Talking NW Synod

Friends, welcome to this edition of the Synod Podcast, featuring Maggie McDonald — singer, vocal coach and church musician. Maggie shares her journey from the Royal Northern College of Music and Glyndebourne to teaching and coaching with major choirs, singing for royal audiences, and leading worship. She explains how the voice is a living instrument, how teaching singing involves body, breath and hearing, and how her synaesthesia lets her see music in colour. Maggie also reflects on the spiritual power of congregational singing and a memorable moment of being ‘bathed in golden light’ while performing.
Listen to Maggie here.

Friends, meet Reverend Mike Thomason, the newly appointed moderator of the Northwestern Synod. In this episode Mike recounts his journey from Salford and army chaplaincy to local church leadership, sharing stories from Iraq, Afghanistan, and community ministry.
He outlines his pastoral, presence-centred approach to leadership, the synod’s challenges and plans for review, and a call to shift from maintenance to mission—urging churches to engage their local communities and pray for his ministry.

Friends, welcome to another edition of the Synod podcast, where Reverend David Ireland reflects on a remarkable life of ministry, architecture, and leadership in children’s palliative care. From designing Francis House to establishing international pain clinics and pioneering care for teenagers and young adults, this episode explores how faith, innovation, and community transformed the hospice movement.David shares personal stories — including the tragedy that called him to ministry, the growth of Francis House, global projects in Chernobyl, Sarajevo, and Japan, and the heartwarming Easter Chick campaign. Tune in for insights on compassionate leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a lifetime dedicated to serving families in crisis.

This episode introduces a new partnership between the Northwestern Synod and Place for Hope offering free mediation, facilitated conversations, and one-to-one conflict coaching to help churches handle disputes, long-standing hotspots, and difficult conversations constructively.
Listeners learn how the service works, how to refer a case (contact the Synod clerk Claire MacIntyre or Programme Lead Martha Hunt), the confidential process, and the benefits of early intervention to restore relationships and strengthen church communities.

This episode brings together Palestinian human rights lawyer Sahar Francis, Reverend Ashraf Tanuz and Reverend Dr Graham Adams to examine the situation in Gaza and the West Bank through the lens of the Kairos document from South Africa in 1985.
They discuss parallels between state theology and the Zionist project, the buy-in to the Israeli narrative and failure of some Western churches to speak for justice, the use of religion to legitimize violence, collective punishment, and the urgent call for a justice-based path to peace that is the only real chance of reconciliation and flourishing for all the peoples n the region.

Friends, welcome to this edition of the Northwest Synod podcast. Today Lawrence speaks with Michael Harvey about cultivating a culture of invitation in Synod churches and the surprising power of asking, "How are you?".They explore how a genuine question can unlock personal stories of pain and hope, modelled by Jesus, and how simple practices—like a short daily prayer and following up "How are you?" with "How are you really?"—equip people to listen compassionately.The episode highlights two free "superpowers"—listening and silence—and suggests that authentic conversation can lead to healing, new perspective, and unexpected grace.

Join us in this special edition of Talking NW Synod as we sit down with the Reverend Tim Meadows, the Moderator of General Assembly and minister in the Mersey Synod. In this heartfelt conversation, Tim reflects on the challenges and rewards of being a leader in the United Reformed Church. He shares his experiences of navigating the complexities of faith, identity, and community, highlighting the importance of honesty, integrity and inclusion within the church.
Throughout the podcast, Tim discusses the powerful impact of music on his faith journey, introducing three hymns that hold significant meaning to him. He reveals how hymns like "A Stable Lamp is Lighted" and "In the Midst of New Dimension" inspire hope and integrity, even in the face of challenges, and underscores the role of music in expressing profound spiritual truths.
Dive into a dialogue that explores the potential of the church to be a source of genuine joy and inclusion, recognizing the call for churches to embody the essence of Christ's teachings through justice and love. This episode promises to enlighten listeners about the enduring relevance of faith and community in a constantly changing world.

In this episode of Talking NW Synod, host Lawrence Heath-Moore welcomes Leo Roberts, the Synod's Children and Youth Development Officer, for an engaging conversation about his dual roles as a youth development officer and a dedicated singer-songwriter. As they explore Leo's method of capturing midnight inspirations and managing a vast collection of musical instruments, the discussion delves into the link between faith and music.
Leo shares insights into his songwriting process, emphasizing the importance of lyrics and how music helps him express personal emotions and faith. The episode also highlights a playful, children’s song titled "You Don’t Need a Cape to Be a Hero" and concludes with Leo’s reflective composition "God of Mine."
Tune in for a blend of thoughtful dialogue, music, and the intersection of ministry and melody.

In this episode of "Talking NW Synod," we are joined by Elizabeth Gray-King as she reflects on her 35 years of multifaceted ministry, including her recent role as Synod Pastor for the North Western Synod. Elizabeth shares her experiences balancing a portfolio career as an artist-theologian and visual theologian, alongside her commitment to pastoral care.
Elizabeth discusses the emotional challenge of leaving behind a community she has deeply connected with and loved. She emphasizes the importance of helping people find their footing, make their own decisions, and recognize their gifts within the church. The conversation explores Elizabeth's role in shaping a supportive synod pastoral position, being the first of its kind, which was pivotal during the challenging pandemic period.
The episode highlights the transformative initiatives in the Northwest Synod, including the revolutionary concept of "missional partnerships" that leverage various ministerial roles and promote collaboration among congregations. Elizabeth reflects on her passion for good processes being integral to good pastoral care and how transparent structures allow the Holy Spirit to move freely within the church.
As Elizabeth embarks on a new chapter of life, both in advancing her visual theology work and moving to Australia, she leaves behind a legacy of love and care that has been felt deeply across the synod.
Join us for an inspiring journey of change, faith, and commitment to nurturing the church community with grace and compassion.

In this episode of Talking NW Synod, we explore the significance of community audits in empowering churches to make meaningful contributions to their local communities.
Kathy Varley from Locality joins us to discuss how these audits help churches understand and address the needs of marginalized groups effectively. By gathering insights from the community and local stakeholders, churches can strategically align their missions to create sustainable, Jesus-shaped impacts.
Learn about the process of conducting community audits, from community surveys to stakeholder research, and how they can uncover hidden needs and opportunities for collaboration.
Through thoughtful planning and engagement, churches can utilize the findings from these audits to connect with hard-to-reach communities and form partnerships that extend their reach and effectiveness.