YBA Staff Team

THE YBA Team comprises:

Regional Minister Team Leader Graham Ensor who oversees the work of the Association and is responsible for collaborating with YBA colleagues to identify vision, direction and appropriate strategy that encourages the ‘growth of healthy churches’ throughout the Association.
Graham's responsibilities also include pastoral support of ministers/churches in Bradford and the Craven area, overseeing safeguarding procedures and Home Mission, as well as representing the Association at national level. 

Regional Minister Mary Taylor who shares the responsibility for Association life alongside Graham and Clive, bringing specific skills in mediation, justice and embodying very strong interpersonal skills used to proactively develop and support existing and new networks in the Association.
Mary's responsibilities also include pastoral support of ministers/churches in the Eastern area, Halifax and Calder Valley and Leeds, overseeing and supporting the Ministry Group, developing the Yorkshire Justice Hub and working with the Blackley Centre for peace and dialogue, as well as representing the Association at national level, particularly in matters of justice.

Regional Minister Clive Burnard who has specific responsibility for transitional/transformational mission; seeking to support and encourage all of us in new patterns of being church and making connections with our wider communities, as together we seek to ‘grow healthy churches in Yorkshire’.
His responsibilities include pastoral support of ministers/churches in Huddersfield and South Yorkshire.
Clive also helps us think through what it means to do things differently as we seek to communicate the good news of Jesus to a rapidly changing culture.  

Regional Minister Alex Harris, who has specific responsibilities for pioneering ministry and church planting. Alex's role is to catalyse being healthy churches, working together to see new mission ventures and new churches birthed. Alex works with individuals and churches helping start new churches, as well as working to establish accessible and excellent training and relationships that empower those called to pioneer and plant in Yorkshire. As an integral part of this Alex is also planting a new Baptist church as part of our Association. Alex represents pioneering and planting at a national level including the Firestarter network . His ongoing doctoral studies are in Church Planting in post-Christendom Europe.

Trust Officer Ann Chesworth who supports and assists churches in legal, governance and property matters. Ann's role includes signposting and directing people to appropriate contacts for support; but also being the first point of contact for churches on Trust issues. Ann works alongside the Baptist Union Corporation in supporting YBA churches and facilitates work through the YBA Trust Group. She is also minister at Harrogate Baptist Church.

Mission Enabler Kez Robinson who was appointed to support and encourage Home Mission churches in their mission and community outreach. An integral part of Kez's role is teaching on the regional Mission Shaped Ministry (MSM) course, thereafter encouraging YBA churches to engage with the programme. Kez's responsibilities also include facilitating and chairing the grants group, helping support missional activity in churches and facilitating support for small churches. She is also minister at Wakefield Baptist Church.

Discipleship Enabler Peter Dunn, who networks churches together who want to experiment with Disciple Making Movement principles. He oversees Biglife Bradford and connects people together who are passionate to church plant by adopting Biglife Ministries values.

Children, Youth and Families Enabler Jodie Thorpe, who offers support and training to our churches as they seek to develop work with children, youth and families. Jodie serves on the National Baptists Together Children, Youth and Families Round Table. Jodie is passionate that people of all ages should have opportunities to explore spirituality, for families to worship together and that children and young people are valued and belong in our local churches.

Administration Team is the engine room of the YBA and offers support to the regional team while also being the first point of contact for churches when they connect with the YBA. The admin team comprises:

• Association Administrator  Debbie Gamble - provides PA/admin support to the Association; supports and facilitates our Executive and working groups; is first point of contact for Data Protection and Safeguarding matters; and generally keeps the admin wheels turning!

• Finance Officer Adrian Howe - deals with all administrative finance matters. He works closely with our Treasurer; supports the work of the Finance Group; and administers custodian funds for member churches. 

• Admin Assistant Julie "Joolz" Walker - works closely with the Association Administrator to provide effective admin support to the whole team; leads, develops and implements our communications and social media strategy; and does anything else that might be asked of her (provided you ask politely!).