General Synod elections 2026

Serving on General Synod is a meaningful way to contribute to the governance, vision, and future direction of the Church of England. If you feel called to take part, we warmly encourage you to explore the process and consider standing. If you would like further information, please reach out to governance.support@bristoldiocese.org 

House of Laity

You may be eligible to stand for election to the House of Laity even if you are not eligible to vote in the House of Laity elections. 

To stand for election to the House of Laity of the General Synod, a person must: 

• Have received Holy Communion in accordance with the practice of the Church of England, or a Church in communion with it, at least three times in the twelve months preceding the date of the dissolution of the General Synod. 
• Be confirmed (or ready and willing to be confirmed), or be a communicant member of a Church that subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. 
• Be 18 years of age or older on the date of the dissolution of the General Synod (expected July 2026). 

In addition, the person’s name must either: 

• Be on the electoral roll of a parish within the Diocese, or 
• Be on the community roll of the Cathedral Church of the Diocese. 

House of Clergy 

To be eligible to stand for election to the House of Clergy in the Diocese or other electoral area, a person must: 

• Have been ordained as a priest or deacon; 
• Not be in episcopal orders; and 
• Fall into one of the following categories: 
  • A qualified elector in the Diocese or other electoral area; or 
  • A person who has written permission from the Bishop to officiate in the Diocese and who would be a qualified elector if they were:  
    • a member of a deanery synod in the Diocese or other electoral area; or 
    • in the Diocese in Europe, a member of a deanery or archdeaconry synod; or 
    • in the Diocese of Sodor and Man, a member of the Diocesan Synod. 

A person may stand for election if they are normally a qualified elector in the universities and TEIs constituency, provided that: 

• They choose to stand in the Diocese or electoral area instead of the universities and TEIs constituency 
• If they decide to stand in the Diocese/area rather than in the universities and TEIs constituency, they must inform both: 
  • the Presiding Officer for the Diocese, and 
  • the Presiding Officer for the universities and TEIs constituency  
• They are beneficed in, or licensed to, a parish in the Diocese or other electoral area  
• They are licensed to serve as a vicar in a team ministry in a benefice in the Diocese or other electoral area 
• They would otherwise be eligible to vote in the Diocese or electoral area (they meet all the usual requirements to be an elector in that Diocese except that they are currently registered as an elector in the universities and TEIs constituency).   

The National Society for Education is hosting a series of orientation evenings for young adults interested in participating in General Synod. The sessions are free to sign up to and will take place over Zoom.  

Sign up to the sessions here: 

Wednesday 18th March 2026 

The Democratic Process of General Synod: How does it work?  

How can young adults get elected? 

Thursday 16th April 2026 

Unity in Diversity: Handling Disagreement as Christians 

Participating in tough conversations 

General Synod Young Voices - May 2026 

Leadership, representation and calling: Stepping up to Synod. 

Building confidence and encouraging participation 

Thursday 4th June 2026 

Future Church: Where are we heading? 

Imagining and creating what comes next 

Wednesday 22nd July 2026 

Inside Synod: Highlights, Hopes and Next Steps 

Post-Synod debrief and feedback 

The nomination and election process will be managed by Civica, an external election platform. 

Electors will be invited to submit written questions for candidates between 14 August 2026 and 9 September 2026 (5pm). 

Candidates will then be invited to provide written answers to these questions. All responses will be published online and circulated to the electorate by email on 17 September 2026.

All candidates will be invited to submit an election address, which will be made available to electors through the elections portal. 

Election addresses submitted by the deadline of Monday 7 September will be published on our website. Addresses received after the deadline may be uploaded at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. 

Deanery Synod elections take place every three years, while General Synod elections occur every five years. As a result, every fifteen years the two cycles coincide in the same year — which will next occur in 2026. 

The timetable and deadlines for Deanery Synod elections are governed by the Church Representation Rules, whereas the timetable and deadlines for General Synod elections are set nationally and outlined in General Synod Elections 2026: Notes for the Guidance of Dioceses. 

The Deanery Synod House of Laity forms the electorate for the General Synod House of Laity. It is therefore essential that both election timetables are followed precisely to ensure all eligible electors are properly included and able to vote.

Key Dates for 2026

To ensure each qualified elector is eligible to vote in the General Synod elections, please note the following essential deadlines: 

By 31 May 2026 

• APCMs must be held. 

• Deanery Synod Lay Representatives are elected. 

By 1 July 2026 

• Parishes must send details of Deanery Synod Representatives to Deanery Synod Lay Chair and governance.support@bristoldiocese.org  

• Each Deanery Synod Lay Secretary must inform the Governance Support Team of: 

• Names and addresses of members of the House of Clergy (including membership category under Rule 15). 

• Names and addresses of members of the House of Laity. 

• Names and addresses of any co-opted members. 

14 July 2026 

• The Diocesan Electoral Registration Officer (Governance Support Team) provides each Deanery Lay Secretary with the list of electors. 

By 20 July 2026 

• Deanery Lay Secretaries confirm or amend elector details. 

27 July 2026 

• Final elector lists submitted to the Presiding Officer, no amendments can be made after this date.

14 July 2026 

• General Synod election process formally begins.