The Bishop of Lincoln’s address to Diocesan Synod – September 2025

The Bishop of Lincoln’s full address

Tomorrow, the 14^th September, is Holy Cross Day – a festival in the church calendar which calls us to the source of our salvation, our hope and our joy – Christ crucified, bearing the sins of the world, and pouring out his love upon us. Let me sing to you: Lift high the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world adore his sacred name.

The gospel for Holy Cross Day is from John, chapter 3:

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

This festival reminds us of both the cost and the reward of a life lived for Jesus. It is our calling as followers of Jesus to be agents of that transformation, bearing the message of Christ crucified to a world that so desperately needs to hear it.

I am more convinced each and every day that the world does need to hear what we have to say. For each day we are faced with a world in pain and suffering.

As people of faith, we are appalled by the violence which we see human beings inflict on one another daily. This week, the news has been dominated by the murder of the right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk in America. This follows only mere months after the Democratic politican Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot outside their home. 

On the other side of the world, atrocities continue to be committed in Gaza at the hands of terrorists, who want to see Israel destroyed and its people driven into the sea. On the 8^th September, six Israelis were killed and eight more wounded by Palestinian gunmen at a bus stop in Jerusalem. A terrible and morally repugnant attack which I condemn completely. At the same time, while Israel has a right to defend itself, it is never moral to kill children. In the midst of this we hear of our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Jerusalem and the ongoing attacks on the Anglican hospital in Gaza ministering in the most desperate circumstances. This is the land that we call Holy. I long for peace and democracy to prevail and flourish – and I pray for this each and every day, and I hope that you do too.

These issues of violence, war and deprivation turn my thoughts towards our home, and our own attitudes towards those fleeing such despair. Our faith calls us to acknowledge our shared humanity, to see the face of Christ in one another. So, let us intentionally seek the face of Christ in those who are desperate, fleeing their homes and livelihoods, who have done nothing to deserve such treatment, and most of whom are displaced into adjacent countries which are just as poor and in need. 

Let us not forget that Our Lord himself, and his Holy Family, were refugees once – fleeing to Egypt because of the murderous intent of King Herod. I suspect that many of our life stories, people in this room today, are bound up in histories of migration. I know my own story is – my father was from a poor, immigrant Irish family. And as a single person, I rejoice that the future of my family is one of mixed ethnicity, with both of my sisters married, with children, to Black British men whose parents were members of the Windrush generation.

If our humanity is truly shared, then what can we do as Church and nation to address the root causes of migration, whether through war, economy, climate change, political or religious oppression? What peacekeeping efforts and economic investment are needed at the point of origin? And I particularly highlight climate change here as something we CAN act upon – climate change means that migration will accelerate – what will our response be?

Closer to home, I want to highlight some recent difficulties faced by our own communities. I was glad to hear from one of our rural deans this week, whose deanery chapter took time to reflect and support one another due to the concerning escalation of far-right racism in some of our communities. From calls for far-right marches in London to rumours of supporting protests in the city of Lincoln – they wanted to share with me and with our diocese their deep concern for the current situation. A concern I share with great alarm.

I was particularly saddened by the defacing of St John’s Church on the Ermine, and I want to commend the Revd Rachel Heskins and the community she leads and serves. I echo Rachel’s words in news broadcasts – a reminder of the Church’s call to welcome the stranger and the refugee, and a clear statement that anger and fear do not represent the Church, nor our mission to the communities we serve.

What we do represent is Life, and I want you to know that our Synod today comes in between sessions in the House of Lords, debating and voting on the Assisted Dying bill. I am clear in my opposition to this bill as a matter of principle. Although I will be enjoying a much-needed holiday in Northumberland next week, I have already made arrangements to be in London next Friday so that I can vote.

I recognise that alongside me, there are others who themselves approve of assisted dying, yet remain opposed to this bill because of their serious concerns around unanswered questions and unforeseen consequences.

I hear from professional organisations who are deeply worried about wider provision of social care, the role of the NHS, the dangers of coercion and the abuse of those who are vulnerable. I am appalled to witness the reality of this in Canada where assisted dying has even become a solution to acute poverty.

Let us stand for life, rather than death.

I’m conscious that my address so far has perhaps lingered longer in darkness than in light, so as I draw to a close, let me finish with thoughts more positive and uplifting. In a season of harvest festivals and thanksgiving for all God’s wonderful gifts to us, what are the signs of hope, joy, light and life for us in the Diocese of Lincoln?

I am thankful for this Synod – for all of you and the people and places you represent. For all our churches, schools and communities, our shared calling, and our seeking to raise the spiritual temperature across Greater Lincolnshire.

I am thankful for the ongoing appointments processes for the next Bishop of Grimsby and the next Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey. For the interviewing panels and the candidates who have offered themselves for this discernment.

And I am thankful for the incredible amount of work going into our own discernment for the journey ahead. For all the work of Time to Change Together which has brought us to this point. For the really excellent work of our strategic Lever Groups who have laboured over the summer, under a very tight timescale, to produce an abundance of insightful reflections, challenges and opportunities, as we listen to who God is calling us to be.

This Synod meets in the presence of God, who loved the world so much that he gave his only Son to death upon the Cross that we might have eternal life. Lift high the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world adore his sacred name. 

Let us pray:

Faithful God,
whose Son bore our sins in his body on the tree,
give us grace to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
for he is our salvation, our life and our hope,
who reigns as Lord, now and for ever.
Amen.

Questions raised during Diocesan Synod

Question regarding women’s ministry (raised by Jess Bellshaw)

Last Synod, when asked about the current WATCH campaign to repeal the Five Guiding Principles, Bishop Stephen offered assurances of continued support and pastoral provision for those within the diocese who are unable to accept the ministry of women. Joyfully, since then, the Church of Wales has elected the first female Archbishop. 

I’d like to ask please, what assurances can the Bishop offer the women who minister in this Diocese, that he will continue to uphold, value, support and champion the ministry of women; not only in the wider Anglican Communion but specifically within the senior leadership of this diocese?

The Bishop’s answer

To be a bishop is to be a public person – the words we speak, the sermons we write, the way we vote on matters of life and faith within both Church and nation – these are usually a matter of public record.

Throughout that very public ministry, as a parish priest, a DDO, an Archdeacon and a Bishop, I have always strived to ‘uphold, value, support and champion the ministry of women’ – both lay and ordained. I will continue to strive for this.

I have also strived for a Church which is big enough to hold together, even where it is messy and painful, Christians who deeply disagree with one another, yet remain united by their love for Jesus. I will continue to strive for this.

As Bishop of Ely, it was my honour and privilege to be able to appoint and share episcopal leadership with Bishop Dagmar Winter – the first female suffragan bishop in that Diocese.

Since coming to Lincoln, it has been a joy to work alongside a diverse group of senior leaders who are women, in different spheres of diocesan life – among our Archdeacons and Assistant Archdeacons, our Rural Deans and Parish Priests; among our Lay Co Leads, Lay Chairs and Lay Ministers, and among our staff at Edward King House.

I am particularly grateful to Canon Liz Brown, who was appointed last year as Dean of Women’s Ministry in the Diocese – a role which seeks to enable the flourishing of women in licensed ministry through representation and advocacy. Liz brings this voice to senior leadership as a member of our Bishop’s Staff and Operations Group.

The national body which represents Deans of Women’s Ministry declared that, under my leadership, the Diocese of Ely had become the diocese with the most women in senior incumbencies and with the most generous policies for maternity leave and for continuing formation of those taking such leave, and sought to be vigilant against bullying and misogynistic behaviour.

Finally, let me also say that I have been deeply encouraged by the number and rich diversity of candidates in the ongoing search for the next Bishop of Grimsby and Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey, in terms of theology, experience, ethnicity and gender.

I invite you to pray, as I do, both for these candidates as they seek to follow God’s call, and for panel members who carry the responsibility of discernment at this crucial stage in the life of our Diocese.

Question regarding Quiet Revival (raised by Ben Topham)

We have seen in the Christian press and national news that the so called ‘Quiet Revival’ continues to get a little louder. Young adults in their 20s are turning up, often unexpectedly, and seeking a relationship with Jesus.

This is happening across many streams of the church within Great Britain. Has the Bishop heard of similar patterns across the diocese or beyond? And how might we intentionally nurture discipleship among this age group?

The Bishop’s answer

If you believe in the caricature of the British ‘stiff upper lip’ then it naturally follows that any revival in the United Kingdom would of course be ‘quiet’ rather than ‘exuberant’!

Earlier this year, the Bible Society released their report on the Quiet Revival, drawing on YouGov data which suggests a transformation in the churchgoing landscape of our nation, with rising church attendance and deeper spiritual engagement among younger generations.

You may have read the exploration of these themes in the Church Times over the summer, hearing from different ends of the church spectrum. I have indeed heard from colleagues and churches, both locally and nationally, who are seeing younger generations wanting to explore their faith. I would of course want to cite St George’s own excellent work with young people, alongside a new and flourishing Young Adults Group at the Cathedral, an engaging Ministry Experience Scheme for 18-30s, and indeed the recent Diocesan Pilgrimage to Taizé during the summer – all encouraging examples!

I am not convinced that a formal answer like this at Synod will do justice to Ben’s question of how we nurture such interest and growth. Nor do I believe that this question is for me to answer alone, but one for all of us to explore together.

You will know that a key priority for the Church of England is to become a Church which is younger and more diverse. You will hear later on in our meeting that one of the emerging themes from the work of our strategy lever groups is about deepening our work with those groups and generations whom we are failing to reach – including young people.

For my part, I am encouraged to hear about revival, quiet or otherwise. I am delighted to hear the testimony of people of all ages, who, with hearts on fire for Jesus, are choosing to follow where he calls.

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