Lay pastors

Our Church is largely led by volunteers; our Lay Pastors are three of these.  Much of their work is encouraging and helping others. 

Our Lay Pastors often lead our morning worship, conduct baptisms, encourage people to become members, take funerals and support the work of Pastoral Visitors where necessary. They wear distinctive hoodies or polo shirts and would be the first point of contact for any safeguarding issues.

Each year, our Lay Pastors produce a study series as a basis for worship on Sunday mornings and for groups during the week. This refreshes our commitment to becoming Jesus-Shaped People, an initiative which began in 2014, along with our Building Improvement for Growth (the BIG project) and our Giving for Others (Monthly GiFOs).  Lay Pastors are one of the driving forces behind our growing Church.

The role of Lay Pastor in our Church is not intended to replace the function of any other group. They work closely with the Ministerial Team, Baildon Leadership Team (BLT), the Stewards and the Worship and Church Life Team.  Claire, Peter and Mervyn, have different skills and experience and contribute in a variety of ways to the role, liaising regularly to ensure effective joint working.

Click here to e-Mail our Lay Pastors.

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Mervyn Flecknoe

Mervyn has been studying scripture, leading Christian worship and preaching for over 50 years. He reveres the Bible as our primary window into the life of Jesus and of the Early Church, often revealing more about its writers than about historical events. He is dedicated to interpreting it in the light of the commandments of Jesus; all about Love. He is convinced that this involves practical caring for God’s world so that the children of our great grandchildren, whom we will never know, will live in a more loving and peaceful world, in a healthier, and more biodiverse environment.

His working life has included industry and education, youth work and drystone walling. Nowadays, guiding walks in the UK and in Mediterranean countries provides a welcome periodic retreat to reflect on his work as Lay Pastor. He regards time spent with children and providing for their upbringing, as the most important thing that he does.

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Peter Jackson

Peter has been a Methodist Local Preacher since 1983, preaching about once a month within the Circuit. He is happy to conduct Baptisms and funerals.

Married to Rosemary since 1969, they have two daughters and two grandsons. Peter has held a range of jobs in the church and currently heads the Church safeguarding team. Peter also represents the Baildon Methodist Church on Churches Together in Baildon (CTiB), where he works together with Anglicans, Moravians and Roman Catholics to demonstrate those things that unite rather than divide.

You can find Peter in Wesleys Cafe at some time during the week, talking and listening to people. One of his favourite times is Friday morning when most weeks he tells a story to the young folk at our See and Know group. Peter enjoys classic cars, his 30 year old mini has been driven to Italy, Germany, France and Belgium.

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Claire Nott

Claire moved to Baildon with her 2 daughters in August 2011 to take up a post teaching maths at Woodhouse Grove School. The family joined Baildon Methodist Church as a result of the warm and friendly welcome they received during the Scarecrow Festival which took place shortly after their arrival.

The Church family and its focus on sharing God’s love with the local community and wider world have helped Claire’s faith develop over the last 10 years. She is now “on-trial” as a Local Preacher and feels privileged to be part of the Lay Pastor team.

In addition to leading worship one or two times a month, Claire is also one of the Church pianists, a member of the Worship & Church Life Group and Chairs the Treasury Team.

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