidates who have journeyed to the church from all over the world and from many different faiths, the growth of new monastic communities like The Nazareth Community, imaginative and sacrificial approaches to poverty and the cost-of-living crisis in so many churches including debt counselling, night shelters and foodbanks.
Development Reviews- Vocations Team - Bishop’s
Adviser for Vocations - National Growing Younger
I have also been involved in vocations work and Reader training, and I occasionally lecture at St Hild College for both lay and ordained ministers.
Vocations
There must be security around clergy housing, pay, pensions, and retirement, if we want to enable new vocations, and improve clergy well-being.
Supporting TEIs and the vocational process, encouraging vocations that reflect the people of God and offering a strong voice for theological education across our diverse pathways.
A deep understanding of the vocations process as an Area Director of Ordinands and Examining Chaplain in the Diocese of Southwark, and what matters to those going through the process.
I am a Vocations Explorer and have supported several Curates through training, working across the traditions.
Diocese Vocations Advisor (2021-present)
Alongside this I was pleased to support relevant items in General Synod, including Rev Alex Frost’s motion on encouraging/supporting working-class vocations, and a motion on reviewing the limited access to national LINC funding.
As a General Synod clergy member, I would bring an wide range of experience in ministry to represent you in the debates and decisions: I have served as school chaplain, university chaplain and vocations adviser, rural incumbent, area dean, Bishop’s council, Bishop’s advisor and ecumenical advisor.
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Previously a Vocations Advisor and Assistant Director of Ordinands
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Developing vocations and supporting those in formation for ministry
-Encouraging a growth in vocations to ordination
Diocese: Willesden Area, London Diocese House: Clergy Role: Vicar of All Hallows Church, North Greenford; ADO for the Willesden Area; Member of the Willesden Area Vocations Group A Vision Rooted in the Heart of God I am standing for General Synod because I believe the Church of England carries a profound gift for this nation: a church in every community, a light in every neighbourhood, a witness of Christ’s love that is present, rooted, and available to all.
Alongside parish ministry, I have served the wider Church through Church of England Committee for Minority and Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC), Youth Issues Working Group (YIWG), unconscious bias training, the Spark Fund Board, the Transforming Church Initiative, and the Diocese of London Vocations Strategy Group.
I currently serve as ADO, Ministry Bishop’s Adviser, and a member of the Willesden Area Vocations Group, mentoring and coaching those discerning God’s call.
Vocations & Lay Ministry
The crisis for Ministry vocations already engages most of us.
Part of that must be to revisit our support for the whole range of vocations, lay and ordained, in effective training, a renewed Diaconate, developing parish evangelists, and urgently expanding ministry to young people.
Vocations are rising in some areas, but too many dioceses struggle to resource curacy posts or sustain stipendiary ministry.
I would also bring the voice of the clergy ‘on the ground’ as many now work across a number of parishes, exploring avenues for support e.g. in administration and buildings maintenance to free up more time for mission and vocations of others.
I have been elected three times to Diocesan Synod, served as an elected representative on the most recent Vacancy-in-See Committee, been Chapter Clerk for the Deanery of Hammersmith & Fulham, and been a Vocations Adviser.
If elected to General Synod, I will advocate: ● support for parish ministry including the prioritisation of resources to ensure that parishes and priests are able to flourish in their mission and ministry ● reviews of the church’s policies so that reform where necessary can release funds to support ministry in our parishes and priests to serve in them ● listening to what the Spirit is saying to the church by refreshing of our identity from our foundational sources – the living tradition through which the Spirit’s voice can be heard ● theologically-grounded social justice as a key component in the Church of England’s mission both nationally and in our local communities ● encouraging vocations to lay and ordained ministry, and ensuring that those who offer service to the church receive support, theologically-informed training, and ongoing deployment – this means protecting stipendiary ministry as the basis of the parish system ● the need to escape the “faddish” nature of many mission initiatives, policies and strategies, and to refocus on the church’s core priorities and identity ● ensuring our reasoning and practices are informed by the gospels and not excessively shaped by secular practices that do not reflect gospel values ● the importance of ensuring clergy discipline and safeguarding issues are well handled, and that current processes are constantly reviewed to ensure that they are transparent, fair and not unduly protracted ● promoting the importance of the church’s place, voice and teaching in national debates on subjects of contemporary ethics, especially where such matters pose greater risk to the vulnerable ● faithfulness to the church’s identity in teaching and the practice of the sacraments, particularly Holy Matrimony and the seal of Confession
I have given particular attention to vocations, and to ministry with young people.
Vocations: During the last Synod we have moved from an improving and healthy position on new ordinands to a situation of serious concern.
While there do appear to be some green shoots of recovery, particularly in London, we are facing a national shortage of clergy unless barriers to vocations can be addressed.
2023 added a new role as Vocations Advisor before moving to the IME2 team as Formation Advisor for Cleveland Archdeaconry in
We are a transformed parish, silver eco church, home groups, a sending parish for vocations and excited to expand further missionally into the town in 2027.
The National Vocations Crisis is very real.
Vocations and Training
We need to have a clearer plan both to increase vocations to ordained ministry and to provide training institutions which deliver the training which we need as a church for our new clergy.
• Nurturing Vocations – I would love to see the Church think deeply about
Recent Synod work on working-class vocations is an important part of this.
There are more than 15 issues of concern that will dominate Synod during the next 5 years, s u c h a s Church-State Relations, Suffragan Bishop numbers with Diocese mergers, See Houses, Stronger Safeguarding, Supporting the Parish System (STP) with direct grants to the Parishes, Clergy Discipline Commission, Racial Justice, Living in Love and Faith – which I cannot support, Dispossessions on Pastoral Review grounds, Rural Issues, Being Church and Vocations, Church Planting and Growth, (I used to be a Church Army Director), Mission Action Plans and Evangelism building on my experience as a Director of St Martha’s College, Strategic Development Funding, including giving more to Cathedrals and giving evidence to the Mission and Pastoral Measure to retain its independent Appellate Role.
Working Class Vocations (featured in the Church Times),
Vocations must be encouraged, supported and nurtured.
foster new vocations to the priestly ministry unhindered by top-down restructuring or
A lively concern for vocations and spiritual development brought me to the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield where I served as a Council Member.
After acting as ADDO for Young Vocations in York, I am now a Bishop’s Adviser assisting in the discernment process for ordained ministry, and it has been a joy to support several ordinands and curates on placement.
Fr Alex Frost brought the private members’ motion to champion working class vocations and he was able to accelerate EETG’s agenda into the legislative agenda of the Church.
- A church that strives to encourage and support all people to find their vocations, in
Structures, vocations, deployment and funding should be considered together and, through honest consultation and local discernment, adapted with care.
Vocations grow through ministry that is demanding but joyful, prayerful and life-giving.
Our heritage buildings are immensely valuable – missionally, socially and culturally – but keeping them well maintained is a huge pressure on our clergy and laity, we need to talk about how to release people into their missional vocations.
Linked to this the challenge of rising parish share and further amalgamation of benefices has brought about a crisis in vocations and clergy retention.
During my time on Synod, I have: challenged inconsistencies in safeguarding practice, including DBS checks for PCC members, because safeguarding should be robust, fair, and consistent wherever you serve spoken about the financial pressures facing ordinands, including the “missing month” between training and first stipend championed working-class vocations advocated for parish ministry reported back regularly on Synod debates and decisions, because national decisions must always be grounded in the realities of parish life My experience so far Member of General Synod since 2025 Recently trained as a Pastoral Supervisor for clergy Teacher of the LLM optional module on Creative and
Previously part of the Diocesan Vocations Team, and Diocesan Young Vocations Champion Contributor to the South East regional consultation on working-class vocations I am delighted to be proposing Trudi for General Synod, she is considered in her opinions, takes time to understand the complexities of arguments and is not afraid to speak her mind on matters of deep significance for the life of the church, particularly supporting those who are often pushed to the margins.
▪ Knowledge of the current vocations climate as a Bishops’ Advisor in the discernment process. ▪ Knowledge of the stresses and strains facing ordinary clergy as a Diocesan Reviewer for MDR. ▪ Elected to Diocesan Synod in 2024 where I have spoken in debates and asked questions about vocations, Parish Share, and finance in the Diocese. ▪ Ecumenical involvement through the Inclusive Church group in our area. ▪ Nearly a decade as a School Governor in local community schools.
Vocations and Training
I am concerned that our current utilitarian approach is discouraging vocations.
and current National Bishops’ advisor for vocations.
I spoke in support of the working-class vocations motion in February 2026 (“an eloquent and moving speech”, +Mark, Chester) to highlight the outstanding work in our diocese and what we have learned, and to call for a national strategy which removes the opaque institutional barriers to the full flourishing of working-class ministers.
Over the coming quinquennium, I believe Synod needs to commit to a root-and-branch rethink of how we resource sustainable parish ministry: through renewed investment in vocations and frontline clergy numbers, but also through creative local partnerships and confident lay leadership.
I believe that the current crisis in vocations for ordained ministry needs to be addressed urgently.
More importantly, we need a renewed commitment to encourage younger vocations.
This is now increasingly the case in the Church of England … vocations are down (partly as a result of the internal squabbles that have dominated the agenda for the last eight years).
My wider church and charitable experience have included serving as an examining chaplain to discern vocations, chairing the Board of Patronage, and acting as a trustee for charities which include Whitelands College, Roehampton University and the North Thames Ministerial Training Course.
The care of our clergy has a great influence on our nurturing of vocations, which is so greatly needed in the coming years.
It is clear that the recruitment, deployment and retention of clergy is a key issue: nurturing vocations, investing in theological training, and prioritising clergy wellbeing are all vital.
But alongside money, we need to face honestly the growing crisis in clergy vocations and lay volunteering and all the structural, vocational and wellbeing factors which are making that crisis harder to face.
It has matured into an organisation that brings together frontline clergy, senior staff and laity in consultations such as that on vocations recently at St George’s House Windsor.
• encouraging and supporting vocations as this is essential to increasing
Vocations Chaplain
My lived experience of disability has deepened my commitment to recognising the gifts, perspectives and vocations of disabled and neurodivergent people.
I have been a training incumbent and a Deanery Vocations Advisor.
A significant part of my recent life has been given to the raising up of a new generation of vocations supported to give their best for the Kingdom of God.
This became a fruitful catalyst for both vocations and mission, in a predominantly self-supporting capacity.
There is a significant disproportional absence of vocations from the high deprivation areas that I predominantly serve in Yorkshire.
o Experience of the national church’s work around vocations and education.
He has hosted potential and current ordination candidates for placements from the UK, USA, Ireland and Istanbul as well as nurturing vocations in his parishes and chaplaincy.
Fostering lay and ordained Vocations, and to nurturing those in discernment.
Encouraging and Supporting Vocations
If we want to grow younger, sustain local ministry, cultivate vocations and nurture new worshipping communities, we need stop cutting clergy posts and invest more at parish level.
As Bishop of Dorking, I have held portfolios for children and young people, vocations, the environment, racial justice, as well as being Warden of Readers.
e AChurch that is pastorally courageous Whether addressing safeguarding, inclusion, vocations, or the future of our parish system, I believe we must act with integrity, transparency, accountability, and compassion whilst being rooted and grounded in orthodox and traditional Biblical teaching.
Encouraging vocations My background: I am 23 years old and, having grown up as a clergy child, have 23 years’ experience of the Church of England across different contexts.
Bringing these two things together is the urgent need to attract new vocations.
Alongside parish ministry, I have held a number of additional responsibilities, including Assistant Archdeacon in the Diocese of Blackburn; Adviser to the Bishop of Blackburn on UKME/Global Majority Heritage matters; member of the Diocesan Vocations Team; member of the Diocesan Vision and Strategy Leadership Team; and member of the Church of England’s National Bishops’ Advisers Team.
But I long for growing rooted disciples, raising up deployable vocations, improving accessibility for all and enabling revitalisation of parishes.
This has proved to be a springboard for discerning new ministries and full-time vocations.
There continues to be a troubling shortfall in vocations compared to retirements, and vacancies are taking a long time to fill or are not being filled at all.
Many more young vocations need raising up, which means both seeking God in prayer and inspiring faithfulness in following his call.
Discipleship is the bedrock for mission and vocations.
On Synod I have supported greater inclu- sion across a range of areas, including work- ing-class vocations, neurodiversity and racial justice.
- Encouragement of priestly vocations: falling ordinand numbers and an ageing clergy
Lay vocations are valuable but can only supplement, not replace, priests, and the ever-larger combination of benefices risks our mission in Chelmsford and beyond.
Young people and future generations: Investing in discipleship, youth leadership development and vocations for younger generations.
I was a member of the recent Vacancy in See Committee for Southwark and am the Lay Vocations Champion for Wandsworth Deanery
• Encourage vocations to lay or ordained ministry, especially in people from GMH
We can plan for mission with confidence, foster vocations generously, and use our resources where they will make the greatest difference.
Investment in the Future - prioritising children and young people, vocations, church planting and revitalisation.
Championing Vocations from Every Community
More vocations from working class communities and council estates.
Stronger partnerships between parishes, schools and dioceses to identify and nurture vocations at an early stage.
I will be a strong voice for parish ministry, mission, evangelism, vocations, and the communities that are too often forgotten about.
Over the next five years, Synod will discuss many important matters, such as safeguarding reform, diocesan finances, vocations and clergy wellbeing and reports from the groups which emerged from the Living in Love and Faith process.
A determination to encourage vocations from working-class backgrounds.
I would want to support a culture in which gifts are recognised, vocations are nurtured, and barriers—spoken or unspoken—are challenged.
As Area Dean, I prioritised mission and equipping of lay Christians to thrive and be a blessing in their daily vocations.
Within the church, I’ve nurtured a number of vocations to ordained ministry; trained 5 curates; mentored new clergy, and maintained an interest in clergy education and wellbeing, not least as a reviewer of TEIs.
So I will work to allow progressive parishes to celebrate same-sex relationships in their churches and to more fully recognise the vocations of LGBT+ people, while legally securing and respecting the conscience of conservative parishes.
I long to see churches renewed, new worshipping communities planted, vocations released and Christians equipped to share their faith in everyday life restoring the communities in which they serve to help build together the Kingdom of God here whilst we await Christ’s return.
Communities Funding reaches the parish floor, easing operational burdens on local PCCs and removing socioeconomic barriers to clergy vocations.
• Clergy Wellbeing and Vocations: Pushing the Church to do more to protect clergy health and
mental well-being, while actively encouraging vocations from working-class and non- traditional backgrounds.
Having held national responsibility for discernment and now vocations, I want to ensure this work is kept in sharp focus: there is still much to do to ensure that the church has the lay and ordained ministers it needs to lead and enable effective mission and ministry.
Our parish system is under serious strain - listed buildings too expensive to maintain or adapt, ageing congregations, a shortage of volunteers, and a looming crisis in clergy vocations.
Family life is central to me, and I value time spent together, particularly as our children have grown and moved into their own vocations and careers.
I have served in a range of diocesan roles, including vocations work, supporting schools and colleges, and helping others explore faith in a complex and changing society.
I want to see lay ministry and leadership encouraged, vocations nurtured and the gifts of the whole people of God taken seriously.
Her service on General Synod and national church bodies reflects not personal ambition, but a desire to help the Church discern and respond faithfully to the needs of God's people” Rev Sean Robertshaw, Diocesan Director of Vocations, Diocese of Leeds
I am particularly interested in the work Synod is doing to support and encourage the vocations of disabled or neurodiverse clergy, we need to inspire creative ways of rethinking ministry that allows everyone to flourish.
We need to ask difficult questions about structures, finance, vocations, ministry and mission.
Yet real intercultural ministry means letting that diversity shape worship, leadership and vocations, and I would press Synod to hold itself to the standard it asks of parishes.
In Chester, I have worked on From Lament to Action, working-class vocations and removing barriers to participation.
The pressures of ordained ministry, and the way in which clergy are supported and cared for, are surely among the factors contributing to the vocations challenges the Church currently faces.
• Vocations and theological education.
• That we increase the number of young vocations who train residentially and via
In retirement I remain in contact with those whose vocations I have nurtured and assist with the MDR process.
Director of Vocations
Investing in Vocations & Young People: We need to be encouraging lay and ordained vocations across all traditions.
I have served the diocese by teaching on the Local Ministry Programme (now St Martha’s College), as young vocations champion, serving on the DAC, and being part of the group that worked with Bishop Andrew on Transforming Church : Transforming Lives.
That confidence starts with the settled leadership of a parish priest known within, and given wholly to, the community they serve, because that presence builds the trust that brings the giving and vocations the church needs to grow.
My other roles include Assistant Rural Dean of Lichfield, Vocations Advisor, member of the Property Management Group and interim LGBT+ chaplain.
Diocesan Vocations Advisor (since 2022), accompanying individuals exploring ordained and lay ministries.
My years in parish ministry have shown me the difference that investing in people can make: training curates, developing ministry apprentices and seeing people discover and grow into ordained, lay and missionary vocations.
By voting for me, you will gain a representative who is committed to: Supporting vocations through further reforms to the discernment and ordination process, and advocating for greater opportunities for lay vocations beyond self- supporting ministry and youth work.
Supporting Vocations
Furthermore, I believe more needs to be done to support the vocations of lay-people beyond self-supporting ministry and youth work - all vocations are assets to the Church, not just ordained ones.
I am passionate about sharing the experiences of our estates and urban areas whilst working together to see opportunities explored for working class vocations and models of training that work for all.
As a younger incumbent I also care about young vocations and seeing emerging youth leaders encouraged to live out their faith with confidence in our schools and colleges too.
We must be clear and confident about our fundamental purpose: to love God and our neighbour; nurture vocations; and equip lay and ordained ministers through proper formation.
Recent years have seen a dramatic decline in vocations (notwithstanding some, very welcome, upticks) and numbers of clergy resignations are high.
Doubtless, there are multiple factors contributing to the concerning vocations and resignations figures.
There are some encouraging steps in addressing this: the recent rise in stipend levels; work to promote working class vocations.
As someone with wide experience of promoting ordained vocations, if elected, I will seek a synod which promotes a much needed increase in vocations to ordained ministry.
Board), and as a member of the Archbishops’ Advisory Group on for Appointments and Vocations.
Strengthen Vocations: I was fortunate to be encouraged by my church and the diocese as I explored my calling, the changes to the discernment process have been hugely positive – but many people who may be called to ministry feel discouraged from engaging with it and exploring what God might be calling them to do.
This is combining with a crisis of vocations among prospective candidates for ordination.
representative on the national Ministry Development Board, which covers increasing vocations, funding theological education, and the practicalities, from approving courses to standardising maternity policies.
Alongside resourcing the local church, I also believe we need to reimagine our approach to vocations nationally across the C of E.
I believe we need a new conversation at a national level around vocations and setting all God’s people free.
Vocations and CDMs.
I have been passionate about encouraging vocations and leadership development ever since.
We need to improve our structures, to support and listen to victims and survivors, and to be trauma informed in our practices. Mental health I am an accredited Mental Health First Aider (Level 3) and believe passionately that we need a broader, deeper, more honest conversation about mental health across the whole Church. Vocations We have a crisis of vocations, as far more clergy are currently retiring than are being ordained.
As an ADO in the Vocations team, I do wonder about patterns of future ministry that those discerning will have to adopt after training.
● Former Vocations Advisor (Lichfield Diocese)
My involvement in leading leadership development courses across deaneries reflects my conviction that we must equip lay leaders while sustaining vocations to the priesthood.
Nominator 2: The Revd. Dr Dan Christian Director of Vocations and
All of this has reinforced my belief in the central importance of effective ministerial education, and the Church’s ongoing work to increase and sustain vocations.
That means honest conversations about resourcing, about vocations, about how national strategy actually lands or fails to land in our diocese.
Theological Education and Vocations
I’ve been a trustee of two theological colleges, and I’m very concerned about the need to increase vocations to ordained ministry.
Another passion of mine is vocations, especially among younger people.
We’re celebrating new leaders and vocations as well as running a local foodbank hub, helping rough sleepers through an amazing project called Half Time and celebrating 150 years of the church building.
Since ordination, I’ve had the privilege of serving in some wider church roles, including for a time as a Vocations Advisor and an Assistant DDO.
Vocations Advisor and Warden of
@ National Vocations Advisor
Vocations As a parish we regularly welcome on placement those discerning a call to ordination and I have had the joy of being both a coach on the Directions Course and a Bishop's Advisor, alongside life as a Tl.
We have been reminded of the crisis the Church is facing regarding vocations, with the predicted number of stipendiary clergy falling to 5400 by 2033 if the tide is not turned.
Clergy Wellbeing We know only too well that a major barrier to a rise in vocations is clergy wellbeing, as laity witness clergy burnt out and stretched far beyond capacity.
Pressure must be kept on the Church Commissioners for a fairer distribution of historic assets, understanding the impact that this hardship is having upon churches, communities, housing, vocations, and the wellbeing of its clergy.
There I had a significant role in drawing attention to the serious disparity between the numbers of men and women in young vocations and then pioneering Young Female Vocations Events.
As a member of the MDB I continue to be able to monitor and respond to not only the level of vocations overall, which dropped massively during COVID and is only just recovering, but also the comparative levels between men and women of different ages.
As someone who is working class, I believe that the Church of England still has a long way to go to ensure equality of opportunity when it comes to supporting working class lay and ordained vocations.
vocations officer for the Church.
I give thanks to the Church of England that at the age of 52 I was able to train and be ordained, while still working full-time, and I hope to encourage others in similar vocations.
Vocations.
Addressing the vocations crisis is an urgent priority.
During my time, I have been on the Ministry Division Pioneer Panel, the Ordained Vocations Working Group, the Vision and Strategy 2020s Working Group, and been an ‘Assessor’ supporting the Northern Prolocutor to manage the interests of clergy who represent northern dioceses.
I have served on the vocations team as a vocations advisor and then an area director of ordinands and on Diocesan Synod (2021-2024).
Through my work as part of the Living in Love in Faith Working Group on Vocations and Ministry, I have shown my ability and willingness to work across difference to en- able the Church to be one where all might flourish.
About me: I have been a Diocesan staff member for 12 years, working in a number of different roles in governance, vocations and church buildings, which gives me a broad under- standing of issues faced by people and churches.
I will continue to move the Church from statements to measurable change: widening participation, developing vocations and leadership, challenging barriers, and asking how appointments, funding and institutional culture reflect the whole Body of Christ.
Vocations are low, income is declining, and complexity is up.
They concern real people, real relationships and real vocations.
Their faith is strong; their vocations are strong; their enthusiasm for learning is strong; their sense of mission is strong.
As a younger woman learning to integrate motherhood and ministry, I am also passionate about encouraging vocations in that demographic and advocating for fresh ways of inhabiting ordained life.
Vocations & Training
serve as an itinerant evangelist and have recently joined the diocesan vocations team as an Assistant DDO.
• Vocations & Lay Training: I am an Assistant DDO; an ALM core module tutor
• Vocations: Encouraging both lay and ordained vocations to foster growth in
• Vocations Adviser for three dioceses
• Enabling lay vocations, and working with children
The parish is where faith is nurtured, vocations are discerned and communities are served, and I want the decisions we take nationally – about money, people and priorities – to be measured by how they will help local churches to flourish.
If elected, I am committed to being a prayerful and faithful member of the General Synod, seeking to contribute in particular on issues that will lead to the nurturing of the faith of young people, the flourishing of lay vocations, the well-being of clergy, and the rebuilding of trust across our Church.
The Bishop of Hereford recently spoke about the crisis in vocations for ordination, linking this to the deterrent effect of “undoable jobs” whereby priests are given too many parishes.
Health Forum member and Vocations Officer
I greatly welcomed the unanimous vote of the last Synod to support working class vocations
I believe we must encourage and nurture future vocations, invest in the formation and ongoing support of our clergy, and ensure that those called to ordained ministry are equipped to flourish.
MORE PRIESTS AND MORE VOCATIONS: I want a priest in every parish.
This will be essential both for our current clergy and any hope of sustaining future vocations into the Church of England.
Furthermore, I have designed and led training for lay and ordained ministers across three diocesan teams, actively nurturing diverse vocations.
Many areas of church life, including lay vocations, flourish when supported by well-trained, active, and collaborative clergy.
Nurturing Leaders: Vocations are currently at a critical point.
We need a confident, joyful push to increase both lay and ordained vocations.
Diocesan Vocations Outreach Officer, Clergy Member of Chelmsford Diocesan Synod (Braintree Deanery), and Assistant Curate at Coggeshall and United Parishes.
ADDO, Bishop’s Adviser for Vocations
I have served on a number of Diocese committees, and have a particular interest in vocations and helping discern and grow the calling and gifts of laity and clergy.
I have tried to encourage this in the parishes where I have served, and through my roles as Young Vocations Adviser and Assistant DDO for this Diocese, and as a Bishop’s Adviser on the national selection panels.
If we are to inspire new vocations, and support those already serving, we must care for those who often give sacrificially, including full-time, part-time, house for duty, self-supporting, retired clergy and chaplains.
Having gone through the discernment process, ordination and curacy with three children, I want to help ensure that women are encouraged in their vocations while they work through what it might look like to to be a Mum and a Priest.
Clergy & Vocations Crisis: Transitioning effectively to the new Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM) to replace the CDM, alongside creating sustainable pathways for younger stipendiary vocations and clergy wellbeing.
The team I lead is responsible for implementing the diocese’s vision and strategy, raising and supporting lay and ordained vocations, training of our curates and readers, clergy wellbeing and their continued ministerial development, parish vision planning, revitalisation, mission, evangelism, Children, Youth and Families support and training, and the development of new worshipping communities from new services to large church plants.
This will include looking at how investment funds are used and apportioned, safeguarding structures in response to the Makin review, raising and paying for vocations, continued work on sexuality, renewing trust between the laity, clergy, Bishops and the NCIs, our response in bringing peace to a divided nation, providing hope in a cost of living crisis and deeply embedded poverty and inequality, and the rise in Christian nationalism.
4: Supporting clergy and vocations
This requires better discernment of vocations and ordination training; and the maximum amount of funding given to dioceses for full-time priestly ministry; and weighted towards poorer, smaller communities.
I have a wide range of interests in church and national life, including the significance of the working sphere (following my career in scientific research & a multi-national company), mission & evangelism, media, children & young people, vocations & theological education, prison chaplaincy, inter-faith relationships and spiritual direction.
Vocations & leadership: I am a sponsoring bishop our Diocese and served in senior leadership in a TEI.
I am keen to actively increase our reach in vocations and training especially from our more deprived areas, and to mobilise a prayerful and strategic response to the serious impact of our dwindling vocations I am also an Assistant Bishop in the Church in Wales and have been involved with their navigation of same-sex blessings and marriage.
Vocations and formation.
I seek to ensure that the church embodies the priesthood of all believers and is committed to the flourishing of all vocations I have been an active member of General Synod and have been called to speak in debates on a wide I have been an active member of General Synod and have been called to speak in debates on a wide range of topics, including estates ministry, pastoral care of those experiencing the loss of babies, working class vocations, the effects of misogyny in the church and the impact of the current war in Gaza on interfaith relationships That experience has helped me understand how Synod works, how decisions are shaped, and how important it is for clergy voices from across the diocese to be heard clearly and respectfully.
WORKING-CLASS VOCATIONS
WORKING-CLASS VOCATIONS – As a council-house child who would never have imagined being called to ordained ministry, I am passionate about breaking down barriers and raising up leaders from low-income communities.
I have served as a member of the National Working-Class Vocations Advisory Group.
In the current climate of uncertainty and financial pressure, it would seem to me that the Church must do what it does best: providing an inviting place of Christian worship for every community, supporting its priests, encouraging vocations, strengthening parish ministry and welcoming all who seek God.
During my first two years on General Synod, I have actively contributed to debates on Living in Love and Faith, working-class vocations, safeguarding, mental health, poverty and pension reform.
I will continue to support reforms to pension and stipend provision and promote a diversity of vocations that more fully reflects the body of Christ.
I still believe that the diaconate and priesthood are extraordinary and privileged vocations.
We need to address the fact that vocations are running far below where the Church needs them to be.
I am an Associate Tutor at St Augustine’s College of Theology, and a Visiting Scholar at Sarum College, and was a Vocations Adviser in the Diocese of Ely - in these roles, I have seen the crucial and critical need for serious, determined commitment to the work of vocations, training, and ongoing theological development of both lay and ordained people.
Vocations
There is a clear and critical need for the church to address the vocations crisis if we are to be a Christian presence in every community.
Living and ministering in Clerkenwell, where the gap between rich and poor continues to widen, has reinforced my commitment to the mission of the local church, ministry among young people, and encouraging vocations to ordained ministry.
The future of our Church depends upon vocations.
We must encourage vocations to ordained ministry and ensure ordinands receive the training and financial support they need.
I have since helped develop Young Leaders Learning Hubs and contributed to diocesan and national work around young adults, leadership and vocations.
Growing vocations and removing barriers.
If fewer priests doing more is not the answer, we need to be ambitious about growing vocations.
People – in the context of decline in the numbers of vocations and church attendance and reports of burn out and unreasonable workloads, how do we train and support clergy, lay ministers and lay officers and enable them to thrive?
Throughout my own ordained ministry I have been involved in vocations work and am encouraged by the steps Synod has taken towards enabling the ministry of disabled people and those from working class backgrounds.
Vocations: I am passionate about seeing people pursuing the vocation God calls them to.
of Ordinands and Vocations, Diocese of
Growing vocations: I believe in the parish system but simply diverting money there won’t save the parish as the church is facing a crisis of vocations.
A Youthful and flourishing church The church needs to address the adequate preparation, support and reward of our clergy to ensure the quality of ministry and encourage vocations I support innovations to encourage younger people to actually come to church and ultimately become more involved in shaping its future
Improving Care of our Clergy - a joyful, supported priest is the most effective vocations officer for the Church.
Restoring vocations At the same time as parish clergy posts plummeting, vocations have fallen.
Stronger encouragement and support for ordained and lay vocations is required.
Spoken frequently in debates (often being amongst the first to be called), and regularly tabled questions, spanning topics such as lay ministry, ordinand candidates, working class vocations, same sex relationships, safeguarding, governance, trust, Synod conduct, stipends, central costs, diocesan financing, and investment policy.
As a member of General Synod I have been fortunate enough to speak into a number of debates including recent motions concerning Working Class Vocations and Neurodiversity in the life of the church.
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.
I have contributed to the Vocations Strategy Group of CMEAC, the London Diocesan Committee for Minority Ethnic Concerns and the Racial Justice Priority Group.
Support the on-going mission of chaplaincies and parishes through strategic investment in theological training and fostering vocations from all backgrounds.
I serve as a Spiritual Director and Vocations Advisor in the Diocese in Europe and continue to serve as a trustee of the Church Association for Sudan and South Sudan as well as being a Canon of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and Honorary Minor Canon of Southwark Cathedral.
I am Secretary to the Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Deanery Synod and joint Deanery Lay Vocations Champion, Lay Chaplain to Southwark Diocesan Synod and a member of the Diocesan Council of Trustees.
These passions have led me to fight for local church funding, mission and vocations, and specifically I have spoken to:
• Since January 2023 I have been an Area Vocations Advisor.
I am passionate about discipling young people and enabling them to discover God’s call on their lives in both lay and ordained vocations.
I am standing for General Synod because I want to help build a Church in which clergy and lay people can flourish, communicate honestly, feel safe, and fulfil the joyful vocations to which God has called them.
I consider, however, that reducing the numbers of stipendiary clergy should be the very last resort and that we should encourage vocations to ordained and other ministries as a priority.
We fear the prospect of a decline in attendance, a decrease in giving, a drying-up of vocations.
The only sinking The Church of England ought to be experiencing is when the nets are too heavy with lives transformed with faith and lives astonished leading to new vocations.
“We need not be afraid because Jesus knows where we need to put out our nets for a big catch” My big interests at Synod will be vocations and vision.
I love to see new vocations saying “yes” to professing faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
I am also a Vocations Advisor and Examining Chaplain and value greatly the opportunity to walk alongside those discovering what the Lord is calling them to in the life of the church.
Whether the matters before us concern safeguarding, mission, ministry, vocations, governance, parish sustainability, public engagement or the Church's witness in society, I would seek to contribute with humility, charity and hope, always attentive to the voices of those serving and worshipping in our local churches.
I have been involved in both the debate and preparation work around working-class vocations.
I sit on the Business Committee and have also served in the diocese as a vocations adviser, Chair of the Grants Committee, and supported diocesan teams with communications, governance and finance.
Support is crucial for their ministry and to increase future vocations.
The Future: making church work for all I want us to face the future trusting God and displaying the love of Christ: ● There are still big issues to face in our church: the most critical is falling numbers in congregations and vocations, but we also need to tackle our finances, safeguarding, trust and trustworthiness, and the replacement for the LLF process.
The crisis which we see in the numbers of vocations must be urgently addressed, both in terms of nurturing new vocations and supporting those in leadership roles.
The combination of multi-parish benefices, clergy retirements, and falling vocations is increasing the workload of parish priests.
This includes ensuring that vocations and clergy training are prioritised, but it also means supporting congregations in caring for historic buildings, enabling responsive initiatives in the community, and respecting local knowledge and the distinctiveness of each parish church.
I see mission and ministry as inherently inseparable and would be glad to support national work to encourage and enable clergy vocations and the education to support them.
Part of that is a vocations problem, of course, but I am always suspicious that there is a desire for greater control which can only militate against what we clergy were ordained to do.
Other stuff I want to get stuck into includes the significance of Church Schools, clergy retirement provision, vocations and the importance of proper theological training of ordinands and curates, and the rights of private patrons.
Vocations The slump in vocations is a great concern to us all.
I am committed to the life and renewal of the local parish as the frontline of mission alongside raising up vocations to ensure that we have enough clergy for the future needs of the local church.
I have been a Vicar, Rector, University Chaplain, Area Dean, and a Residentiary Canon of our Cathedral; a member of the diocesan Vocations Team, and a national Vocations Advisor, helping to shape policy and practice to support more candidates for ordained ministry from working class and minority communities.
To encourage the vocations of working-class people and underrepresented groups.
Young Vocations Champion, Diocese of Oxford (2021-2024)
• I am praying and working to see more vocations.
I do so with humility, recognising that no individual has all the answers, but believing that my experience in parish ministry, diocesan leadership, safeguarding, vocations, theological education and intercultural mission has prepared me to contribute thoughtfully to the life of our Church.
I currently serve as Bishop's Adviser on Vocations, National Mentor for Ordinands, safeguarding trainer, trainer in Christianity as a Global World Faith (CGWF), unconscious bias trainer, and Executive Secretary of the Association of Pakistani Anglican Clergy (APAC), which I co-founded with the Archdeacon of Doncaster.
There are important questions before the Church around vocations, safeguarding, clergy wellbeing, governance and our witness in society.
I want to encourage vocations, discipleship and leadership for the next generation.
Over the next 5 years Synod will have a lot to work on; continuing discussions on our ecological mission and responsibility, supporting and encouraging vocations from working class backgrounds and the next steps following Living in Love and Faith.
I am the Rector of a six-parish benefice in West Dorset, I also sit on the diocesan Discipleship, Vocations and Ministry Committee, and am part of the team of Vocations Advisors that support those at the initial stages of discernment.
As a rural priest, five of the issues currently facing the church sit at the forefront of my mind and prayers: Vocations and “growing younger”: Vocations to ministry are not nearly as rare as the papers like to suggest; the vocations team are currently inundated with enquiries.
Whilst this is nonsense, it demonstrates what happens when the rural church is not well represented in settings where vocations are formed and decisions are made.