Paul Waddell is standing for General Synod
Good morning!
It’s general synod election season again, and I’m sorry that probably means your inboxes will be filling up with these requests for your vote. So I’m sure you’ll appreciate some brevity. I’ve served on General Synod for the past five years. During this time, I’ve been highly effective, and I feel called to give it another five years.
Here’s probably my best moment so far, moving the motion to lead the Church away from the outdated and homophobic document ‘Issues in Human Sexuality’. If you’ve got the time, please see me in action, by clicking the link below. I have better jokes elsewhere, but this was the really important stuff that makes our church more inclusive.
As well as this, I served on the National Church Governance Measure’s Revision Committee, contributed to plenty of debates in the chamber, did lots of work behind the scenes, supporting amendments, and talking to people on different sides of arguments, in order to make things happen.
If you return me to synod, I will continue to champion:
Inclusivity: A church which is equally inclusive of everyone. (Yes, this includes women in every ministry & equal marriage)
A Younger Church: I want my kids to grow up with a thriving church, so I will always have our next generations on my mind when in the chamber.
Fair Funding for Parishes: Times will be tough in the next few years in Southwark, and the CofE. We must support parishes, with clergy, trained lay ministers, and resources. Growth should reflect all traditions, not just those of bigger, rich churches.
The Environment: A church that does everything imaginable, in its teaching and its actions, to preserve God’s created environment.
At home, I work in the NHS, am a licensed lay reader, a member of the Diocesan Council of Trustees, Diocesan Synod, Deanery Synod, Southwark organiser for ‘Together for the Church of England’, and am an ultra competitive board games player. A very significant Bible verse for me is Proverbs 3:6: In all your ways submit to the Lord, and he will make your paths straight. I try and do this as best I can in all walks of my life.
Under the voting system for General Synod, you don’t just have one X. Instead you put the candidates in the order you prefer them. Please put 1 against my name (or at least, a high number).
Thank you for your time, please do ask any questions of me you want. I attach my election address.
Paul Waddell
07540764596
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