Key words and phrases

I hold an inclusive view but belong to a church where the leadership and teaching is conservative.

Inclusivity: The last quinquennium has tested our understanding of synodality, as we sought to make the Church of England both a place of fuller belonging for LGBTQI+ people and enabling those with more conservative views on gender and sexuality to belong and to flourish.

I came to a living faith at University, and worshipped in conservative evangelical Anglican, Baptist, and Independent churches for over twenty years.

I have ministered for over 30 years across a huge variety of traditions within the Church of England (from Affirming Catholic and Traditional Catholic to Open Evangelical and Conservative Evangelical) in a wide range of contexts, and see good in every one of them.

While at Cambridge I had a profound conversion experience in a Conservative Evangelical setting followed some years later by a deep work of the Holy Spirit.

I have worked with people from all parts of the church – liberal, conservative, Anglo- Catholic or evangelical – and we serve the Body of Christ best when we listen to each other and work together for our church.

Therefore I work to promote those things that maintain unity – for example, whilst I welcome women priests and bishops, I also support the ‘5 guiding principles’ which allow for traditional Catholics and conservative Evangelicals to remain a valued part of the church.

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.

• That there is a place at the table for all from conservative to catholic whilst also

I also wish, as a theological conservative, to contribute to the wider discussions around identities – whether they be gender, national, ecclesial, in a charitable way and with much liberality.

Being English, in a Church of England that wants and needs to express its global and inclusive credentials, is a disadvantage and we definitely do not want the Church to become a club, or worse, the Conservative Party at prayer (Note: The Conservative Party used to pray).

While I’m part of the Liberal Catholic tradition of the Church of England, I have a broad experience in my own faith background having grown up a Roman Catholic and rediscovering my faith in my late teens in a conservative evangelical church.

I bring to Synod a lifetime shaped by the Catholic tradition of the Church of England; modest theological literacy; extensive knowledge of our diocese and wider church structures; commitment to the parish system; a passion for lay ministry in all its forms; considerable experience of working with people of differing views; broadly conservative views on key theological and ethical issues; and a willingness to learn from, and be challenged by, the experiences and insights of others.

Sacrificial gifts from parishioners must be used for initiatives which will benefit and build up their own churches, with voluntary surplus-giving primarily being shared with other churches as they partner in the gospel, rather than being directed to central projects;  The number of young people looking for certainty in a changing world who are joining churches which are more traditional, conservative and pentecostal.

If I had to put a theological label on myself (and, on the whole, I prefer not to), it would be conservative-ish evangelical.

I would describe myself as a conservative evangelical, and I know that conservatives have not always done a very good job working across theological differences, and I’d quite like to change that image!

With regard to the most contentious issues of the day I will always listen to others, pray carefully, and speak honestly from within my basically conservative worldview.

I am also fully supportive of those who take a more conservative position on these areas having a respected and honoured place in the life of the Church of England.

My own roots are in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England, having served in both conservative and more liberal contexts (I myself am very much in favour of women’s ministry at all levels).

I won just one as Conservative M P for Walthamstow in 1987.

At Cuddesdon, I gained the respect of ordinands ranging from traditional anglo-catholics, to liberal catholics and conservative evangelicals.

I want to see everyone fairly represented on General Synod, both those with more- conservative and those with more-liberal views, a Church in which everyone can live happily together, moving on with greater harmony and unity from the divisions which have too often been synonymous with the Anglican Communion in recent years.

I then started my formal ministry in a small conservative evangelical church plant in Arborfield as a ministry trainee and later assistant minister.

I want mutual flourishing to work for everyone - men and women, progressive, conservative, and everywhere in between.

I have long been active in the Conservative Party and have stood twice (with a complete absence of success) for Greenwich Council.

Coming from a family that did not go to church, my first real experience of Christianity was through a conservative Evangelical beach mission.

I would characterise myself as a Conservative Evangelical, taking a traditional approach to interpretation of Scripture and the need for personal discipleship.

I am conservative in belief, but I support change in practice where it leads to better, clearer communication of the gospel During my time on Synod I have:  Asked questions about the ‘Five Guiding Principles’ and their application within the church  Asked questions about ecclesiological balance at senior levels  I have spoken up to urge respect for others in debate  I have spoken in support of the parish patronage system as a means of maintaining parish traditions and distinctions  I have listened and made good friends across traditions If elected to serve for the coming quinquennium I will:  speak up for busy parish clergy against an increasingly episcopally directed church.  support reforms to clergy condition and terms of service that will enhance clergy wellbeing and the proclamation of the gospel  support reforms to enhance clergy pensions and retirement housing provision that will improve the lives of those who have served the church  support the freeing of central church resources to benefit parishes on the ground  continue to work to maintain a respected place within in the Church of England for all who find themselves isolated or marginalised by change I would really appreciate it if you would consider giving me your first preference vote.

Having been raised in a very conservative evangelical free church, I would now describe myself as somewhere fairly middle of the road.

Whilst I hold a more conservative view of marriage and sexuality, I found the shared conversations process, which I took part in in 2016, to be incredibly helpful and deeply moving.

I believe in total inclusivity, which means every follower of Jesus from the most conservative to the most liberal and everything in between.