Work History

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Academic education

1970-78

St Albans school. 9 O levels. 3 A levels

1980-84

Bristol university, theology department. BA Religion with literature. Upper second (honours)

1989-93

Urban Theology Unit. Diploma in Community Ministry.

1994-95

Birkbeck College: London University. Certificate in Urban Community Studies (distinction and prize).

1995-96

Goldsmith College: London University. (full-time. This involved studies in social research methods, contemporary social issues and community and youth work). MA Applied Anthropology and Community and Youth Work. Certificate in Community and Youthwork (NYB)

1997-98

Birbeck College Pastoral Care course (distinction)

 Work experience

1979 - 1980

Orderly - St. Albans City Hospital

1985

Volunteer - Ayia Napa conference centre, Cyprus

1985 - 1987

Home Mission Task Force co-ordinator - Baptist Union

1987 - 1992

Community worker - Zebra project

Working on issues of racial justice with churches in East London

1988 -1991

Executive Secretary - Conference for Christian partnership 

1992 - 1995

Networker - London ECUM (Evangelical Coalition for Urban Mission)

Working on a variety of urban issues such as training for urban mission

1994 -

Self employed / free-lance

work has included:

Non managerial supervisions (Breathing Space)

Research projects e.g.  WholeCare research fellowship on ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia, and pastoral transitions for London Baptist Association

Facilitation work e.g. Hackney Winter Night Shelter

Evaluations and community profiles

 

1996 -1999

Lay Pastor – Bellingham URC.

1998 -2012

Worker for Urban Churches Support Group

Work on chronic illness, community work, church management, urban worship, estate ministry etc. 

1998 -2003

Tutor: MA urban ministry. Spurgeon’s college

Leading theological reflection seminars

2000 -2008

CANDL (Church and Neighbourhood Development in London - a Barnardos project). Senior practitioner

Working with churches in East London on variety of issues such as children and families and homelessness

2012-2014

Lay reader and parish administrator (Benefices of the Irfon valley and Blaenau Irfon in the diocese of Swansea and Brecon)

Regular preaching. Leading house groups, evening prayer and supporting parish ministry. Eco-theology

 Voluntary work

·         Chair of the National Baptist Youth Assembly 1983 and subsequent to that a member of Baptist Union council and youth representative to Inter-Church Process

·         Member of BCC Middle East committee 1985-87

·         Membership secretary for Battersea Law Centre 1987 - 1991

·         Coordinator Springboard - a gathering of church leaders on my estate in Battersea. 1992 - 1995

·         Deacon of Battersea chapel from 1992 - 1996.

·         Chair of St Peter’s Community Project 1994 - 1996. This involved managing a community worker and negotiating with Health Authority, leading to the appointment of a pilot community health worker.

·         Co founder Two Big Men drama project 1992-1996

·         Enabler of Reach in, Reach out a project which addressed issues of racial justice for Baptist churches in Southwest London. 1994 - 1998

·         Governor of Athelney school 1997 - 1999

·         Chair: Round Chapel Neighbourhood Project 2001

·         Moderator: Downs Baptist Church 2001 - 2003

·         Facilitator for Feast -- alternative worship congregation at Clapton Park URC 2003-9

·         Living Systems Group (Royal Society for the Arts) 2008-

·         Facilitator for Evening Prayer for Stoke Newington@St. Mary's, Stoke Newington 2010-2012

Publications

·         Prophets and Prayer: interviews with African church leaders. Zebra Project 1992

·         Issues for Urban Mission. ECUM 1992

·         A Guide to Ethnic Christianity in London. Zebra Project 1993

·         Gentrification - a theological reflection. UTU 1994

·         Reaching Out (ed.). Reach In, Reach Out 1995

·         Listening to your Community. CANDL 1997

·         Joy in the Gospel of Mark.  Third Way

·         A-Z estate ministry. UCSG 2000

·         When the Pastor Leaves -- workbook. London Baptist Association 2001

·         Training Pack for Interim Moderators -- workbook. London Baptist Association 2001

·         CANDL project discussion papers 2000-2008 Models of church social involvement, The Gilded Cage?  Churches and regeneration, Discrimination against Churches, Disability and the Urban Church, Reflections on outcome based funding and empowerment, Grassroots Urban Institutions (also published on Faithful Cities website), Targets, Outcomes and Voluntary Organisations see www.barnardos.org.uk/CANDL

·         Gated Communities, Crucible article 2005

·         Urban Mission and Truth, London Urban Theology Project 2006

·         Be Not Afraid. A book of stories for people with chronic illness 2008

·         Urban Fathers -- reworking of the Egyptian desert fathers in the context of modern London.  Fairacres Chronicle 2009

·         Churches as Grassroots Organizations, London Urban Theology Project 2009

·         Community Action and Faith Based Community Work Crucible 2010

·         Seeds of Hope -- Community Work Stories in the United Reformed Church 2011

·         Exploring the D-word – reflections on experiences of discrimination in the church. Ministry Today August 2013

·         Stories of the Irfon Saints – stories based on legends from an area of North Breconshire. Morwen’s Angel 2013. The Story of St. Cadmarch 2013. The Journey of St. Cannen. Illustrated by Anna Bessant

 

Forthcoming:

·         Understanding Grassroots Organizations in book on living systems published by WIT press