General Synod 2026 Elections
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 Autumn 2026, elections are happening for new General Synod members. Those elected will serve for five years. Members are a mixture of bishops, clergy and lay people.
Joining General Synod is a fantastic opportunity to represent the concerns of your community and your diocese at a national level. Almost anyone who attends church regularly is likely to be eligible to stand for election as a lay member. There is a supportive induction programme to help new members in their roles.
We are looking for candidates who represent the whole range of people and churches in the Church of England. We particularly welcome candidates whose background may currently be underrepresented.
Key Dates for the elections are:
- 14 August 2026 – nominations open
- 7 September 2026 – nominations close
- 21 September 2026 – voting opens
- 19 October 2026 – results declared
What do general Synod members do?
Members speak in debates, propose and vote on motions, serve on committees and review legislation.
Members speak and vote from their own viewpoints and report back to their diocese about key discussions and outcomes that have happened at General Synod.
You can get a sense of what happens by watching previous General Synod meeting recordings.
Why stand for General Synod?
- 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.
- Meet other Anglicans from across the country and the world.
- Challenge yourself to try something exciting and new – General Synod can be enormously rewarding.
Next Steps:
If you would like to stand as a lay member, use the eligibility checker on the Elections to Synod page of the Church of England website as a guide, nomination forms will be uploaded to this page on 14 August 2026. These should be sent to [email protected]
If you don’t wish to stand but know someone who you think should consider standing, please pass this information on to them.
FAQs
What skills do General Synod members need?
General Synods exist to serve the mission of the wider Church, to make strategic decisions, and to encourage the growth of mission and ministry in our Diocese. It is important that General Synod, as any representative body, broadly reflects the diversity of all our church members in gender, ethnic origin, age, experience, and church tradition, and we welcome and encourage membership across all these groups.
We also need people to stand who have:
Vision: Do you have a vision for a flourishing Church and a passion to work with others to share your Christian faith and deepen the discipleship of those around you?
Commitment: Are you ready to seek God’s will through prayer and theological reflection, with a heart for growth, mission, and engagement across boundaries?
Openness: Are you open to trying new approaches while learning from others, embracing change and the bigger picture and to sharing inspiring feedback with your Diocese, Deanery, PCC, and wider church family?
Enthusiasm: Members of Synod are encouraged to speak and challenge confidently, enabling change whilst leading and encouraging others.
Good communication: Do you have a listening ear? Are you receptive and open-minded and do you have the ability to share your passion? Members of Synod are ambassadors, both amongst themselves and as a bridge between the wider Church, Diocese, and the parishes.
Who can stand as a lay member of general synod?
Almost anyone who attends a Church of England church regularly is eligible to stand as a lay member of General Synod.
- If you are part of a parish church, to be eligible you simply need to be aged 18 or over, confirmed, on the electoral roll, and have taken communion at least three times in the past year.
- Requirements vary for people who have been baptised in another trinitarian church, who worship in cathedral churches or other worshipping communities, or who are members of religious communities or the armed forces. More detail is explained in Part 5 of the Church Representation Rules.
- You are not allowed to stand if you are disqualified from holding office under safeguarding provisions, if you work for the National Church Institutions, or in some other circumstances. More detail on who is disqualified is explained in Part 7 of the Church Representation Rules.
What is the commitment and is it a paid role?
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.
Future dates of General Synod meetings.
The role is voluntary and unpaid. Members’ travel and accommodation expenses are covered.
What is the election process?
- Eligibility: Use the eligibility checker on the Church of England website to find out if you are eligible to stand.
- Nominations: If you are standing as a lay member, you will need to people who are members of a Deanery Synod to nominate you. If you are clergym you will need two other clergy to nominate you. Nomination forms will be sent to electors (Deanery Synod members) and uploaded onto this page when nominations open on 14 August. The nomination period closes on 7 September and any nominations received after this date will not be accepted.
- Statements: You will need to write an election statement which will be uploaded onto the voting portal, statements are an opportunity to talk about why you want to be elected and what you could bring to the role. In lieu of hustings nominees will be able to provide written answers to questions received by the electorate.
- 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 , your first General Synod would take place in London in November.
Who can vote in the elections?
- Lay member of Deanery synods vote for lay members of General Synod for their diocese.
- All clergy in each diocese can vote for clergy members of General Synod from their diocese.
Lay and clergy members of the Religious Communities and Armed Forces, Deans and members of the Universities and Theological Education Institutions have separate election processes.
Who are General Synod members?
General Synod members are a mixture of bishops, clergy and lay people. Clergy means vicars, and lay people means anyone who is not a vicar.
How are General Synod members Chosen?
All diocesan bishops are automatically members of General Synod and some suffragan bishops are elected to General Synod as well. Diocesan bishops are the lead bishop in each diocese. They are supported by suffragan bishops.
Clergy and lay members of General Synod are elected.
