The Diocese of Durham has an elected membership of laity and clergy who sit on the national Church of England's General Synod along with the Bishop of Durham who is required to attend.
The current members of General Synod can be found below:
Clergy:
Mark Miller (Stockton Parish Church)
David Tolhurst (Silksworth and Area Dean of Wearmouth) vicar@stmstw.org
Chantal Noppen (formerly Team Vicar, North Wearside, now Permission to Officiate in Easington Deanery) C.noppen+revd@googlemail.com
Mark Mawhinney (South Shields)
Lesley Jones (Jarrow and Simonside) revlesleyjones@gmail.com
Laity:
Jamie Harrison (St Nic’s Durham) dunelm5@btinternet.com
Angus Goudie (St Nic’s Durham)
Helen Smith (Tudhoe Grange)
Alistair Bianchi (Alive Church Gateshead)
GENERAL SYNOD BY-ELECTION 2025
PROCTOR IN CONVOCATION (CLERGY)
The Diocese of Durham is represented at the Church of England's General Synod by five 'Proctors in Convocation' or members of the House of Clergy and four Members of the House of Laity.
In June/July 2025, a by-election was held to fill a casual vacancy in a Proctor in Convocation position (clergy) on General Synod. Lesley Jones was elected. You can download the results below: