We are delighted to share that The Revd Liz Dudley, Vicar of Christ Church with Saint Mary's Benefice, Frome, has been elected as one of the House of Clergy representatives at General Synod, the national assembly of the Church of England. Liz was voted in following the resignation of The Revd Sue Rose.
General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England, commonly referred to as the Church’s Parliament. It considers and approves legislation affecting the entire Church. Members of General Synod are arranged into three Houses: the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy and the House of Laity. Clergy and Lay representatives are elected by members of their Deanery Synods. Bath and Wells has four representatives from the House of Clergy and five from the House of Laity.
As a General Synod representative, Liz will be a voice for our diocese, ensuring that the experiences, challenges, and hopes of our local churches are heard at a national level. She will also help ensure that important developments from Synod are communicated back to our diocese, creating a two-way conversation between national leadership and local parishes.“I really want to make sure that information, ideas, and discussions flow both ways—not just from the top down but from parishes back up as well. It’s about creating a real conversation where people feel heard and valued. I hope I can play a role in making that happen.”
For Liz, the decision to stand for election wasn’t made lightly. After much reflection and conversation with colleagues, she felt this was a moment to engage rather than simply observe.“I just had this sense that this is a really critical time for the Church, facing all sorts of challenges from within and without. There’s often a gap between the decisions being made at a national level and their impact on parish clergy. That gap is getting bigger, and I’ve reached a point where I feel that if things are going to change, they need to change from within.
“You can stand on the sidelines and be critical for only so long, but eventually, you realise you have to offer what you have—even if it feels inadequate. Change happens when people step forward, not just when they comment from the edges.”
Next week, Liz will attend her first General Synod session, where she will join representatives from across the Church of England. Beyond the debates and decisions, Liz is especially passionate about ensuring that General Synod remains connected to the realities of parish life and Liz is keen to hear from clergy and lay people across our diocese about the issues that matter to them.“I really hope people will feel they can talk to me, share concerns, and let me know what’s important to them. I want to carry those voices with me into the room where decisions are made.”
Looking to the future Liz would like to become more involved in discussions around clergy well-being. “One of the big things for me is how we support and look after one another in a system that often doesn’t make things easy. Clergy today are working in an increasingly complex space, with societal change, technology, and the realities of modern life making ministry more demanding than ever. We need to create a Church where we can minister well, where accountability and support go hand in hand, and where clergy are empowered rather than burdened by the structures they work within.”
We hold Liz, all the Bath and Wells representatives, Bishop Michael and Bishop Ruth in our prayers as they travel to General Synod in London next week.
You can find out more about next weeks General Synod on the Church of England website You can also watch proceedings live or catch up later with recordings of each day.