The Revd Simon Goddard has been appointed to serve as Regional Minister of the Eastern Baptist Association, it has been announced.

Mr Goddard, minister of Lode Baptist Chapel in Cambridge, will serve the Central Sector of the Association. The announcement was made on Wednesday (18 September) by the Eastern Baptist Association Council, which had been authorised by the Association Assembly in June 2013 to act on their behalf.

The interview panel and Council members were 'unanimous' in their decision, it said, and 'look forward to the future and the gifts, skills and enthusiasm that Simon will bring to the team and the wider Association.' The appointment will commence on 1 January 2014.

The EBA wished to appoint two Regional Ministers and the Council are still 'very keen to do this', it added. The remaining post will be advertised again with interviews planned before the end of the year.