Stand for Synod 2026: Information for General Synod elections
New clergy and lay members will be elected for General Synod this year, with nominations open between 14th August and 7th September. Those elected will serve as General Synod members for the next five years.
General Synod members have the opportunity to represent their community and diocese on a national level and have a say in legislation that affects the whole Church of England. They attend the twice-annual General Synod meetings in person or online, with travel and accommodation expenses covered.
To find out if you’re eligible, use the Church of England’s online eligibility checker. You are likely to be eligible if you regularly attend a church in this diocese, and you do not need to be a member of a PCC, deanery synod or diocesan synod in order to qualify.
For more information, read the Church of England’s FAQs.
2026 LAY MEMBER NOMINATIONS
If you are eligible to stand as a lay member, you will need two people who are members of a Deanery Synod (‘electors’) to nominate you. Clergy need to be nominated by two other clergy. Nomination forms will be sent to Deanery Synod members on 14th August. The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Monday 7th September.
Anyone who wishes to stand as a lay member, but is not qualified to vote, may download a nomination form from this page from the 14th August. Alternatively, if you would like a hard copy of the nomination form, you may request one from the Presiding Officer, Mrs Amanda Redgate. Her contact details are: Jubilee House, Westgate, Southwell Nottinghamshire NG25 0JH or amanda.redgate@southwell.anglican.org
As part of the process, candidates may provide an election address about why you want to be elected and what you would bring to the role by the close of nominations. Further details will be provided here from 14th August.
The voting period will then take place from 21st September to 13th October. You will be asked to take part in hustings during this period, with details to be confirmed at a later date.
