Delegates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Atim Abrams is the Membership Engagement Manager for Mothers’ Union. Her role focuses on strengthening engagement and supporting sustainable membership growth across the movement in Britain and Ireland. Her Christian faith is central to who she is, and one of the things she values deeply about working for Mothers’ Union is the opportunity to openly live out her faith in the workplace. She was born a Methodist, and her family remains deeply involved in the Methodist Church. Her grandfather was among the early trained lay preachers and choir masters, trained by Methodist missionaries. During her university years, she became actively involved in Protestant student ministry, which helped deepen her faith journey. Today, she is an active Baptist and serves as the secretary of Harringay United Church (Baptist). Her faith journey across different Christian traditions has shaped her passion for Christian unity, service, and living out faith in practical ways
Deborah Akinlawon QPM serves as the Executive Director of the Christian Police Association (CPA), a charity established in 1883 to support the welfare and spiritual well-being of police officers and staff. In recognition of her work, Deborah received the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) in the Queens New Year Honours 2020, for her work in Family Liaison and her involvement with the CPA Metropolitan Branch. Her career includes participation in several high-profile investigations such as Operation Minstead (Nightstalker enquiry), the Damilola Taylor Investigation, the Victoria Station stabbing, and mass fatality incidents including the London Bridge terror attack and the Grenfell Tower Fire prior to her retirement. Additionally, she played an active role in engaging with London churches, to strengthen community relations as part of the CPA’s outreach efforts. Deborah is notably the first female leader in the CPA’s history since its inception in 1883 and serves as a worship leader in her local church.
Benjamin Aldous is the Principal Officer for Mission and Evangelism at Churches Together in England. He helps bring together church leaders who reflect on mission and evangelism in urban and rural contexts across England. Ben also writes and reflects on mission, ecumenism, Asian theologies and intercultural theology and is an honorary fellow at Sarum College. He is author of The God Who Walks Slowly: Reflections on mission with Kosuke Koyama (SCM Press 2022) and Lived Mission in 21st Century Britain: Ecumenical and Postcolonial Perspectives (SCM Press 2024) and a new book about Taiwanese theologian C.S Song. Ben is a musician and plays electric bass and keyboards and is a fan of neo soul, jazz and funk. He is married to Sharon with four children and lives in Devon.
Sarah Ball is the Head of Communications for Churches Together in England. She manages CTE’s website, social media, media engagement and communications. She is the Editor of our e-newsletter CTe-News. Sarah is a former BBC radio and TV journalist, who since she left the Corporation has worked in the public, private and third sectors. Sarah holds Masters degrees in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California and in Organizational Behaviour from the University of London. She is an active member of an Anglican church in the Stockport area (Chester diocese) and is involved in her local Churches Together group. As well as her role at CTE, Sarah is a Trustee of Inclusive Church. She passionately believes that churches are ‘stronger together’ and should be accessible and welcoming to everyone. Talk to Sarah if you like good wine and coffee – she has worked in both these industries.
Melanie Carroll is an ecumenical practitioner and lay pioneer minister, with a long-standing commitment to unity, mission, and lived faith across denominational boundaries. Employed by Churches Together in All Lincolnshire and the Association of Interchurch Families, her lived experience of interchurch life shapes both her theological reflection and practical engagement with churches. Her pioneering work includes Fresh Expressions and contextual mission, particularly through outdoor and nature-based worship such as Lincoln Forest Church, Waddington Wild Church, and Church by Nature in Sleaford. These initiatives explore how worship, discipleship, and community can take shape beyond traditional church buildings while remaining connected to the wider Church. Her work is rooted in local ecumenism, contemplative practice, and a deep attentiveness to place, story, and relationship. She brings a reflective, theologically grounded voice to conversations about mission, unity, discipleship, and the future of the Church.
Angela Clarke BEM is a dedicated leader and humanitarian, serving as Chief Executive Officer of RAFFA International Development Agency, the charitable arm of the Church of God of Prophecy. With a strong commitment to social justice and faith-driven service, she has led initiatives addressing poverty, education, health, and community resilience across the UK and internationally. Awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her contributions to charitable work, Angela is recognised for her compassionate leadership and strategic vision.
Under her guidance, RAFFA’s vision is to see transformed communities where people thrive with dignity, opportunity, and hope. Its mission is to deliver sustainable development programmes, humanitarian aid, and advocacy that empower vulnerable individuals and communities, reflecting Christian values of love, service, and global responsibility.
Penny Clarke joined Bible Reading Fellowship Ministries in January 2024, having been Head of Finance & Operations for a large group of churches in the north of England. Penny manages the day to day operational activities of the charity. Following a career as a Chartered Accountant in a Big 4 firm, Penny moved to executive leadership within the charity sector whilst continuing to teach internationally at senior level within academia. She has significant Board experience and is currently director of the national network UCAN & Mercy Ministries.
Sorcha Connell is currently the Director of the Single Friendly Church Network, Comms specialist for the School for Synodality and works as a freelance consultant on communications and project management. She has worked with many faith-based charities and organisations including for the Archbishop of Canterbury, National Churches Trust, Salvation, Army, Jesuits in Britain, Faith & Belief Forum, Religion Media Centre, and more. Sorcha has a special interest ecumenism and interfaith, and has lived in lay communities such as the Taizé Community in France, and the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace. She has studied Theology & Religious Studies at University of Leeds and KULeuven, Interfaith Studies at University of Wales TSD, and is a certified Spiritual Director. She is a trustee of Embrace the Middle East.
John Cooper is the Director of Fellowship of Reconciliation and previously served the church through working for Christian Aid, Joint Public Issues Team and All We Can. John is committed to ecumenism, social justice and has a world church outlook. He has a family made up of 3 youngish children and enjoys cycling, walking, reading and films.
Andrew Cunningham is a founder member of Green Pastures. He is our CEO and the force behind all we do. He also has his own architects practice and heads up our Development Team. He is one of six siblings to Pastor Pete and Linda and has two of his own children. He is also part of his church team teaching in Sunday School and standing as advisor to the leadership team.
Matt Currey Partnerships Development Lead (4 days) at Lifewords, a CTE Charity in Association that creates ways into the Bible in print, in person and online. Matt lives with his family in Southall in West London. He worships at St. John’s Church and also has just started work with Holy Trinity Southall as ‘Creative Community Enabler’ (1.5 days). He loves music, supports Norwich City and is a fan of craft beer.
Sarah Edwards is Executive Director of JustMoney Movement, an ecumenical organisation that equips Christians and churches to consider the ethics of their money and to speak out for a fairer, greener economy. She brings over twenty years of experience in advocacy on global justice issues, previously co-leading Tearfund’s Global Advocacy Team with a focus on poverty and the environmental crisis. Her career has included campaigning on debt relief, human trafficking, tax justice and access to medicines, alongside capacity building with organisations in Asia and Africa. She lives with her family in North London and is currently training for ordination in the Church of England.
Jess Foster is Chair of the CNAs and Head of Church Engagement at Trussell. She is an Anglican deacon who has taught at the Queens Foundation, been a Bishop’s Chaplain in Birmingham and been involved with grassroots interfaith work. At Trussell, Jess convenes a panel of Lived Experience Partners – Christians who have needed to the support of a food bank – and together they speak at festivals, events, conferences and churches. Jess is passionate about churches being places where everyone can belong fully – particularly people facing hunger and hardship – and is keen to support churches to use their voices to challenge injustice and they systems that drive people through the doors of food banks.
Bob Goody is CEO of Rural Missions, a UK charity supporting churches in rural and market-town contexts to engage confidently in God’s mission. With over 25 years’ experience in mission, evangelism, and church partnership, both locally and nationally, through churches and organisations, Bob brings a strong blend of strategic leadership and practical delivery. He works nationally and ecumenically, helping churches understand their communities, build confidence, and develop hopeful, sustainable approaches to mission. Bob lives in the East Midlands with his family and regularly speaks, trains, and writes.
Kate Grand is secretary of British Region of the International Ecumenical Fellowship came to Christ as a student, was confirmed as an Anglican, but transferred to the URC when our first child was born. In 2000 I went on a URC Waldensian Fellowship visit to Italy and have been part of that ever since. In 2007 I attended an international conference of the International Ecumenical fellowship (IEF) in Pisek, Czechoslovakia. I have been to every international conference since in different parts of Europe and grown into this community, becoming BRIEF secretary in 2015 and International rep two years ago. I have developed closer relations with the French and German regions especially, through attending some of their regional meetings, meeting up at the Kirchentag and at IEF mini conferences too. It is a joy and enriching to learn more of how Christians of different traditions across Europe live out their lives and worship. International conferences also bring us closer to African Christians, some from South America and most recently Canada.
Bishop Anderson Jeremiah is the Bishop of Edmonton was born and raised in Vellore, a South Indian town, in a pastor’s family. After his seminary training at United Theological College in Bangalore, he was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Vellore, Church of South India (an Anglican Province). Anderson came to Edinburgh to pursue his doctoral research and served in the Scottish Episcopal Church, until his move to Lancaster. Anderson became the first lecturer in World Christianity in the department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University. Anderson became deeply involved in the life of the church in Lancashire. As an elected member of the Church of England General Synod Anderson represents the Theological Education Institutions and Universities. Currently he also serves in the Faith and Order Commission and Ministry Council. Anderson is a Globally recognised Anglican Theologian with research interests in the lived facet of World Christianity, and its theological, political, and missional engagement in the wider society. He is deeply passionate about social and environmental justice as a Gospel imperative. His passion for working towards justice and peace as central to Christian Discipleship stems from his lived experience as a Dalit Christian.
Ralph Lee is Facilitator for the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative – an organisation that emerged out of the Lausanne movement and promotes cooperation in mission between Orthodox and Evangelical Christians globally. He also works at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, directing their new research institute, and leading a project that seeks to understand spiritual formation and discipleship in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches in partnership with Sankt Ignatios College/Stockholm School of Eastern Christian Studies in Södertälje, Sweden.
Caroline Lubale-Buluba serves as the African and Caribbean Engagement Lead at Tearfund, a Christian charity dedicated to following Jesus where the need is greatest, working alongside local churches to end global poverty and injustice. With deep roots and experience within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, Caroline is passionate about building authentic, long-term partnerships between Tearfund and Black Majority Churches. Her work focuses on shifting away from transactional fundraising and instead creating culturally resonant spaces for worship, shared mission, and relational trust. Currently, she is spearheading a flagship, first-of-its-kind worship initiative, A Gospel Christmas, designed to deepen community engagement. Caroline is delighted to represent Tearfund at the CNA retreat and looks forward to connecting, learning, and exploring fresh ecumenical collaborations for the global good
Adam May has been a Ministry Development Consultant for over 15 years, liaising with a range of media outlets, political leaders and connecting churches. Currently, among his roles, he serves as Director of Strategy and Implementation for the National Day of Prayer and Worship. During that time, Adam held leadership roles in several national Christian charities, including serving on a strategic working group that advised the Government on faith engagement issues. Adam is passionate about prayer, unity and mission and this drives all he does. Whatever role he takes on, Adam believes Christian organisations should not simply respond to current events but should proactively share what God is doing! Adam lives in a small village in Bedfordshire with his wife, Becky, and two children. When Adam is alone at home, he enjoys singing loudly in the shower!
Brendan Metcalfe is the CEO of Friends of the Holy Land. In his earlier career in finance he spent 25 years overseas, 8 of them travelling around the Gulf from offices in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, where he worked with many Palestinians forced to find a life outside their home. When he determined to move into the charity world the work of Friends of the Holy Land called to him from personal experience of these colleagues during his time in the Gulf. He has been directing this work now as CEO for 7 years; visiting the Holy Land 2 – 3 times a year to support the local team during some of the most difficult times they have faced in living memory, firstly the impact of covid and now three years of war. On every visit he finds some aspect of his experience which deepens his faith and reinforces his commitment to help our brothers and sisters from the communities founded by the Apostles survive and thrive in the land where Jesus walked.
Alastair McKay is the director of Reconciliation Initiatives, resourcing clergy and their churches for missional engagement with local communities. He is the author of Bridgebuilding: Making Peace with Conflict in the Church (2019), and Reconciling Mission: Realizing God’s Reign through Community Engagement (2026).
Pete Moorey is the Head of Church and Community at Christian Aid responsible for engaging, equipping and inspiring churches across Britain to give, act and pray to end extreme poverty and injustice. He was previously Head of Campaigns & UK Advocacy at Christian Aid and has worked in the charity sector in a variety of roles – including at Which? and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations – over the past 25 years. Outside of work, he is an active member of Christ Church Gipsy Hill where he sits on the church council, preaches, leads worship and contributes to youth work. Pete is passionate in supporting the church to be a prophetic voice on issues of justice – locally, globally, nationally and globally. He is a keen musician with a deep love of jazz.
Dr Jules Morgan joined BRF Ministries in November 2023, having been New Wine’s executive director and director of the national network UCAN. Jules became Deputy CEO in Jan 2025 and manages the day to day charity activities. Following a postdoctoral career in neuroscience, Jules moved to executive leadership in the charity sector.
Janie Oliver has been Chief Executive of Stewardship since January 2024, having first joined the organisation as CFO in 2021. Originally trained as a chartered accountant in South Africa, Janie spent her early career in senior finance roles at Barclays Bank before moving into the charitable sector over a decade ago. She has led organisations at the intersection of faith and finance, including The Just Money Movement, where she regularly spoke on connecting faith, money, and living generously. Janie also spent four years working at the forefront of social investment as Director of Finance and Operations for Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, where she led the investment of their £60m endowment and pioneered a total-impact investment approach. She also served as Access’s acting CEO. Passionate about social justice, Janie has served as a trustee for several organisations, including her local church and Orchards, a London-based charity supporting women leaving sexual exploitation. She lives in Wiltshire with her husband and two children, where she is part of a church plant and contributes to both the worship team and the children’s ministry.
Jack Palmer White helps to lead the work of the ChurchWorks Commission and has over a decade of experience of working with charities, faith-based organisations and social movements to help bring about change at the local, national and global level. Most recently, Jack was the Anglican Communion’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and previously was a senior advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury on social and public affairs. He has an MSc in Religion in the Contemporary World from the London School of Economics. He is married and has two young sons, and in his ‘spare’ time enjoys running.
Tim Robertson has a background in church planting and evangelism in over 40 years of ministry. Tim has a passion for mission and seeing Good News come to people’s lives. He has travelled overseas extensively during this time and is currently the Head of Strategic Partnerships for Compassion UK with a mandate to stir the church in their response to injustice and poverty and bringing about transformation in the lives of the poor. He is a great communicator of the Word using humour and stories and has an incredible heart for the ‘least of these’. Tim and his wife Sonya live in Bristol and they have 3 children and 3 grandchildren
Bishop Mike Royal has been General Secretary of Churches Together in England since 2022. He is the former Co-Chief Executive of the Cinnamon Network, which helps churches with their community engagement. He is the former National Director of award-winning charity Transforming Lives for Good (TLG), working with vulnerable school pupils. Mike has been in ordained church ministry since 1993 and is a Pentecostal Bishop with the Apostolic Pastoral Congress with responsibility for the Midlands Region of England. Mike has an academic background in urban planning and black theology. He is also a forensic mental health chaplain with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. He is married to Viviene and lives in Solihull, West Midlands.
Dr John Stayne is the recently elected chair of the committee for the Society for Ecumenical Studies. In his academic life, he is presently an Yves Congar Post Doctoral Fellow with the Institute for Ecumenical Studies at the Angelicum (Rome), and an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University (UK). Next year, as a Professore Invitato, he will help teach at the Angelicum’s class “The Free Churches and their Dialogue with the Catholic Church”. He additionally serves as a participant on the Catholic-Pentecostal national dialogue.
Chris Upton is the Chief Executive Officer of the Waterways Chaplaincy, a ministry dedicated to bringing care, compassion and a listening presence to people across the UK’s inland waterways. Chris leads a team (2 paid staff and 100+ volunteer chaplains) committed to supporting boaters, liveaboards, waterways workers and communities through friendship, practical help and spiritual care.
With a passion for mission beyond traditional church settings, Chris believes that the church is called to be present wherever people live, work and journey. Through partnerships with churches, charities and waterways organisations, Chris works to build bridges between communities and create spaces where people can experience welcome, hope and connection.
Chris regularly shares insights on chaplaincy, pioneering mission and the role of faith in today’s changing world. He also works as a Pastoral Supervisor, having led a Baptist church for 23 years.
Siân Wade joined the team of Safe Families and Home for Good in October 2025. She is a church minister within the Assemblies of God, and has lived in Lincoln leading a local church with her husband for over 20 years. She is deeply passionate about the Church being at the heart of local community, and believes that churches and Christian organisations working in partnership together is how real societal transformation will take place across the UK. Siân is married to Dave, and they have three teenage children. In 2020 they became foster carers with the local authority and have enjoyed welcoming children into their home and their lives whether it is for a few hours or a few years.
Clare Walker is part of the Stewardship team, growing and developing new relationships with Churches and Charities. Clare is excited to support causes to flourish and achieve more Kingdom impact, through joyful generosity. Previously Head of Engagement across England for Home for Good and a teacher for more than 20 years, Clare has also been a Trustee of Scripture Union and her local church. Clare has always been part of tiny rural churches and loves the richness of community that can be found living in a Somerset village.
