The YBA Trustees

THE YBA Executive has up to seven elected trustees who are church representatives and up to seven co-opted trustees. Trustees of the Association also act as directors of the company limited by guarantee.

The Regional Ministers and the Association Administrator attend in an advisory, non-voting capacity. The Executive Group is led by the Executive Chair and Vice-Chair, and the Chair of each subgroup (Finance, Ministry and Trust) and the Treasurer are co-opted trustees.

The Executive meets a minimum of five times per year. Several of the trustees attend other YBA groups or contribute in other ways to the life of the Association – for example, providing leadership on safeguarding, risk, staffing or other issues.

Trustees are the people responsible for the governance, management and administration of the YBA. 

They are:-

Liz Allen (Chair, Church rep)

I’m a member of Guiseley Baptist Church where I serve as a worship leader. I’m a qualified nurse and work as an NHS Director for the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Bradford district and Craven. Our organisation buys, contracts for and monitors a broad range of health services in hospitals and the community.

Working in a senior role in the NHS inevitably means I spend a lot of time in meetings! This has helped me to apply skills in chairing meetings of the YBA Executive. I have significant experience of managing staff, dealing with sensitive and confidential issues, thinking strategically and turning ideas into plans to bring about change. I’m organised and have an eye for detail. I’m also a member of the Staffing Support Group where we particularly consider issues affecting the YBA team and seek to uphold good employment practices.

Dean Thorpe (Treasurer)

I am a member of the Well Baptist Church, Sheffield, and have been YBA Treasurer since January 2015. My areas of specific knowledge and expertise include finance, goal-setting and planning. I joined the financial services industry straight from college, beginning my career at Scottish Amicable (this is now part of Prudential). I then joined my father’s insurance brokerage before going into business myself in 1999. I am Executive Director of Charles James Financial Planning. I am a member of the Baptist Pension Scheme (BPS) Employer’s Group and the Baptist Pension Scheme Investment Committee. I have been a CVM Trustee (formerly Baptist Men’s Movement) since 2008.
My attitude to church and community roles is one of need and skill. In business I have a great team, meet with clients and speak or present to large groups whilst overseeing funds under influence of significant value. The skills and gifts we have been given should never be limited to the business or secular world especially when there is a need to be filled. I am keen to continually review how we can make the best use of stewarding the resources that are under our responsibility.  Whether it is a small local church or a significant national Baptist Family challenge, the aim is to attempt to move things forward for the better.

Chris Bishop (Church rep) 

I am a member and deacon/trustee of Wetherby Baptist Church. I began my professional life as an electronics engineer and project manager, eventually becoming a Chartered Engineer. I worked in Personnel and recruitment for a short time before moving into Marketing and Communications. My outside interests included work with Scouts, Sunday School and as a school governor for 15 years.  I became self-employed in 2000, continuing to develop my Marketing Communications skills. I am now retired.

Having been an active member of two Baptist Churches in a variety of roles, both ministerial and administrative, I believe I can represent the ‘person in the pew’ and offer a wider perspective to our deliberations. I like to think I can articulate questions that others may be reluctant to ask. As a past chairman of Churches Together in Wetherby, I have an understanding of both the heritage and faith we share with other Christians, but also a good knowledge of the distinctive insights Baptists can offer the wider communion. On the Executive I manage the YBA Risk Register.

Philip Callow (Trust Group Chair)

I am a member and trustee/deacon of York Baptist Church where I have responsibility for, among other things, the church's house groups and also lead and preach at a number of services during the year.  I am a chartered surveyor and my last employment was as Head of Property for City of York Council.  I therefore have considerable technical knowledge and practical experience of dealing with all aspects of land and buildings which probably explains why I am the chair of the YBA Trust Group working with others on all the challenges and opportunities that come from the variety of church and other buildings that the Baptist churches use across Yorkshire! I also have good project management experience and enjoy a good challenge in making a difference in a variety of situations.

John Crosse (Co-option)

I am a member of South Parade Baptist Church, Headingley, Leeds - in which I have previously been a Deacon, and in which I am currently a member of the Safeguarding Advisory Group.
I am a retired RAF officer, senior police officer, and company director, retaining Fellowship of the Institute of Directors, Chartered Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. I bring experience of having held board level positions in a number of organisations, and of having been a trustee for several charities.

Charlotte Hendy

Charlotte is a member of The Well Baptist Church in Sheffield, volunteering a day a week as the church’s Connection Champion to welcome new people and help them find community in the church. She heads up Girls’ Brigade Ministries’ intentional approach to discipleship of leaders and women, and is also responsible for The Esther Collective project which has a specific focus on 18-30s millennial women.

Working for both a national interdenominational organisation and volunteering weekly at a local Baptist Church she is able to bring insights from the national landscape whilst understanding the practicalities of the everyday in Yorkshire churches. Within the YBA she combines strategic thinking with a people-centred approach and is committed to using her gifts and experiences to grow healthy churches in Yorkshire, ultimately enabling more people to know Jesus and flourish in their relationship with Him.

Gill Knowles

I am a Lay Leader and Deacon at Hunslet Baptist Church, Leeds. I recently retired - having spent my early career in banking, and latterly in PA administrative roles within an Anglican Diocese for 16 years, including Ministry, Safeguarding and Social Responsibility.

My working experience, together with the role of Leader/Deacon for almost 20 years, has given me a broad overview of church life with all its blessings, demands and requirements. Hunslet has a small congregation and this I feel helps me understand the needs and challenges of small churches and their material and practical limitations. Also as the Project Co-ordinator of a recent large redevelopment project at the church, this has given me an understanding of historic buildings and their legal requirements and maintenance. On the Executive I am the Safeguarding Trustee.

Carol Moore (Church rep)

Kevin Quinton (Vice-Chair, Church rep)

Revd Matt Wright (Church rep)

I am a Minister focusing on missional discipleship at South Parade Baptist Church, Leeds.
Work/professional experience: Baptist minister with passion for social justice and experience of working with all ages. Missioner with the Inspire Movement and member of the international steering group (https://inspiremovement.org/).
Areas of Specific Knowledge & Expertise: Mission; discipleship, communications; fundraising; theology, working ecumenically; youth and children; domestic poultry and waterfowl! 🙂 
On the Executive I am the data protection trustee, and a member of the Finance Group. 

The Regional Ministers