Rt Rev Mike Royal
Rt Rev Mike Royal is the General Secretary of Churches Together in England, a Pentecostal Bishop with the Apostolic Pastoral Congress, and a committed social justice advocate. He previously served as Co-Chief Executive of The Cinnamon Network and is a founding trustee and former National Director of Transforming Lives for Good (TLG). Mike is widely recognised for his leadership in faith-based social action and his commitment to unity and justice across the church.
Min Shermara Hoyte
Minister Shermara Hoyte is the Principal Officer at Churches Together in England for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Multicultural Relations. She also has responsibility for racial justice and young adult ecumenical engagement. A dedicated minister and international speaker, Shermara is committed to fostering holistic and flourishing lives. She has an MA in Christian Leadership and Theology. Her leadership was notably highlighted when she read before a global audience in September 2022 at the funeral of the late HM Queen Elizabeth. She is a regular broadcast on BBC Radio, Talk TV, The God Channel, TBN, UCB Radio and Premier Radio. She is also a writer, contributing to works such as Lived Mission in 21st Century Britain, Coming Home: Christian Perspectives on Housing, Black, Christian and Single, and Anglicans and Pentecostals in Dialogue.
Doral Hayes
Doral Hayes is the Principal Officer for Ecumenical Development and Relations at Churches Together in England, supporting county and local expressions of unity and working closely with National Ecumenical Officers across member churches. She holds an MA in Contemporary Christian Theology and is completing a Doctorate in Practical Theology at Roehampton University, focusing on what the churches can learn from the lived experience of interchurch families. Doral previously served as Ecumenical Facilitator for Churches Together in Hertfordshire and as Executive Development Officer for the Association of Interchurch Families. A licensed lay minister in the Church of England, she regularly preaches and leads worship in her local parish.
Rev Dr Helen Paynter
Rev Dr Helen Paynter is the founding director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. Formerly a nephrologist, she was called into Baptist ministry and has pastored two churches in Bristol. She now teaches Old Testament and trains Baptist ministers at Bristol Baptist College. Helen holds a PhD in Old Testament studies from the University of Bristol and is a leading voice on biblical interpretation, particularly in relation to violence and the misuse of scripture. She is an author, speaker, and preacher both nationally and internationally.
Rt Rev Dr Anderson Jeremiah
Rt Rev Dr Anderson Jeremiah is the Bishop of Edmonton and a globally recognised Anglican theologian. Born and raised in Vellore, South India, he was ordained in the Church of South India before moving to the UK for doctoral research. He has served in the Scottish Episcopal Church and as Lecturer in World Christianity at Lancaster University. Anderson is a member of the Church of England’s General Synod and contributes to the Faith and Order Commission and Ministry Council. His work explores World Christianity, justice, and mission, shaped by his lived experience as a Dalit Christian. He is deeply committed to racial and social justice as central to Christian discipleship.
Rev Dr Callan Slipper
Rev Dr Callan Slipper is the current Chair of Churches Together in England, is a theologian and ecumenical leader who currently chairs the Society for Ecumenical Studies. He has dedicated decades to the ecumenical movement, including serving as National Ecumenical Officer for the Church of England. Ordained in 1994, he lives in London as part of the Focolare Movement, seeking to embody its spirituality of unity. Callan is a member of the Focolare’s international study centre, the Abba School, and the author of Five Steps to Living Christian Unity and Enriched by the Other.
Sr Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ
Sr Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus, Director of the Religious Life Institute, and Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Theology at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge. She also teaches Christian spirituality at the Cambridge Theological Federation. With over 25 years of experience as a spiritual director, retreat leader, and chaplain, she brings deep expertise in Ignatian spirituality. She is the author of The Way of Ignatius and Dancing at the Still Point.
Chine McDonald
Chine McDonald is Director of Theos, the religion and society think tank, and a writer and broadcaster. She is a leading voice on race, faith, leadership, and social change, and is a regular media commentator across national platforms including the BBC, Times Radio, and major print publications such as the Financial Times and The Guardian. Chine is the author of God Is Not a White Man, which was runner-up for the 2023 Michael Ramsey Prize. She is an experienced speaker and panel host, contributing to national conversations on ethics, justice, and public theology.
Richard Bradbury
Richard Bradbury is the Company Secretary for Churches Together in England and a member of the CTE Pentecostal and Charismatic Forum. He serves as an international missionary, national leader at Ground Level Network and locally at Beverley Community Church. Richard has a long-standing commitment to church unity, discipleship, and local church leadership. Richard brings significant experience in governance, ecumenical engagement, and fostering collaboration across different church traditions, alongside a passion for seeing churches work together in mission and witness.
