Brunel University London’s Chaplain, the Reverend Sally Hitchiner, has been appointed to the Church of England’s General Synod - the elected body which approves legislation affecting the whole of the Church of England.
As the Church’s governing council, The General Synod debates matters of religious and public interest, sets and reviews many of the church canon laws and approves the Church’s annual budget, among other responsibilities.
Rev Hitchiner holds the position of Coordinating Anglican Chaplain and Interfaith Adviser at Brunel, based within the University’s interfaith Meeting House. She is a former Assistant Chaplain at St Peters College, Oxford and served her curacy at St John's Church Ealing from 2009 to 2012.
Rev Hitchiner has become a well-known public figure, commenting on and campaigning for diversity in the Church, and in 2014 founded the Diverse Church, a national movement and series of support groups for LGBT Christians.
She comments: "The Church of England is facing a number of historic opportunities for change, particularly concerning matters of inclusion of minority groups, outreach to those outside the church and modernisation of the structures within it.
“I'm thrilled to have been elected by the clergy of the Diocese of London to represent them on the Church of England's governing council, General Synod and I look forward to serving in this capacity along my day to day duties as Coordinating Chaplain here at Brunel."
Reported by:
Sarah Cox,
Media Relations
sarah.cox@brunel.ac.uk