Four nominees for Conference Executive have been announced to Conference Convened delegates ahead of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 5 November 2024.
This year’s nominees are Rebecca Lee (Sydney Crystal Church), Steed Leonard (Restore Church), John Piper (Illawarra Church of Christ) and Stephen Smith (Pendle Hill Church of Christ).
Conference Executive, our network’s governing body, is seeking to fill three positions. Delegates were invited from across the network of churches. Voting will be completed by ballot and will be announced at the AGM.
The Conference Executive is made up of pastors and members from our churches in NSW. As a representative board, these men and women seek God’s guidance for the future of our network, as a catalyst for unity, and make key decisions for the health and direction of our churches and its entities.
Image: The Conference Executive Board at a strategy retreat in May this year.
In line with changes made at the 2021 AGM, Churches of Christ in NSW’s constitution now appoints nine voluntary positions on the Conference Executive board for three-year terms. The following nominees were required to be endorsed by their local church. As part of the nomination process, they provided their motivation for applying, and the experience and skills they would bring if voted in as a member of the board.
Rebecca has been actively involved in ministry throughout her adult life. She and her husband currently serve as shepherds in Sydney Crystal Church’s house church ministries. A qualified lawyer and chartered accountant, Rebecca currently works as the Chief Compliance Officer for a global investment management company.
“This world’s busy culture, rapidly changing technology and broken societal values makes it hard for our churches and its leaders. So, I want to use my skills and experience to help all churches in our network feel encouraged, supported and strengthened in Christ so we can keep running this race.”
Steed has been actively involved at Restore Church for 30 years in many areas of ministry including eldership. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and has held senior level leadership roles in various NSW government corporations.
“I am deeply committed to investing in pastors and dedicated members across our movement of over 67 churches, fostering growth in both our community and myself along the way. I believe God has placed a passion in my heart to cultivate growth, deepen community engagement, and strengthen relationships within our network.”
John has been involved with Churches of Christ all his life and has served in various board roles at Wollongong Church of Christ (now New Day Church of Christ) and now Illawarra Church of Christ. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy and a PhD in Materials Engineering.
“My desire is to see our churches gain vigour following COVID and the loss of social licence experienced by all Churches. I want to see our movement facilitate our churches to draw Christians together through the love of our Lord Jesus. In God’s will, I offer to serve using my experience, energy and skills in this work.”
Stephen attends the Pendle Hill (Pathways) Church of Christ where he is an elder. He has served Churches of Christ in NSW in numerous roles, most recently as the Principal of the Australian College of Ministries. He is currently the Dean of the Sydney College of Divinity, and a Partner at The Colloquium Group, a management consulting firm. He holds PhDs in health science and organisational development, a Master of Business Law, and Master of Business Administration.
“Since childhood I have been passionately supportive of the Restoration ideals as espoused by the Churches of Christ. Through my involvement with Conference Executive, I hope to serve and support our movement of churches as together we tirelessly pursue the mission of God!”
You can view the full information about the Board Nominees and their nomination videos HERE.
The Property Trust, which was seeking to fill 1 position, received no nominees.
This year’s AGM on Tuesday, 5 November 2024 will be held as a hybrid meeting (that is both in-person and online), from 7.30pm to 9pm.
