The Evangelical Alliance Board

Board Chair: Mike Talbot

Mike Talbot has been the Vicar of Emmanuel Church, Northwood since 2002, having spent almost 15 years in Northamptonshire - first in Rushden, and then, for 11½ years, at the Church of Christ the King in Kettering. Prior to ordination, Mike worked at St George's Crypt in Leeds for a couple of years before joining the staff of Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) where he spent five years trying to encourage students to buy (and read!) Christian books.

He is married to Jan, a Nurse Practitioner in General Practice and they have two children, David and Kathryn (married to Richard). When they arrived in Northwood, they also acquired a West Highland Terrier puppy, Deeble, who lives under the misapprehension that she is Top Dog.

Board Member: Louise Coningsby

Louise Coningsby works with the Christian Distinctiveness Group to develop a strategic approach to promoting excellence within Christian organisations and churches. In addition to publishing “Distinctives,” a handbook for Christian organisations on how to improve the ethos and practice of managing people, she has also worked on “Aspire,” a web-tool designed to examine and monitor values in the workplace. Prior to this, Louise worked in a range of organisations including the Fire Service, Brown and Root Civil Engineering, YWAM Philippines, Tearfund, YMCA and Prospects for People with Learning Disabilities.

Louise is part of a church plant initiated by the Bishop of Kensington at All Souls, St Margarets. She is passionate about prayer and seeing current and future generations of leaders reach their full potential. Louise has three god-children, one of which lives in Shanghai.

Board Member: Steve Clifford

Steve Clifford is part of the leadership of Pioneer, a Network of churches across the UK and abroad.  As part of the Pioneer network, Steve leads the Inspire Core Group working with a number of churches involved in the network, supporting and encouraging leadership teams, speaking in the churches and generally being available for advice (and an occasional curry). He also chairs the Board of the national HOPE08 initiative, and is involved with Fusion, Spring Harvest and Soul Survivor.

Steve's specialisations include change management, development, networking, strategic planning and training, public relations and conflict resolution.  He is married to Ann and they have two children, Jake and Jordan.  He enjoys films, skiing, diving, tennis and football.

Board Member: Arlene Small

Arelene Small is a barrister with a keen interest in all aspects of children work, her experience includes handling applications for emergency protection, care and freeing orders and adoption matters among other ancillary applications. Arlene represents local authorities, parents and the child at these hearings.

She is the recipient of the Blackstones Entrance Award and the Benefactors Award.

Involved in a number of Inner London community activities, Arlene teaches at a Sunday school and drives a van for local children. She also teaches choreography to a youth dance team and organises youth activities such as concerts and personal development courses. Arlene also participates in a mentoring programme and visits schools to talk about career development. She enjoys Kai-bo and drumming.

Board Member: Derek Tidball

Derek Tidball was the principal of the London School of Theology (formally LBC) for 12 years and has been on staff of LST for a total of 26 years. A former President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, he has also served as the pastor of two local churches and as Head of the BU's Mission Department. He is widely involved in the leadership of a number of Christian agencies and is a Vice-President of the Evangelical Alliance as well a trustee and former chair of Network.

Derek holds a PhD from Keele University and is a wide ranging author. He remains deeply involved in theological education and is a Visiting Scholar at Spurgeon's College.

Board Member: Olu Ojedokun

Olu Ojedokun was born in London, and was nurtured in Nigeria.  He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Nigerian Supreme Court and was previously affiliated to the Law Society of England & Wales.  Olu used to work as part of a legal consultancy in London and for five years he was the Administrator of the Overseas Fellowship of Nigerian Christians UK.

Olu is a regular newspaper columnist, has made appearances on television current affairs programmes and holds a PhD in International Relations and Ethics from Nottingham Trent University.

Through serving 'African Majority' Churches in Britain, Olu aims to develop cross-cultural skills and Bible Expository preaching.  He currently works as a Field Director with Friends International in the UK, serves on the Board of the African and Caribbean Alliance and is married to Ola and they have two daughters.

Board Member: Robert Amess

Rev. Robert Amess BA MPhil is a Baptist Minister and regularly speaks worldwide at conventions in the UK, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and the USA. He chairs the Council of Spurgeon's College and previously was Chair of the UK Council of Evangelical Alliance for six years. Robert was seconded to a wider ministry after nearly thirteen years as Senior Pastor at Duke Street Church, Richmond. One of his current responsibilities has been to moderate churches during vacancy and one of these, Silverton Evangelical Church has asked him to be their part-time minister.

Robert is married to Beth and has four grown-up girls who, as of now, have produced five grandchildren between two of them. Not forgetting the sons-in-law of course!

Board Member: Paul Weaver

Paul Weaver served as General Superintendent of Assemblies of God for 13 years until recently resigning in May 2008. Altogether he served with AOG for 24 years, first as an executive member and then as an Assistant General Superintendent.

After studying for the ministry at Kenley Bible College in London, Paul led a church in Sunderland for five years and then moved on to pastor a church in Scunthorp for 30 years. He specialises in music, mission and church reformation.

Born in Birmingham, Paul is married to Jennifer and they have two children, Sally and Joel. Paul loves art and playing golf.

Board Member: Graeme Clark

Graeme Clark is a Minister of Religion and Lecturer in Theology at the Scottish Baptist College. With16 years experience of pastoral ministry, he specialises in urban mission, spiritual and pastor care.

Graeme served for 10 years as the Executive Director of Glasgow City Mission, an interdenominational mission which works alongside churches and other Christian agencies to provide for the spiritual and material welfare of those in need in Glasgow.

Graeme has served on a number of national and international associations and has a deep concern for mission that engages with the whole person, with society and culture. He believes in taking a biblical approach to urban needs.

Board Member: Sheena Gillies

Sheena Gillies is a Pastoral Minister and has served in a number of churches over the last 25 years, including All Souls, Langham Place and Duke Street Church, Richmond.  Currently she serves at St James Church, Clerkenwell and is involved in leadership training, discipleship, pastoral work and cross-cultural mission.

Sheena was Director of Training at London School of Theology for seven years after having worked as a staff member with UCCF.  Serving on the Board of a number of mission agencies, Sheena has a keen interest in networking across the evangelical world and finding ways to relate and serve across the networks for Christ.

Board Member: Ruth Gilson

Ruth Gilson is the Director of The Girls Brigade England and Wales after having worked in public relations and development in the organisation as well as serving as a volunteer Girls Brigade leader since the age of 18.

In 2006, Ruth co-founded Arise Ministries, an initiative of Girls Brigade that seeks to ‘reach a generation’ of children who have never heard the good news about Jesus. She was formerly the Co-Director of Arise Ministries.

Ruth has extensive experience working with Christian organisations. Her specialty is in mission consultancy, children and youth and equipping saints in evangelism. She is also a Myers Briggs trainer.

Board Member: Ken Morgan

Ken Morgan is a Chartered Accountant who spent over 35 years in practice in Staines, specialising in advising family businesses on development, planning and taxes.

A leader of Crusaders (now Urban Saints) from 1965-2000, Ken also founded the Crusader group in Virginia Water with his wife, Gill. In addition, he served as the National Chairman of Crusaders, and is currently involved in the leading of an annual Urban Saints Camp. He is a Board member of Compassion UK and East to West as well as various other charities.

Ken leads regular groups on trips to India to do practical work with the poor. A sports lover, he enjoys playing golf and supporting Southampton.

Board Member: Derek Crookes

Derek Crookes works as a business advisor and is a member of the ‘Message’ business support group in Manchester. He is Co-Founder and Co-Organizer of the Manchester Prayer Breakfast, whose vision it is to see leaders at all levels of society enabled by God to strengthen the spiritual and moral values of the city and region.

Derek also leads youth at Aquasports, an independent camp affiliated with Youth for Christ. In addition to his role as a Board member of the Evangelical Alliance, he is a trustee of Open Arms International, a joint UK / USA charity doing medical relief work, pastor training, and evangelism in Africa.

Derek is married to Sue and has two daughters, Esther and Olivia. He enjoys organising golf trips to Florida as a means of ministering to men who have had no experience of Christ.

Board Member: Julian Richards

Julian Richards is the senior leader of Cornerstone Church in Swansea. He began pioneering the church in an economically and socially deprived area of Swansea in 1989. Cornerstone serves its local community with many social action projects and has received a number of awards in recognition of its community work.

Julian also leads the Swansea Churches Forum, serving to represent the Church in Swansea to local government. He is President of Gweini, serving to represent the Churches in Wales involved in community work to the Welsh Assembly.

Julian is married to Sarah and they have three children. Julian and Sarah travel regularly speaking to people on how to build a church that attracts, influences and engages with contemporary society.