1. As a churchwarden,layworshipleader,andclergypartner,the complexities of life intoday’s church
are daily apparenttome. The needtokeepthe leadonthe roof,the central heatingoil inthe tank,
and moneycominginto paythe billsisalwayswithus.
I come from a countryparishand knowat firsthand the keyrole the church has inrural areaswhere,
insome villages, there isnolongerashop,pub,postoffice,orschool,no obviousplace tomeetand
where the difficultyof getting toknowneighbourscanmeanincreasedriskof social isolation.Inour
multi-parishbenefice the activitiesof the local churchescananddo bringpeople together.
I have beenanactive memberof the Church of Englandfor more than 20 years,inthree different
dioceses(Bristol,Salisbury,andnowWinchester). Ihave helpedtoruna church youthclub,an
affiliatedScouttroop, andan active prayergroup. Now thatI am 62 yearsold my contact with
youngerpeople continuesthroughadultchildren,grandchildrenandthroughworkwithourvillage
youthclubmembersandtheirparents.
Most of myworkinglife Iwasa social workerina varietyof communityandhospital settings.Mylast
role wasas a Change Manager forHampshire CountyCouncil workingtohelpthe AdultServicesand
IT departmentsunderstandeachotherbetterforthe goodof all – I thinkthat experience will be
useful if electedtoSynod!
To outsiders,ourchurchis experiencedthroughits buildings,itsmusicandthe liturgyof the
occasional offices. We needtoaware of thisinour decisions.Ibelievethatdiversityisstrengthand
it ispossible toenjoysome of the Bookof CommonPrayerandalso to like aspectsof Taizé andIona
Services,oralternativelyto be engagedbymodernworshipandmusicbutto be upliftedbyquiet
Compline.
The Church cannot functionwithoutitsactive volunteers:sidespeople,PCCmembers,treasurers,
churchwardens(of course!) butalsothe increasingarmy of self-supportingministers,licensedlay
ministers,andlayworshipleaders.Iwantall these volunteerstobe respectedandconsideredin
decision-making.
Jay Greene
Memberof RomseyDeanerySynod
From St John’sChurchLockerley
Home tel:01794 342377
jaygreene101@btinternet.com
ProposedbyJohnNibblett,LicensedLay
Minister
SecondedbySarahBoothman,Chairperson,
RomseyDeanerySynod

2. Concerns:
Care for the environment
In July, General Synod overwhelmingly backed calls for urgent action to tackle climate change,
acknowledging that global warming is already hitting the poorest of the world hardest. Our parish
recently gained a GoldDiocesanEnvironmentaward.We believe thatactionssmall andlarge count
and the churchesneedbe aware of thisintheirlocal purchasingand,at a national level,inwhere
our investmentsare made.
Inclusion:
No matterhowmuch workwe put intoMissionActionPlanswe will failwhile the churchisseenas
misogynistandhomophobicbymanyof those whomwe seektoattract. The real sadnessof thisis
that itis a misconceptionsince,broadlyspeaking,ithasnotbeenmy experienceinourBenefice orin
the Deanerywhichhave been welcomingandsupportive places.
I wantothersto be able to love the Churchas I do,to finditincreasestheirclosenesstoGod,and
givesthema place of peace inour increasinglytroubledworld.
I wouldworktowardscreatinga church whichisgenerous,welcoming,inclusiveandopen.
A church where everyone isable toparticipate fully inthe membershipandleadershipof the church,
regardlessof gender,ethnicity,financial status,sexual orientationordisability. Putsimply, asthe
songsays, I believe“there isroomforall inmy father’shouse”.
I ask for your vote and if elected I would seek to represent you on General Synod.
If you have any questions then please do email or call me
(contactdetailstopleftof address)