Presidency nomination for minister with love of science 

Senior Minister of Croxley Green Baptist Church David Gregory, or "Dr Dave" for the way he uses experiments to connect science with God and faith, will be our Union's President in 2018-19

Dave, who worked at the Met Office and European Weather Centre in weather and climate research for 15 years before following the call to ordained ministry, was one of two candidates for the Presidency, alongside John Singleton, a former Regional minister.
 
Voting closed on 31 March, and Dave was informed by General Secretary Lynn Green on Monday.
 
‘It is a somewhat unexpected journey that God has led me on these past months,’ he said. ‘I am grateful for the encouragement and support of my colleagues and the church at Croxley Green, along with others as I have explored God’s leading. 
 
‘My thanks too for many in the Baptist family who sensed I might have something to share.’
 
In his profile, he explained how the Apollo moon landings inspired an interest in science when growing up. He studied Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Leicester and became a Christian while at Imperial College in London researching thunder storms.
 
As a member of Easthampstead Baptist Church, he led the planting of a new congregation into a local estate which resulted in him exploring pastoral ministry. 
 
David teaches science and faith on the Footsteps training programme in the Central and Southern Counties Associations, as well as to schools, churches, community groups and Bible Colleges and in 2015 organised a CBA workshop “Science for Ministers”.
 
At Croxley Green, David helps lead the monthly Messy Church where, as “Dr Dave”, he runs the “Messy Science Lab”, using simple experiments to help children, parents and carers to enjoy science and through it connect to God and faith.



He is also helping to co-ordinate the national Messy Church Does Science project - part of the Scientists in Congregations initiative at St. John’s College, Durham - inspiring Messy Churches to use science in exploring faith, a resource book being launched at the Ely Cathedral Science Festival in June 2017. 
 
He said,

‘I hope in my Presidential year that I will gain a bigger picture and learn from the diversity of life and mission across the churches of Baptists Together, and have something to bring that will encourage and inspire the journey we are on in sharing in God’s life and mission.
 
‘I am sure that “Dr Dave” and Messy Science will be part of the year, along with helping people of all ages to discover something of God through the wonder of creation that we can find all around us, and also through what science reveals.’

Dave will become President at the 2018 Baptist Assembly. At this year’s Assembly in Harrogate Dianne Tidball will succeed current President Rupert Lazar. Her presidential theme is “As In Heaven”.
 
The President’s main role is as a communicator/facilitator of our Union’s vision and mission. The President travels around our Union, engaging with local churches, regional Associations and Colleges.  
 
A key part of the role is leading the Baptist Steering Group (BSG) Accompanying Group, which provides prayer support and shares in spiritual and missional reflection with BSG.