2015 GENERAL SYNOD ELECTIONS

HOUSE OF CLERGY

LIST OF CANDIDATES & ADDRESSES

Gavin Andrew COLLINS

James Castle HUNT

Peter Philip LEONARD

Charles Scott PEER

Robert Charles WHITE

Hugh Edward Wright

All candidates sent in addresses which have been replicated below. They are also available online:- www.portsmouth.anglican.org/information/general_synod_elections_2015 Questions you would wish to put to all candidates should be emailed to [email protected] Candidates’ responses will be published on the diocesan website.

Gavin Andrew COLLINS

Gavin Collins

Current role

I have been Archdeacon of the Meon since September 2011, and also Warden of Readers since September 2014. As Archdeacon, I serve on a wide range of Diocesan bodies, including Diocesan Synod, Bishop’s Council, the DAC, the Diocesan Safeguarding Panel, Diocesan Finance Committee and Diocesan Property Committee. I am Archdeacon with strategic responsibility for the Mission, Discipleship and Ministry Team and I Chair the Portsmouth and Winchester Diocesan Academies Trust.

I see my role as Archdeacon as being chiefly to pastor the clergy, readers and church wardens of my parishes; to work with the legal and systemic structures of the church in a way that enables and promotes mission and growth; and – above all – to work as a faithful servant of Christ and the Gospel in my life and ministry.

My other commitments are as a husband to Christina, and as father to Emily, 18, Susie, 16, and Harry, 13.

Background

Before joining the Diocese, I served for 14 years in parishes in Ely and St. Albans Dioceses, and served for 5 years as Rural Dean of Rickmansworth. Before , I worked as a commercial litigation solicitor in the City of London, and was also involved in charities taking convoys of relief aid to Bosnia and Romania during the 1990s. I served for 15 years as a Trustee of Latin Link, a mission agency working in South America, and as a Trustee of London School of Theology (formerly London Bible College) from 2005 to 2014.

General

As Archdeacon, I am called to serve and represent the whole of the Diocese, and not any particular faction or grouping within it. It would be a privilege to be able to continue that service at the national level at General Synod. As well as working for the good of the church and Diocese, I also have an active interest in public issues that affect society at large, and have a strong commitment to the mission of the church and our national witness on issues of justice, social equality, international development, education and medical ethics.

General Synod service

I was privileged to be elected to represent the clergy of the Diocese on the last Synod in a by-election in 2013. During the past 2 years, I have become actively involved, attending every group of sessions, and speaking on several occasions – including the antepenultimate speech (in favour) during the final debate on the legislation that finally opened the way for the consecration of women bishops.

During the past 2 years on Synod, I have come to appreciate much that is good about the national structures of the – as well as why they can often seem frustrating – and particularly to value the sense of being part of “something bigger” than parish and diocesan concerns. I see my calling on Synod as being a voice for unity, helping to bring together people of different opinions, particularly on divisive subjects, and giving a challenge to remember the Biblical call to walk in love as well as truth, with the consequent commitment to ongoing fellowship and unity. This role has been particularly important as part of the Evangelical Group on General Synod, and as Synod faces what will inevitably be divisive debates on issues of human sexuality over the next 5 years, I would like to be in a position to continue to play what I hope is a constructive, if at times uncomfortable, role.

Hobbies

Cycling, running (I try and run on at least a weekly basis), supporting Brighton and Hove Albion (which proves that I’m a person of faith), spending quality time with my family and engaging in lively debate on politics and current affairs.

James Castle HUNT

Revd James Hunt

Name: Revd James Hunt – Age 48 – Ordained 2004

Post: Rector of St Peter’s Bishops Waltham with Blessed Mary Upham

Family: Rebecca (Lecturer/Barrister) Sam (15) Lydia (13) William (9)

Interests: Golf, Cycling and Table Tennis

Pre-Ordination: Chartered Surveyor and Partner Property Consultancy

Church Roles: Deanery Synod and Diocesan Synod

Thank you for taking a moment to read this which outlines a little about myself including my interests background, experience, and if you voted for me, how I would seek to represent you at General Synod over the next 3 years.

In my family life I am blessed to be married to Rebecca with whom I have three children: Samuel, who loves tennis; Lydia, who loves swimming; and William, who loves playing the trumpet! We have lived in Bishops Waltham for the last seven and a half years, previously being in Farnborough North Hampshire where I served my title curacy. Prior to ordination I was a Chartered Surveyor and Partner in a Commercial Property firm, advising charity and business clients, such as Barnardo’s, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Pizza Express, Random House publishers and British Airways.

In my Christian life I have had a varied background being brought up as a Roman Catholic, before then, in my teens, ending up at Anglican school, where I was a sacristan, and also a regular member of the Christian Union group. I have lived in various contexts over the years, including the West Indies for 2 years, Zimbabwe for a year and Northern Ireland for 3 years, all of which has given me a good understanding of different cultures and expressions of Christian faith. My life and Christian journey has led me to the kind of ministry I am seeking to model and lead locally, and which I believe is needed much more on a wider national scale.

In St Peters and Blessed Mary my passion has been to seek to lead a church in the essentials of the Christian faith and with a focus on doing mission together in the community which transcends secondary differences of worship style and churchmanship. At St Peters and Blessed Mary we have every tradition represented so that we are genuinely a parish church for all and provide a variety of windows to be part of God’s kingdom. I would not want to generalise too far, but I am a great believer in encouraging the evangelistic heart of the evangelical tradition, the thinking minds of the liberal tradition and the social action of the catholic tradition. It has been very good to see a variety of things develop here in these ways: Social Action (Food Bank, Lunch Clubs, Holidays at Home); Fresh Expressions (Messy Church, Coffee Corner, Worship 24); Families/Children and Young People’s Work inc Holiday Clubs and a Youth Co-ordinator for both church and community groups.

In the Church of England, as we move into the future, I believe there is going to be a need to model varied local church life on a wider scale, being confident of the essentials of the Gospel ‘to proclaim afresh in every generation’, but learning from each other about different ways we can all be involved. To move forward as the national church, I believe we need to get back to the key basics of the Gospel as ‘Good News’ and allow local churches to have much more flexibility to take risks and grow.

My Aims and Priorities for the next General Synod

Christology and The Gospel: I would like to speak up for the revisiting and rediscovery of the uniqueness of Jesus and the Gospel which is really Good News! I would love every member of the Church of England to be so enthusiastic and passionate we would all more naturally be a witness.

Mission: In the setting of future priorities and allocation of resources, I would like to speak up for the leading and encouragement of all churches to put more energy into mission activities around the needs of local people. As well as seeking to ‘invite in’ we need to ‘go out’ to where people are.

Ministry: I would like to speak for up a variety of worship styles in every local church (not just between churches) so that we can cater for the different needs in our church and parish communities. Within these styles I would want to see all being encouraged in heartfelt worship (prayer, singing, teaching, fellowship and discipleship) as the engine of enthusiasm for our own faith and witness.

Structure and Finance: I would like to speak up for the streamlining of denominational structures so that more resources can be retained at the local level to release front line mission not just maintenance. I would like to see much more strategic thinking and decisions be taken so we can rebuild. In terms of Parish Share, I would like to see the continuing support of poorer parishes, but not a system which is unsustainable, and if not addressed, will lead to the whole declining.

Leadership and Training: I would like to speak up for leadership appointments in more varied ways so that the local church can flourish. Appropriate training and authorisation to work alongside clergy will be vital for the future e.g., Pastoral Assistants, Occasional Preachers.

Human Sexuality: I would like to speak up for the better welcome and care of all people, but also to seek unity in the understanding and practice of marriage and family life.

Women Bishops: As the new legislation settles down, I would want to speak up for the encouragement and flourishing of all traditions in the Church of England, especially those who may now be in the minority e.g., Catholic and Evangelical.

To conclude, I would really appreciate your support and first vote or if not second or third. If you would like to contact me for further information or with a question you would be welcome:

Revd James Hunt, The Rectory, Maypole Green, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire SO32 1PW 01489-892618 07570-042916 [email protected]

Nominated by: Revd Jane Beloe – SSM, St Peter’s Bishops Waltham and Blessed Mary Upham Seconded by: Revd Bruce Deans – Vicar, St John’s Fareham

Peter Philip LEONARD

The Reverend Canon Chancellor

32 Woodville Drive Portsmouth PO1 2TG 07817722219 [email protected]

Proposed by: Belinda Davies, Vicar of St. George, Portsea and Continuing Ministerial Development Adviser.

Seconded by: The Reverend Canon Nick Ralph, Social Responsibility Adviser and Head of Mission and Society.

Information about me…  Live in Portsmouth with my partner and two children aged 16 and 19.  Trained for ministry at Trinity College, Bristol.  Ordained in 1997 following a successful career in Marketing and PR  Three years as a in Haslemere, Guildford Diocese  Seven years as in Charge of a Local Ecumenical Partnership with the Methodist Church in Woking in the Guildford Diocese on one of the most deprived housing estates in Surrey.  Called by God into Primary education, retrained and worked as a Primary school teacher for seven years, ending as a Headteacher.  Responded to a call from God back to stipendiary ministry in 2014 and was installed at the Cathedral at Easter Day Evensong.  Keen Kayaker, cook, reader, mountain climber and gym goer!  Drive a VW Campervan and am a massive Dr Who fan.

Relevant Experience…  Experience of planning and strategy writing both in business, education and at the Cathedral. I lead the production of the Cathedral Development Plan for 2014 – 2019 and am responsible for overseeing the ongoing implementation and evaluation.  Extensive experience of education including school governor, teacher and Headteacher.  Member of the Portsmouth and Winchester Diocesan Board of Education.  Member of Portsmouth Deanery Synod and Portsmouth Diocesan Synod.  Experience of a wide range of different church styles and approaches both before and since ordination and as both a stipendiary and self-supporting priest.  Trained parent support group facilitator, founding partner of a non-profit making company offering groups to schools, family centres and other organisations in the Surrey area.

What I would bring to the role…  A strong commitment to God and to the Church.  Skill in listening and understanding issues and concerns from both sides and responding to them effectively.  A firm and pragmatic approach to conflict and division.  Respectful, polite, clear communication and a willingness to stand up and speak out when necessary.  A good understanding of the worlds of business, education and the church and how they interact and overlap.  A sense of humour.  The ability to connect with people, especially those outside the church, and a desire to see the church become better at this.  I am keen to be able to contribute to the wide of debates including those on multi faith Britain, young people and schools, human sexuality and the environment and climate change.  A commitment to keeping in touch with current issues facing the church and listening to a range of opinions from people inside and outside the church and through Diocesan and Deanery Synod.

Guiding principles…  The importance of relationships – with God, with one another and with ourselves.  I believe in a church which is generous, welcoming, inclusive and open; a church where everyone is able to participate fully in membership and leadership regardless of gender, ethnicity, wealth, sexual orientation or disability.  The importance of the Church acting and speaking out for social justice and working with the poor, marginalised and oppressed.  I welcome the opportunity the church has to grow and develop in new and exciting ways and want to see us grasping these more enthusiastically whilst recognising the rich treasury of traditional resources we have and maintaining these.

If you want to know more then please do email or call me.

Peter Leonard September 2015

Charles Scott PEER

Election Address – Charlie Peer I am standing for General Synod because I want to make a difference to the Church of England. My biography is: age 45, former secondary teacher, ordained in 2002, trained at Trinity College Bristol, Curate in the Dawlish group of parishes, and Priest in Charge of St Kea in Cornwall for seven years, before coming to be Mission Development Officer in Portsmouth in 2012. My calling to this post comes out of a desire for a healthy and positive approach to mission. In particular, I don’t start from the “we’re all doomed” approach which we hear so often as a justification for mission, but a vocation to genuinely be what we claim to be – a Christian presence in every community. I am not standing as a single-issue candidate or to represent a specific group. As your diocesan missioner for the last three years, I have worked happily with all types of parish in our diocese, and had the privilege of working alongside many of you. It seems to me that the theological issues facing the Church of England are not the “pitched battle” ones that some people want to fight, but the bigger ones such as: whether we can rediscover our confidence in God as the source of the Church’s life, rather than getting bogged down in managerial solutions; and whether we are able to relate to society in a way that reflects the generosity and inclusivity of the gospel, shedding the defensive and disapproving reputation that we still seem to have. I think the big challenge for the Synod over the next five years is how to deepen and broaden the agenda set by the Reform and Renewal programme. I am totally supportive of the emphasis on church growth, but I share the concern of many that over-emphasising numerical growth is counter-productive, and we need to move to a more diverse understanding of growth. I welcome the move to strip back the church’s rules and regulations, but I believe that it needs to go much further, with an emphasis on helping parishes rather than just diocesan administrations – my instinct is always to give as much freedom and trust as possible to the churches, rather than attempting to control them from the centre. I also strongly believe that “re-imagining ministry” needs to include proper resourcing and support of the clergy. This is an idea that has been paid lip-service for a long time, while in reality the church’s prevailing culture remains one in which the clergy are chronically overstretched in every possible way. It is great to see signs that this is being addressed, but my hope is that the drive for more vocations will be accompanied by some serious thinking about what will make ordained ministry do- able in the future. I am keen to be on Synod in order to advocate the ideas I have outlined here. As a member of Bishop’s Council in my previous diocese, and a diocesan officer in Portsmouth, I am used to engaging with the church’s structures, and very comfortable in speaking truth to power (hopefully in a constructive way). Perhaps more than anything, I am keen because I still believe the Church of England can make a huge positive impact on society. If you agree, I would be delighted to receive your first choice vote.

Robert Charles WHITE

General Synod Election 2015

The Rev’d Canon Bob White Vicar of St Mary, Portsea and General Synod Member (2004 – 2015) Proposed by Revd Canon Karina Green Seconded by Revd Paul Armstead Area Dean of Havant, Priest in Charge, West Leigh Priest in Charge, St James’ Milton

I am a local lad (having grown up in Southsea) I have served on 2 General Synod working groups I’ve served all my 30 years of ordained which has enabled me to express within them the ministry in Urban Parishes within the Diocese experience of a Parish priest. The linking of the of Portsmouth. As such I have played an active work of the ‘central church’ with the mission of the part in the development of many of the Church in the Parishes and communities is initiatives we have seen in recent years, and something I enjoyed. It is this commitment to continue to have a concern for all such supporting Parishes and Parish Clergy that I parishes as the Diocesan Advisor for Urban would hope to continue to carry into the Ministry. Many of these challenges are also work of the General Synod. shared in rural and semi-rural parishes alike. I am concerned at how we develop our ministry Throughout my ordained ministry I have been as clergy in support of one another across committed to seeking the unity of the Church – Parish boundaries and in partnership with the both within our own communion and with our laity. I have been a member of the Diocesan ecumenical partners. Seeking ways of holding Synod for many years and have always tried to together divergent views while maintaining the ensure that the voice of the Parish mission of the Church is a challenge clergy from all traditions are heard in that we continue to face. The last debates. As we face a time of Reform General Synod learnt that we have to and Renewal affecting Clergy and the address issues which can easily divide shape of their ministry I recognise us in a different way. The work of the the need for the voice of the last 2 years of that Synod felt very parochial clergy to be heard different to what we had experienced within and beyond the structure before. The need to ‘disagree of our Diocese and in the wider graciously’ and to seek mutual ‘flourishing’ will be important as we Church. move forward with the appointment of women in As Chair of the House of Clergy, and an Area the episcopate and as we seek to address the issue Dean, accountability of central structures to of human sexuality. The living out of the lessons the wider body has always been a priority for and principles learnt will be vital. We must me. We continue to work hard for this to take constantly find ways of listening to one place within our own Diocesan structures. It is another and respecting one another’s views, also important to seek to ensure that the ensuring that those views are honoured as structures support the Parishes and their far as is possible. mission and ministry. As we address the Simplification agenda it is important for there If you want to know more about me, or why I to be an awareness of how this will affect the would like to continue to represent you on ministry of Parish clergy. An understanding General Synod then please give me a call on of the issues faced at parish level must be 023 92 822687 part of the changes to the Church of or email [email protected]

England’s central structures and I hope you will consider voting for me legislation, so enabling the growth, mission and worship of Christ’s Church. in this election for the General Synod.

Please remember that while you are voting for 3 members of Synod the order in which you vote for them is important. If you wish me to represent you please give me your ‘1’ preference

Hugh Edward WRIGHT

House of Clergy, General Synod Election 2015. Hugh Wright.

I have served as a Parish Priest in Portsmouth for 23 years. For 21 of those years I served in a single parish with two church schools serving a mixed area, containing pockets of considerable deprivation. Over that time I witnessed many of the changes in education as well as the growth and decline of urban regeneration projects, in both of which projects the church played a key role. I served as Rural Dean between 2000- 2004. I have also found time for two MA courses, one (2001, Portsmouth) on ‘Church and Community Studies’, and the second, (Sarum College, just completed), in ‘Theology, Imagination and Culture’. These have enriched my ministry greatly.

In 2013 I moved to the beautiful town of Ventnor, where I am Priest to three congregations and 4 church buildings, all of varied churchmanship. I am also Governor to a mixed Catholic / C of E Primary School, and Vicar of a socially diverse, predominantly ageing population with a growing Arts scene. I find myself spending far more time on church matters than in Ryde, ‘keeping the show on the road’, ‘servicing the system’, and making sure the essentials are covered, with not so much time as I would like for mission in the community. This puts me in the same position as many of my IoW colleagues. The recent Isle of Wight Plan revealed the average size of congregation to be 32 and predominantly elderly. The money is also running out in many places.

This leads on to the main points, for me, of putting myself forward for General Synod.

1. If elected, I would speak for the ordinary parish priest and congregation in traditional small town / rural areas. On a recent MA course I did a module on church growth which revealed a very mixed picture. Whilst many churches in London have seen growth, the Church in the countryside and small towns, historically the backbone of the Church of England, has seen accelerating decline and, in places, face imminent death. It’s not only Sunday congregations: baptisms, weddings, and even funerals are increasingly rare events. I think we need to be honest about this decline/ death of the church in many places. Public statements by church publicity officers and Bishops tend to concentrate on the pockets of growth and draw conclusions from these churches (as in the Report From Anecdote to Evidence) which may not fit all situations. In the words of Stephen Spencer: ‘The new GS should not become preoccupied with the numbers of those attending services, but look towards places where the C of E is showing diaconal love to neighbour and stranger.” There are issues also concerning the efficacy of multi-parish benefices which were explored in the recently debated

report GS 1985 which concluded ‘There are no simple solutions that can be applied to all multi-church groups that will at one stroke result in all the change necessary’. Yet there are good stories in that report which need taking further and in which I would be keen to be involved. 2. If elected, I would offer a supportive, though critical voice to the issues arising out of the Green Report and the Reform and Renewal agenda. There’s no doubt the Church needs both reform and renewal, yet too much concentration on structures and management puts us in danger of losing sight of the genius of the Church of England, found in the pastoral heart of the parish system. Better management does not also, necessarily,lead to more disciples. Yet at the same time, with diocesan budgets being squeezed, one can hardly argue against more cost-effective solutions to the C of E’s problems. 3. It has been said that this will be the first Quinquennium for about 40 years where the issue of women’s ordination will not be a central feature. Yet this does not mean that matters of sex and sexuality will not be debated. As someone whose sister came out over 30 years ago, I am very aware of issues surrounding homosexuality. I greatly welcome the ‘Conversations’ currently taking place around the country on the matter of same-sex marriage and the church’s pastoral response. My churches contain gay people and those for whom homosexuality is abhorrent. My position is that ‘marriage is a gift of God in creation…in which man and woman become one flesh’ (Marriage Service) and not a human invention. At the moment we apparently ‘welcome gay people’ and ‘prize faithfulness’ yet at the same time offer no liturgical provision to bring these two together. I doubt whether this will be tenable for much longer. If elected, I would hope to be involved in the process which takes these ‘conversations’ further. 4. The Church of England is, as we read in the Declaration of Assent, ‘part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.’ An important part of the business of General Synod is hearing, as it did recently from the Archbishop of Erbil, from the worldwide, and often suffering sections of the church. During my time as Parish priest I have been involved in IDWAL and the Ghana Link and, as part of my Sabbatical, wrote a paper on Ghana entitled ‘I am because we are’. I did something similar with the Church of Sweden. I feel we have a huge amount to learn from the world church, both in terms of mission and organisation, and would definitely seek to be part of debates and discussions on that subject. Climate Change, and issues surrounding it, which have been discussed recently leading up to the Paris summit, are also vital. What could be more important than safeguarding the world God has given us?

There are many other issues of importance, but I don’t want to bore you! Offering myself to serve on General Synod is, for me, a way of giving back to the Church which has given me such a rewarding and fulfilling ministry, even in these difficult times. I hope you will feel able to support me.

Hugh Wright. ([email protected].)