2015 GENERAL SYNOD ELECTIONS
HOUSE OF LAITY
LIST OF CANDIDATES & ADDRESSES
Emily Rachel BAGG
David John Edward DAY
Lucy Clare DOCHERTY
Mark Simon EMERTON
Stuart Kenneth FORSTER
Rebecca Claire HUNT
Michael LANE
Paul UTTING
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 GSelections@portsmouth.anglican.org
Candidates’ responses will be published on the diocesan website.
Emily Rachel BAGG
My name is Emily Bagg. I’m 26, and live on the Isle of Wight with my husband and
small daughter. I am currently a stay at home mum, but until last year, was working
with children with special educational needs in a large secondary school. Although I
grew up in a free church, when I went to university in 2007, I began worshipping in a
very low Anglican church. From there, I went to work and worship a Winchester
cathedral (right at the other end of the proverbial candlestick!), before settling in a
middle-of-the-road church. This spectrum of worship styles has given me a good
insight into the wonderful dichotomy that is the Church of England. I love that we are
one church that worships Jesus in so many different ways because we are all equally
and wonderfully (but differently!) made.
I am standing for General Synod because as a young mum, I am concerned about
the future of our church. We live in a time where our young people can be so easily
turned away from the Lord, and I hear all too often that they don’t believe church can
be relevant to them. I want to help to enable our church to keep growing and
reaching the young people who are the future of the Church. I believe that the Bible
is still God’s word, and is still relevant, just as Jesus is the same yesterday, today
and forever. As one of the younger members of our immediate church family, this is
an issue that I feel strongly about, and I would like to help to steer the church
nationally as it seeks to find ways and the initiatives to reach, keep, mentor and
disciple our young people. Young people often have a very fluid view of the world,
promoting tolerance and respect for all. We need to find a way to help them to
express the wonderful acceptance of each other, without “watering down” the Gospel
as Jesus taught it.
Additionally, our politicians seem to be less and less willing to acknowledge our
heritage as a Christian country, and I am afraid for my daughter’s generation: that
they will grow up in a terrifyingly secular society. Growing up, my parents made the
decision to live in the USA for a few years. This experience gave me lots of new
opportunities, but I remember with sadness as Christmases rolled by, we were not
allowed to celebrate them, as religion was not allowed to play a part in our state
education. How sad it would be if this country were to go the same way; already
some of our local primary schools have ditched nativity plays, and celebrate spring
break, rather than the Easter holidays. As the established church of this land, it is
the General Synod’s responsibility, and indeed privilege, to stand up for the rights of
people of faith; especially our own. I am standing for Synod because I want the
church to help our country remember our heritage, and to safeguard our right to
express our faith.
Last year the General Synod made what I believe was the right decision to allow
female bishops. This next session will have the similarly important decisions to
make: decisions that will affect each and every one of us, from the Bishop down to
those of us in the pews. Now is an exciting and challenging time to be a member of
the Synod, and I believe I am the right person to represent this diocese as the
Church makes many more groundbreaking decisions, seeking to fulfil God’s will for
our church.
David John Edward DAY
Tel 01329 609426
Email djed@talktalk.net
Proposed by:
Margaret Chappell Church Warden,
SS Peter & Paul, Fareham, Lay Cannon of
Portsmouth Cathedral
Seconded by: Tony Lawrence
East Wight Deanery Synod
About Me I am married with three children and six grandchildren, a retired
Chartered Engineer with a degree in Business Management. I lived for 35years on
Isle of Wight, worshipping in Shanklin and for many years Church Treasurer and
local Christian Aid organiser. I was a voluntary Business Mentor for The Prince’s
Trust working with young people, and the Frederik Foundation, involved with older
people. I am a volunteer adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau. For the past 4 years I
have lived and worshipped in Fareham, where I am an altar server and PCC member
at SS Peter & Paul. I am a Trustee Director of one of the top 50 UK Pension Funds. I
have experience during my career of working with people from different countries and
cultures.
My Beliefs The importance of worship as being fundamental to the purpose
of the Church and the basis for its mission and growth.
That we should preserve the current doctrine on issues of ministry including the
absolute duty of confidentiality of disclosures within sacramental confession.
I believe in family values, and feel that marriage, in its true sense, is the best
environment to bring up children and should be the union of one man with one
woman, as revealed in Holy Scripture, taught by Our Lord, proclaimed by the Book of
Common Prayer, and Common Worship and regulated by Canon B30:1.
However, I believe that the Church must be accepting of all those who seek God’s
love and teaching.
The Church in the Community As the established Church, our
voice should be heard on moral, social and welfare issues in the same way as other
Christian denominations have been heard. We should not ‘sit on the fence’, but be
publicly involved in issues such as homelessness, moral values, poverty,
environmental issues and in standing up for the disadvantaged and those who don’t
have a voice or are unable to express themselves.
Synod should move towards developing policies to collect and collate these issues
from grass roots, to enable Bishops, and others with influence, to present and make
the case from the pulpit, in the media and in Government for change at national level.
We have many unused or underused buildings. Can these be part of the solution?
This is where churches of all denominations could work together
Church Unity I believe in the unity of the Christian Church and its many
groupings and would support and encourage further dialogue, initiatives and any
progress in this area. Recent decisions by some provinces of the Anglican Church
may make this more challenging but we have to commit to build bridges. Within our
Church we respect differences. Recent tensions associated with the consecration of
female Bishops has been debated, decisions reached and a way forward agreed and
accepted by all. The House of Bishops has defined guiding principles as a model for
Synod going forward to ensure that all within our Church can flourish. This is now
behind us; there are new challenges to be faced and overcome together.
Church Structure, Growth and Sustainability Our
Diocese has financial issues, costs are rising, income and congregations are falling.
This must be addressed, and urgent action is required not just at parish or diocesan
level but nationally. Structural changes are needed; some have started but need
accelerating to make our Church sustainable in the 21st C and beyond. On the Isle of
Wight massive structural changes are proposed to address this very issue. It cannot
stop there.
Our challenge is to achieve this and at the same time rejuvenate C of E to attract
younger people and bring average age down.
Your Vote I ask you to support me by giving your first or high preference vote.
Please feel free to call or Email me to discuss these or other issues.
Thank you
David
Lucy Clare DOCHERTY
General Synod Election Address 2015 –
I have been a lay member of General Synod for the last 7 years
and am seeking re-election because I believe that my
experience at local, diocesan, and national levels can be of
use to the Synod and that, in turn, my experience and learning
at the Synod will continue to be of benefit in my work for the
Diocese.
My church roots go back to my childhood in Devon but, for the
past 32 years, I have been a member of Holy Trinity with St
Columba parish in Fareham where I have been involved in a
wide range of parish life and work, serving on many different PCC committees and the
Fareham Deanery Council. Within our diocese I have been Chair of the House of Laity
for the last 9 years. I stood down from this role at our most recent Diocesan Synod in
June but continue to be fully involved in the life of the Diocese in a number of ways
including as a member of Bishop’s Council, and particularly as Chairman of the
Steering Group for the Council for Social Responsibility (CSR) which undertakes a
range of activities in support of social engagement across the diocese. We have twice
reported on one of our key initiatives, the Rapid Development Project at General Synod
where the concept has met with a very positive response and a number of requests for
visits to share our ideas with other dioceses. I am a Lay Canon for our beautiful
Cathedral and enjoy the opportunity to worship there when I can as well as taking every
opportunity to promote its work locally and nationally. Beyond the diocese I am a
trustee of Church House, the building in the grounds of Westminster Abbey in which
Synod meets when in London, and I sit as an Advisor for the Bishops’ Selection Panels
for recruiting new Ordinands. In both roles I know that I am more effective as a result
of what I have learned at Synod.
I have a number of other interests which have helped to inform my contributions to my
parish, the diocese and General Synod. First among these is my involvement in
ecumenical issues, born out of my personal experience of being married to a
committed Roman Catholic and living in an Interchurch marriage for 35 years. I am
heavily involved in local ecumenical projects through my membership of Christians
Together in Fareham and, as a member of the Association of Interchurch Families,
have recently been appointed to a national role on the Enabling Group of Churches
Together in England (CTE). This gives me the opportunity to represent the work that
is happening in our diocese as well as in many other Bodies associated with CTE, and
has the advantage that I am able to bring a wider, national perspective back home. My
involvement in my husband’s church has enabled me to contribute to ecumenical
debates at General Synod from the viewpoint of a particular lived experience and, if
elected, I hope to be able to use this experience and my contacts in the furtherance of
Synod’s ecumenical efforts.
My interest in ecumenism extends beyond organisational matters into practical,
pastoral support in the form of an ecumenical marriage preparation programme which,
together with representatives from other churches, my husband and I deliver to couples
getting married in most of the churches in the Fareham area. I feel passionate about
this area of mission, for it offers us a chance to show the human and caring face of the
Christian church to couples who may have had very little experience of church until
they ask for help with their wedding. It is mission at its most fundamental level, giving
people the care and support they need at an important, and sometimes vulnerable,
time in their lives.
I believe very strongly that if the C of E is to survive then the way we “run our business”
and communicate with each other has to get better. The national church has recently
embarked upon a significant programme of work called “Reform and Renewal”
designed to improve the way that we operate and are seen and understood by both
church members and the rest of society. Inevitably, the process will take years to
achieve what needs to be done but there is a “spring in the step” of our Archbishops.
Already the process of consulting locally with the dioceses has begun. If re-elected, I
will continue my practice of visiting deaneries to talk about the work of General Synod
and, to begin with, will concentrate particularly on engaging with the members of our
diocese on what the Reform and Renewal changes might mean for our local church. I
believe it is essential that we support our Archbishops and Bishops in their
determination to reduce the demands of the legislative process that have threatened
to overwhelm us in the last few decades and to make our beloved CofE more
responsive to the need for change. I believe very strongly that there is room for much
improvement in the way we do our business; I have skills and experience that can
contribute to this work, particularly in listening and responding to concerns, and am
keen to play a part in making the changes happen
In the last Synod we finally passed the legislation on Women Bishops. Although I am
very proud to have been part of the process I am not proud about the mess we made
in getting there. However, as a result of the measures put in place to address the failed
vote in 2012 we do now have a process for talking to each other and I believe that it
will stand us in good stead as we begin to tackle other contentious and divisive issues.
We did a lot of damage to our reputation through our failure to manage the Women
Bishops issue and we cannot afford to make similar mistakes again. Already there are
two generations of people in our country with very little if any understanding of the
Good News of Jesus Christ. We cannot allow our internal divisions to get in the way of
the centrality of our mission to proclaim this Good News.
To complete this pen-picture: I have four grown up children, all brought up in both the
CofE and RC churches and, for my own faith development, I am about to embark on
the Exploring Christianity course in our diocese. Much of my professional career has
been spent working in the area of governance; I undertake a portfolio of roles including
non-executive directorships, coaching and mentoring, and am currently Chair of
Governors at St Vincent College in Gosport and Senior Independent Governor for
Portsmouth Hospitals Trust. I have a great interest in education and health issues and
spoke at the last Synod meeting in July on the important role played by Governors in
our schools and colleges.
My Christian faith was nurtured by my parents, both NSM priests, and has been part
of who I am for all my life. Serving the church in an administrative function such as
being a member of General Synod may not sound the most “mission shaped “ way of
living out one’s faith but it is in undertaking such functions that my experience lies and
I believe it is an essential way of enabling the mission of the church to happen in the
world today. There is much that could be improved in our system of synodical
government but at its heart is an opportunity for the lay voice to be heard and for lay
involvement in the life and witness of the church. Please vote for me so that I may
continue that tradition
Contact Details:
33 Southampton Road, Fareham, PO16
Tel: 01329 233602 lucy@docherty1.co.uk
Proposed by: Louise Clay (Petersfield Deanery)
Seconded by: Debbie Sutton (Portsmouth Deanery)
Mark Simon EMERTON
Mark Emerton
Election address:
General Synod elections 2015
Parish of Farlington
Portsmouth Deanery
mark.emerton@yahoo.com
07803 161426
Proposed: Mr Mervyn Doyle
Seconded: Dr Marcus Saunders
Who
Prois Mark Emerton?
 Outlook: A 54 year-old committed Anglican, liberal in outlook but comfortable
with the Evangelical and Catholic traditions, worshiping at the Church of the
Resurrection in the Parish of Farlington (where my home is). I value an ability to
engage with and listen to all viewpoints, and am not affiliated to any group. I am
keen to encourage inclusiveness in the life of the Church.
 Career: A qualified barrister and now a Judge at an inner-city Employment
Tribunal, resolving workplace disputes and discrimination issues; I also sit parttime as a judge in the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, dealing with challenging
appeals involving refugees. I was previously a Commissioner at the Criminal
Cases Review Commission, investigating miscarriages of justice. Until 2002 I
served as an officer in the Royal Navy, travelling the world but spending a
significant part of my career based around Portsmouth.
 Other professional experience: Broad experience as a non-executive board
member, committee member and adviser for national institutions and medical
regulatory bodies. I have also worked as a volunteer locally and nationally with
charities such as the RNLI and St John Ambulance.
 Religious law: A member of the Committee of the Ecclesiastical Law Society, I
have expertise in religious law, and recently completed a Master’s Degree in
Canon Law. My dissertation was on religious discrimination in the workplace.
 Local: I have lived in Portsmouth for 20 years, and have been a governor of
Solent Infant School. My three daughters go to school in Portsmouth, and I am
married to Hannah, a Paediatric Consultant at Queen Alexandra Hospital.
 The Church: I am active in my Parish and chair the Finance Committee, and
have been an enthusiastic member of the Diocesan Synod since 2012. I am very
happy to offer myself to represent the Diocese at General Synod, and would like
to be able to make a constructive contribution to the national work of the Church.
What does Mark Emerton stand for?
 I am fully committed to supporting the ministry of women at all levels of the
Church, whilst working constructively to accommodate those members of the
Church who cannot in conscience accept a female episcopacy.
 I strongly believe that the Church should embrace diversity and equality, and that
change is needed. There are likely to be further debates as to how the Church
deals with diversity. It is essential that we move forwards in a compassionate,
mature and collaborative way. We should be welcoming and inclusive, valuing
diversity, encouraging everyone fully to participate in the membership and
leadership of the Church, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality or disability.
 I also believe that we should seek to preserve all that is good in the Church’s
wonderful resource of people, buildings, traditions, legal structures and Christian
mission. At the same time, we must carry on a sensible debate as to how the
Church can best serve the whole community, wisely stewarding these resources,
achieving the possible whilst working towards the ideal.
What would Mark Emerton bring to the role?
 A deep understanding of applying and developing the law fairly: with
integrity, common sense and in a Christian context. This is gained from work as a
barrister and Judge, and studying religious law. I would try to make a positive
contribution to the important law-making and law-reform role of General Synod.
 Professional expertise in the realities of: Armed conflict, righting miscarriages of
justice, appreciating all perspectives in seeking to resolve workplace disputes
and discrimination allegations, hearing appeals from asylum-seekers and dealing
with medico-legal cases. This would help inform the work of General Synod in,
for example, developing a reasoned position on just war, the refugee crisis,
human sexuality, equality, justice and medical ethics.
 Experience of effective governance and decision-making: mastering complex
evidence, listening to others’ views and seeking consensus, before making
balanced decisions. This is essential to the work of Synod and its subcommittees; taking forwards initiatives within the “Reform and Renewal” agenda.
 An appreciation of religious discrimination, including the differences and
similarities between religions. This would help to inform cooperation with other
faiths, and the development of religious education in a multi-faith society.
 Children and teenagers: Experience as an elected parent governor, an
understating of safeguarding issues, and bringing up teenagers.
 The environment: My first degree was in Geography, before turning to law. I am
a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and remain interested in climate
change and the environment. I would hope to contribute to environmental policy.

I am committed to listening, and would welcome questions from electors.
Stuart Kenneth FORSTER
General Synod
Elections 2015
House of Laity
Stuart Kenneth
Forster
DOB 13 April 1949
I am standing for election as one of the three Lay Portsmouth Diocese
representatives to General Synod and ask for your prayerful consideration. This is
an important time in the Church of England as we consider the changes that are
needed in our structures to fulfil the mission of God in our country and beyond. I
have been involved with my local church as well as deanery and diocesan roles
(please see below) for many years and believe that this gives me a good background
and the experiences required for General Synod.
In my local church, Crofton Parish Holy Rood with St Edmunds, in Stubbington I have
served since 1996 as a member of the PCC and served 7 years as Parish Treasurer.
At Deanery level I am a member of the Deanery Synod and am the Deanery
Treasurer and a member of the Deanery Council (it acts as the Standing Committee
and Pastoral Committee). In addition I am the Chair of the Deanery Finance
Committee and represent the Deanery on the Diocesan Finance Committee.
I am a member of Diocesan Synod and a member of Bishop’s Council (it acts as the
Standing Committee of Synod, Diocesan Board of Finance, Diocesan Mission and
Pastoral Committee, Diocesan Council for Social Responsibility, Portsmouth
Diocesan Education Trust, and Catherington Trust Trustee). In addition I am Chair of
the Diocesan Patronage Board. Recently the Bishop appointed me a Lay Canon of
Portsmouth Cathedral.
For many years my wife (Linda) and I have been involved with our parish Ghana
IDWAL link with St Marks Anglican Church Essikadu. We have visited there many
times since 2005 and are now accepted very much as part of the church community
in the Essikadu area. Their long term goal of a new church nursery school was
realised with some financial help and lots of encouragement from Crofton. The new
building officially opened on 2008. In 2014 we were part of the Crofton Youth
Mission team (6 youth 4 adults) to visit Essikadu. In addition to experiencing local life
and Ghanaian schooling the team helped re- paint the crèche in the nursery school.
This year we returned with funds raised by the youth team to help install electricity for
ceiling fans and lights in the school as well as providing the finance to repaint the
remainder of the building.
I believe it’s important to also be involved in activities outside church. After early
retirement 5 years ago from paid employment I became a school governor at my
local primary school (Woodcot). Although not a church school I regard it very much
as part of God’s calling for us to be involved in the wider world. As well as Governor
duties I volunteer for one to one reading with the children in Year 6. I have been
asked to say prayers at assemblies and 6 times a year my wife and I lead a school
assembly about life in Ghana.
I am a member Hampshire Constabulary’s Independent Advisory Group and am
currently chair of the Fareham and Gosport Group. This involves regular meetings
with members of Hampshire Constabulary (at all levels) to give an Independent view
about Policing. By asking challenging questions we help the Police interact with the
Public in a better and understandable way, for example less use of Police jargon.
We also monitor and review Stop and Search records, Domestic Abuse and Hate
Crime records. We have made some suggestions about the local process itself as
well as provided a level of re-assurance to senior management. In addition I am
involved in Neighbourhood watch both as a Street coordinator and a member of the
Gosport NHW committee.
I was born, baptized and confirmed in Newcastle upon Tyne. After school I joined
the Royal Navy and served in ships and shore establishments until I left after 22
years service in 1989.
On leaving the Royal Navy I joined the Civil Service and was assigned to the Ministry
of Defence as an IT specialist and appointed to HMS Centurion (Gosport). Served in
HMS Daedalus (Lee on the Solent) and HMS Sultan (Gosport) and Portsmouth Naval
Base. I had a number of roles including Networking support, PC support, Help desk
manager, Webmaster and Intelligent Customer. My last job was as a member of the
Project Board for installing a new Computer System in Portsmouth Naval Base, I was
the Senior User for Navy Command Users.
I ask to be considered as a General Synod Lay member, aware that this is a
challenging time in the life of the Church of England. We are a broad church and our
structures must provide the framework for us to build on the best of our heritage and
be flexible enough to respond to Gods calling to be Salt and Light in this country
and beyond.
A Christian presence in every Community.
Rebecca Claire HUNT
Mrs Rebecca Hunt
Bishop’s Waltham
Aged 44 years
Mother of 3/ Barrister & University Lecturer
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope to
persuade you that if you vote for me, I will represent
you well at General Synod over the next 3 years.
My husband is an Anglican Clergyman in Bishop’s
Waltham (St Peter’s, Bishop’s Waltham and
Blessed Mary, Upham). I support him in this ministry
by making our family home a welcoming place for
the Parish, and looking after our three children,
Samuel (15), Lydia (13) and William (9).
Prior to coming to Bishop’s Waltham, my husband was curate at St Peter’s Church in
Farnborough.
I have a Masters in Law from Cambridge University, and am trained as a Barrister. For
the part 15 years, since Samuel was born, I have worked part-time (2 days per week)
teaching legal drafting on the Bar Professional Training Course at BPP Law School in
London, Holborn.
I was brought up as a Christian and taken to church from the youngest age. My father
has been a Lay Reader for more than 30 years. I have always attended Anglican
churches in a wide range of contexts, in an Urban Priority Area as a child and teenager,
in a city at University, in central London as a student, and now in a rural market town
in the Meon Valley.
If I was sent to the General Synod by you, my voting decisions would rest upon a deep
faith founded in the firm conviction of the power and relevance of Scripture today, the
importance of prayer, and the need for the established church to be salt and light in
our generation. I believe that the gospel is truly “a pearl at any price” and is needed
today more than ever.
I believe strongly in the need for a local church, and its value in bringing community,
compassion and the truth of the gospel to the people.
Our churches in Bishop’s Waltham and Upham are genuinely welcoming to all. My
husband leads them in the essentials of the Christian faith, and with a focus on doing
mission together in the community. This transcends secondary differences of worship
style and churchmanship. We have every church 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 believe that in the Church of England we need to encourage the evangelistic
heart of evangelical tradition, the thinking mind of liberal tradition, and the social action
of the catholic tradition. In our churches a variety of things go on that reflect our
diversity: Home groups, Bible-study groups, Social Action (Food Bank, Lunch Clubs,
Holidays at Home); Fresh Expressions (Messy Church, Coffee Corner, Worship 24);
Families/Children and Young People’s Work including a Youth Co-ordinator for both
the church and the community youth groups. I would like all churches to be equipped
and enabled to be like this.
In the Church of England as we move into the future, I believe there is going to be
need to model varied local church life, 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 that we would all naturally be witnesses to our faith.
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 up for 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 the encouragement
of all in heartfelt worship (prayer, singing, teaching, fellowship and discipleship) as the
engine of enthusiasm for our own faith and witness.
Human Sexuality: I would like to speak up for the better welcome and pastoral care
of all in our churches. I believe that we need to strive for unity in the area 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.
To conclude, I hope you might consider voting for me as your first preference. I
recognise that I would be taking on a heavy responsibility, but I will do my very best.
Rebecca Hunt
The Rectory
Maypole Green
Bishops Waltham
Hampshire
SO32 1PW
01489-892618
07773-758860
rebeccahunt1970@gmail.com
Michael LANE
Candidate for Election to General Synod representing Portsmouth Diocese
This short note seeks your support and vote to send me as one of your
representatives to General Synod.
Why me and why now? I am clear that this is a key time of change and
challenge for our Church and that our representation on General Synod is both
important as a place to make our diocesan contribution, as well as a key place to
hear and report back on national decisions and policies that will impact upon us.
I join those who think this time of change is welcome, exciting and needed, if
perhaps daunting. My involvement at Diocesan (Bishop’s Council, Diocesan Synod
and leading a study into our future funding), deanery and parish level have given me
experience to add to my other career skills that together make me keen to undertake
this additional important work on our behalf. I want to help create and be part of a
Church that is newly vibrant and widely engaged, including with many who today we
struggle to reach.
Creating a Church appropriately tuned for today’s needs is key, and necessary
change to facilitate this is increasingly our parish, deanery and diocesan focus, as it
should be. But the underlaying structures of our Church need attention also to
enable this work through the national reform and renewal work. I believe that I can
bring both experience and skills to assist with this endeavour and add value at
General Synod and, from there, back to our Diocese.
My life is lived according to values and behaviours that reflect my professional
approach, moulded in the discipline of public service in the Armed Forces, and more
recently in community and charity service.
And I would argue I bring additional relevant empathy and insight from having
experienced some major challenges that give me connections with a wide community
not so fortunate or yet achieving their potential.
I know what it is to suffer disabling pain and illness that required rehabilitation stays
in hospital and a rethinking of my future prospects and physical expectations. It
inspired me to champion disability causes and accessibility.
I experienced inequalities of opportunity because of my family circumstances, some
occasional poverty and the devastating impacts of drugs and alcohol on family
members. Yet I also was much loved and supported in seeking to improve our family
circumstances. These experiences have informed and motivated me in my family life,
faith, and commitments at Church. I continue to feel a strong call to seek to make a
positive difference wherever I can.
If elected, I will wish to listen widely to views within the diocese. And prayerful
listening for God’s inspiration will be an important part of my behaviour alongside a
willingness for the necessary work.
It is through this sense of service and advocacy, that I have already stood for
election for various synodical bodies, led a study into the future of the Diocesan
Parish Share & Future Funding, attended a Pioneer Ministry exploration course and
continued to be active in my local community.
The opportunity, at a time of important change, to add my energy in General
Synod for the good of the Church resonates with me strongly.
My best wishes for your deliberations and discernment in this important vote.
Michael
Paul UTTING
Manifesto for election to General Synod 2015 – Paul Utting
First I apologise for not being able to attend the hustings meeting. I shall be in
Canada caring for my brother who has Parkinson’s disease, to enable my sister in
law to attend a family celebration in Manchester. This is a longstanding commitment.
I will however endeavour to answer your questions by email.
1. My aims
1. My main concerns are for the sustainability of the Church, in a society
which sees us as irrelevant, except in so far as a convenience for family
occasions to use our buildings. We have major financial concerns,
discontent within our congregations on the focus on money, and a false
image of our wealth. I want to see the Church more outspoken in politics,
more caring towards world problems. We have to show the people of Syria
and elsewhere that we really do care.
2. We also need to slicken up our business, by eliminating waste and
duplication, and by engaging more with technology, yet maintaining our
standards and traditions.
3. We should speak up against cruelty, poverty, fraud and excessive rewards,
which are dividing our society.
4. We need to make our processes more efficient and transparent, especially
for those at Parish level who invariably are volunteers struggling with
massive workloads. They sacrifice their personal lives to constant pressure
to support their churches. Many younger members with family
responsibilities cannot even offer support, as they as so busy, even
although they wish to.
5. We face great challenges in the years ahead, and I want to play my part in
helping to ease these problems.
2.
My background is in the manufacturing industry working for Plessey and IBM
in Havant. I am technically literate with PCs and networks and welcome the
challenge to keep up to date with latest technologies. I am a Chartered
Engineer and have a Degree in Physics from Nottingham University. I am in
my fourth year as Church Warden at St Faith’s Church Havant, and submitted
an unsuccessful application for the recent 2015 Listed Places of Worship Roof
Grant. I am very familiar with the DAC Faculty Process, and relationships with
the Diocese. I am a Diocesan Synod Representative for the Havant Deanery. I
have been a member of St Faith’s Church, Havant since 1960. Along with my
PCC duties, I am a server and sing in the church choir. I am a lover of the
Book of Common Prayer and especially Choral Evensong.
3. I support other local organisations, especially Portsmouth Motor Neurone
Disease Association, Havant Stroke Club, a local bowling club, West Ashling Art
Group and Wessex Cantorum Choir and Hampshire Police Male Voice Choir.
4. I am retired and can readily support and attend General Synod meetings and
sub committees. I have a strong calling to serve God by being a member of the
General Synod. Just as I am, O Lamb of God, I come.
Paul Utting 9 September 2015
Email uttingpaul@btinternet.com telephone 02392483984