New clergy and lay members are being elected to General Synod this year – and regular churchgoers are being invited to consider standing as a candidate.
General Synod, the national assembly of the Church of England, shapes and approves laws that affect the whole of the Church of England.
In Autumn 2026, elections are happening for new General Synod members and those elected will serve for five years. Nominations for candidates open next week on Friday 14 August and close on 7 September 2026.
Almost anyone who attends church regularly is likely to be eligible to stand as a lay member. You don’t need any special skills. You don’t need any previous experience in making speeches. You don’t need to be a member of a PCC, Deanery Synod or Diocesan Synod.
In fact, 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. However, the role can be tremendously rewarding and so anyone interested is encouraged to get in touch to find out more.