New Joint Team Leader role for Jane

The North Western Baptist Association (NWBA) has announced the appointment of the Revd Jane Henderson as Joint Regional Minister (Team Leader)

Jane has been in a NWBA regional ministry role for six years, joining the NWBA team initially as a regional minister for church transition.  

In her new role she will serve alongside the Revd Phil Jump as Joint Team Leader. 

They will share responsibility across NWBA, seeking as much as possible to operate in defined areas of responsibility.  

At present they are part of the Mission and Ministry Development team, and broadly speaking Phil will lead on mission development, while Jane oversees ministry development. 

Jane said, ‘This proposal came from Phil and I'm really humbled that he trusted me enough to make space for me to grow and flourish in a new role.   

‘We have worked well together for around six years now and our hope is that our partnership will bear more fruit than the sum of its two parts. 

‘The call to 'Trans-local' (Regional) ministry that I experienced some years ago, has, if anything, grown, and I have a real sense of being in the place that God has called me.’ 

As regional minister for church transition, Jane walked alongside churches in pastoral vacancy as a companion and facilitator, as well as delivering training for the Latchford initiative, which equips those who have assumed a strong leadership role in a church but aren’t accredited ministers. These two aspects will continue, and the annual ministers’ conference and leadership development hubs for ministers will also be key responsibilities.    

‘I am passionate about helping individuals and churches flourish and develop to their God-given potential so that they can serve God's missional purposes in the places he has called them,’ Jane continued.   

‘The Team Leader role enables me to perhaps be more strategic in how I do this, looking more systemically and structurally to find ways of releasing and supporting God's people for mission and ministry.   

‘The societal landscape in which our churches find themselves now has changed considerably and our Associations need to help our churches and our people meet new challenges.   

‘I am excited by the possibilities this presents for mission and ministry in the next few years, and while we can't predict the future, we can at least equip our churches to be adaptable and resilient.’ 

Jane’s background in leadership and organisational development has become a ‘vital asset’ in the Association, said Phil in a statement, and the new appointment is a natural development of Jane’s work. 

‘The simple truth is that as this work has grown, so has the need for more resource to organise and lead. We are also uncovering other aspects of church life, where this model of support and training is needed. 

‘Jane’s appointment will mean her taking a more public role as representing NWBA both in national arenas and also locally – this is so that I can be freed to do more work around our structures and systems to support ministry, pioneering and mission as we move forward. 

‘I am certainly delighted with this appointment.’ 

Phil will also be leading a new project to explore how the Association can develop practical support for churches who are struggling with issues of administration and finance. Phil and Jane will continue to offer vision and away days for churches as invited, and will deputise for each other when circumstances require.

In the statement Phil added, ‘At the heart of this new development is our commitment to support churches in being communities of effective mission and wellbeing, and to release the gifts of everyone within our NWBA community. 

‘I believe this is a positive and beneficial step forward which will help us support our churches even more effectively in the years ahead.’ 

‘We thank you for your shared support over many years, and look forward to working with you in this latest phase of our shared life.