New clergy and lay members are being elected to General Synod this year – and you are invited to stand as a candidate.
General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England.
It shapes and approves laws that affect the whole of the Church of England. It agrees new forms of worship, debates matters of national and international importance and approves the annual budget for the work of the Church at national level.
In Summer and Autumn 2026, the process to election new General Synod members is happening.
Those elected will serve for five years. Members are a mixture of bishops, clergy and lay people - could one of them be you?
Who can stand?
Almost anyone who attends church regularly is likely to be eligible to stand as a lay member. You don’t need to be a member of a Parochial Church Council (PCC), Deanery Synod or Diocesan Synod.
The Diocese of Rochesters is looking for candidates who represent the whole range of people and church traditions in the Church of England. Candidates whose background may currently be underrepresented are particularly welcome.
There is a supportive induction programme to help new members in their roles.
The Church of England has created a helpful eligibility checker for lay people on their Synod Elections webpage.
Why stand?
- The opportunity to represent the concerns of your community and your diocese at a national level
- Have a say in national legislation that affects all parts of the Church of England
- Raise issues and contribute to debates on social and policy matters
- It can be enormously rewarding
- Meet other Anglicans from across the country and the world
What else you need to know
What does a General Synod member do?
Members speak in debates, propose and vote on motions, serve on committees and review legislation.
Do I need special skills?
You will need to be able to show you are someone who listens with an open mind, who is able to reflect prayerfully on issues, and who is able to confidently contribute to discussions.
We are looking for candidates who represent the whole range of people and churches in the Church of England.
You don’t need any previous experience in making speeches.
Do I already need to be involved in other committees in the Church?
You don’t need to be a member of a Parochial Church Council (PCC), Deanery Synod or Diocesan Synod.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know everything about how the Church operates or how General Synod works – people will help you with this if you do get elected. There is a supportive induction programme.
What is the commitment?
If elected, you would be expected to attend each meeting of Synod for the next five years. It is possible to attend all General Synod meetings either in person or online.
Each meeting lasts five days and there are usually two meetings per year, one in London and one in York. In your first year, you would also attend an additional three-day meeting in London.
Do I get paid for this?
The role is voluntary and unpaid. Members’ travel and accommodation expenses are covered.
I’m interested, what are the next steps?
If you would like to stand as a lay member, as a first step, use the eligibility checker on the Elections to Synod page of the Church of England website as a guide.
- If you are standing as a lay member, you need two people who are members of a Deanery Synod to nominate you
- If you are clergy, you need two other clergy to nominate you
You will then need to fill out a nomination form via an online portal - this will open on 14 August and will close on 7 September.
You will also need to write an election statement and may be asked to record a video or give a short talk at an event.
Statements are an opportunity to talk about why you want to be elected and what you could bring to the role.
If you don’t wish to stand but know someone who you think should consider standing, please pass this information on to them.
How the election process works and key dates:
- Eligibility: Use the eligibility checker on the Church of England website to find out if you are eligible.
- Nominations: If you are standing as a lay member, you will then need two people who are members of a Deanery Synod to nominate you. If you are clergy, you will need two other clergy to nominate you. Nominations forms will be sent to electors (Deanery Synod members) when nominations open on 14 August and close on 7 September.
- Statements: You will need to write an election statement and may be asked to record a video or give a short talk at an event. Statements are an opportunity to talk about why you want to be elected and what you could bring to the role.
- Voting: The lay Deanery Synod members in your diocese vote for lay candidates, and the clergy in your diocese vote for clergy candidates. The voting period is 21 September to 13 October.
- Results: If elected, you would come to General Synod for the first time at its meeting in London this November.
More information about timescales is available in the graphic below.
Need more?
Visit the Elections to Synod page on the Church of England website: www.churchofengland.org/about/governance/general-synod/elections-synod