Nominations for Elections 2021
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NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTIONS 2021 CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE PROPOSER SECONDER Elizabeth Wilson Frances Godden The Rt Rev’d Stephen Conway Statement Elizabeth Wilson is standing as Chair of the ELS, having been invited to do so by the trustees. Elizabeth has a wide experience of the practice of ecclesiastical law. She has been a partner at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP in Yorkshire since 2009, a firm with a history of advising Church of England dioceses and Church of England Patrons. Elizabeth’s practice now includes acting for Church of England and Roman Catholic dioceses, Anglican and Roman Catholic Religious Communities, independent Churches and charitable trusts with religious purposes. Elizabeth has been a trustee of the ELS since 2016 (initially of the unincorporated charity and latterly the CIO) and has served on the standing committee since 2018. She was instrumental in the recent incorporation of the Society, having chaired the governance sub-committee. In 2018 Elizabeth initiated and continues to convene the Northern Province lecture series. As a result of her involvement with the ELS to date, Elizabeth considers that she is well-placed, if elected, to build on the considerable progress made over the last six years, and lead the Society through the next chapter of its life as a fully-fledged CIO. She has experience of chairing a charity, having chaired Tariro UK, which under her tenure has grown from a kitchen table charity to a thriving charity supporting disadvantaged youth in Zimbabwe (run out of The Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield). If elected Chair of the ELS, Elizabeth will bring a commitment to furthering the principles of the Society, namely those of service to the Church by way of raising awareness of issues of ecclesiastical law and the provision of legal education to clergy and laity, whilst also ensuring that the Society continues to provide mutual support and encouragement as we together face the challenges of keeping the Christian faith alive in the 21st Century. TRUSTEE CANDIDATE PROPOSER SECONDER The Rev’d David Adamson Luke Tatam The Ven. Jane Steen Statement I was ordained priest in 2018, after studying at the College of the Resurrection, and served my title at Southwark Cathedral, St Hugh’s Bermondsey, and St George the Martyr, Southwark. I have just been appointed Associate Priest in the Parish of Croydon. Although I have no formal legal training, I have become very enthusiastic about ecclesiastical law, and the work of the ELS. I became a member shortly after my ordination, and have found the lectures and online resources very formative. My time at Mirfield embedded in me a sense of order in the life of the Church, and throughout my studies and my curacy have become more engrossed in Canon Law as, to borrow Rowan William’s phrase, ‘practical ecclesiology.’ Prior to ordination I was an engineer at Rolls Royce, and still have a strong sense of the practical as creative and life giving, and ecclesiastical law and order has been a new and exciting outworking of this in my life. Thus, my reasons for standing would be: • To help encourage the appreciation of the Church’s Law as a hands on, and practical way, of enabling our mission: something relevant at the ‘coal face.’ • To help propagate a sense of enthusiasm and joy in the law of the Church, and of it’s study at all levels, particularly for ordinands, curates, and new incumbents. I hope you consider me as a trustee CANDIDATE PROPOSER SECONDER The Rev’d Raymond Baudon Luke Tatam The Ven. Jane Steen Statement I was born in Scotland to a Scottish mother and French father and I was brought up near Edinburgh. I studied for an LLB(Hons) in Scots Law at Glasgow University and graduated in 2003. I studied for my Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Edinburgh University before starting my traineeship in one of the big four Scottish commercial firms. In practice, I specialised in Corporate Finance, mainly doing transactional work for corporate clients. I also developed a speciality in providing legal opinions on Scottish securities for ‘foreign’ firms, mostly in the City. At the same time, I became the chair of one of the Edinburgh festivals whilst also being heavily involved in my church, which was part of the Scottish Episcopal Church. I also volunteered as a Samaritan. I moved to London to begin discerning my vocation to ordained ministry in the Church of England and worked in the Chaplaincy at King’s College London before going to Ripon College Cuddesdon to train for ordained ministry. I was ordained deacon in 2018 and priest the year later. I have served my title at St John the Evangelist East Dulwich. After Easter I will take up the full-time post of Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Deputy Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Southwark. I will continue to exercise my priestly ministry as an Honorary Minor Canon of Southwark Cathedral. In 2019 I enrolled on the LLM in Canon Law and one of my essays, which focused on the reforms of the CDM, was published in the Ecclesiastical Law Journal last year. My dissertation will look at governance within the Church of England with a particular focus on discernment and the exercise of discretion by decision makers. As a trustee, I would be honoured to contribute to the work of the Society and I hope to be able to offer my skills and experience as the Society continues to grow and develop. I believe that, as the Church of England grapples with many complex issues, it is crucial for the Church to hear a clear and well-respected voice presenting the legal aspects of these debates. I also value the Society’s role in providing education on ecclesiastical law matters. In my new diocesan role, I will be building relationships with theological colleges and so would hope to be able to further the educational work of the Society by, for example, encouraging theological colleges to ensure that ecclesiastical law is on the curriculum for ordinands in training. CANDIDATE PROPOSER SECONDER The Rev’d Paul Benfield The Rev’d Christopher Smith The Rev’d Neil Patterson Statement Barrister, Priest, Synodal Secretary of the Convocation of York, Member of General Synod, Vice-Chair of the Dioceses Commission, Member of the Legislative Committee. I have acted as chaplain to two residential conferences of the Society, the most recent being at Windsor in 2019. Living in Burnley, I am an active supporter of the Northern lectures CANDIDATE PROPOSER SECONDER The Rev’d Andrew Birks Norman Doe The Rev’d Stephen Coleman Statement I was born and raised in Northumberland. After leaving sixth form I had a career in retail management. In 2001 I joined Cambridgeshire Constabulary which included response work and being a Staff Officer for the Soham Murder Investigation, which gave me my first real experience and exposure to legal preparation and court processes. I moved to The City of London Police in 2004, working again as a staff officer for the command team at Bishopsgate Police Station with responsibility for complaints, policy and performance and Court Warrants. I transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service in 2008, working in Brixton and Croydon Boroughs as well as a period working on CID investigating serious crime, including probate fraud, kidnapping, and managing the London Riots Investigation Teams. In relation to fraud, I conducted enquiries in the Caribbean and represented the service in Courts in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Although most of my working time has been focused on criminal law, my love of ‘the law’ and legal issues would continue beyond the police! I became more aware of Ecclesiastical Law shortly after being selected for training for the Priesthood in 2011. I was licensed as a Lay Worker in 2014; ordained Deacon in December 2016 and Priest in June 2017. I completed a BA in Theology: Mission and Ministry (Common Awards) with Durham University in 2017, and I am now studying for a Master’s Degree (LLM) Canon Law at Cardiff University, where I am in my 2nd year. If elected to become one of the Trustees for ELS, I will work hard to ensure that the role of ELS is promoted and protected at every opportunity so that all those interested in Ecclesiastical Law are brought together to learn from one another and to develop and scrutinise certain aspects of law which concern church life today. In addition, I hope that together we will be able to further the work and membership of the ELS. As a student on the Canon Law course at Cardiff, I would seek to encourage all to join the ELS where they would have access to the vast and varied support of not just it’s library but its members too; where we have the opportunity to network and develop support from one another – something I have found incredibly supportive during my own studies. I am passionate about training of clergy and laity in matters of legality within their roles in the church today – an area which I believe will ensure that all those who hold office within the church should be prepared for in areas such as Faculty and Clergy Discipline amongst others – especially at an early stage of their ministry. Ecclesiastical Law is important to each and every person who holds a role in the church today, and I hope that as a Trustee I will be able to continue the work of the ELS in supporting all those who work within its jurisdiction, or simply have an interest in this area of law, ensuring it remains inclusive to all.