Last week was General Synod in the Church of England (9-13 February) with a number of big subjects on the agenda.
At the beginning of the week, General Synod committed to amplify young adults’ voices in the Church by finalising plans to increase the number of young people able to take part in its debates.
After several months of preparation, opportunities to engage with the work of General Synod and an open applications process, Joel Plant from the Diocese of Leicester was selected as one of five young people invited to step directly into the national decision‑making space of the Church.
The final group was chosen to ensure representation from each participating diocese and a diversity of perspectives and experiences. They are Eleanor Motion (Bath and Wells), William Leeming (Blackburn), Joel Plant (Leicester), Philip (Pip) Collins White (Portsmouth) and Rob Hindle (York).
You can read a news story about the motion on the Church of England website.
Church leaders praised the young representatives, acknowledging that their insight, energy, and lived experiences will enrich Synod’s work.
For Joel, being chosen to represent young adults is both an honour and a responsibility. He now has a seat in the Synod chamber, the right to ask questions, speak in debates and the chance to bring forward the voices and concerns of younger generations who have often felt overlooked.
This is an opportunity to influence conversations at the national level, contribute to shaping the future of the Church, and help build a pathway for even more young people to step into leadership and representation in years to come.
On Wednesday morning, Joel made his debut speech in a debate on mental health and the Church.
In a powerfully honest address, Joel - who is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Mental Health - shared details of his own mental health journey including a diagnosis of OCD seven years ago. He also reflected on his calling to that moment in Synod, describing it as “a God incidence that I am here today.”
Speaking to us after the debate, Joel said: “It was really powerful to be able to speak at General Synod. The area of mental health is one I am both personally and academically interested in; and to be able to contribute with my knowledge on my debut speech was a particular honour.”
He continued: “It is absolutely crucial for young people to see other young people in General Synod, following the disconcerting abandonment of the Church of England Youth Council a short time ago. This week serves as a step forward in this regard, and I encourage young people interested to get involved at an exciting time!”
During the week, Joel also attended other debates and helped run a fringe event to engage other young adults, in which he welcomed people and introduced contributors.
Joel said: “It was really good to see people turn up to support the idea of more young adults through election to General Synod. We shared ideas about what we can do to improve involvement by young adults.
“If you know someone eligible for election now or in the future, encourage them to discern whether General Synod is for them.”
Matt Long, our diocesan Youth Engagement & Intergenerational Communities Enabler, works to empower young people, giving them a voice in the diocese and wider national Church. He has journeyed alongside Joel for the last four years.
Matt said: “I have seen Joel grow massively in confidence through his involvement with Bishop’s Youth Council and Bishop’s Advisory Forum. Joel’s courage and passion to show up and speak out in ‘adult environments’ has been truly inspirational.”
He added: “Joel has helped the Diocese to reimagine how we listen and respond to the voice of children and young people, and is now leading the charge at a national level.”
