YBA Trustees & How Our Groups Work Together

The YBA Trustees

The YBA Executive has up to seven elected trustees who are church representatives and up to seven co-opted trustees. Trustees of the Association also act as directors of the company limited by guarantee.

The Regional Ministers and the Association Administrator attend in an advisory, non-voting capacity. The Executive Group is led by the Executive Chair and Vice-Chair, and the Chair of each subgroup (Finance, Ministry and Trust) and the Treasurer are co-opted trustees.

The Executive meets a minimum of five times per year. Several of the trustees attend other YBA groups or contribute in other ways to the life of the Association – for example, providing leadership on safeguarding, risk, staffing or other issues.

Trustees are the people responsible for the governance, management and administration of the YBA.

They are

Chair

Kevin Quinton

I served as Vice-Chair to Liz Allen, who stepped down at the end of 2021 and was invited to become Transitional Chair at that point. I have served as a YBA Trustee since 2015 and am a member of St Thomas Crookes Church in Sheffield. I understand the journey the YBA has been on in discerning new priorities and aim to provide stability in the midst of much change.

Treasurer

Dean Thorpe

I am a member of The Ark Baptist Church, Sheffield and have been serving as your YBA Treasurer since January 2015. Areas of knowledge and expertise include finance, strategic planning and oversight. I’m CEO of Charles James Financial Planning and have been working in financial services for over 30 years. I’m also a member of the Baptist Pension Scheme Investment Committee, Treasurer of Sports Chaplaincy UK and a Trustee of CVM.

I'm keen to continually review how we can make the best use of stewarding the resources that are under our responsibility. Whether it is a small rural church, a large city one or a significant national Baptist Family challenge, the aim is to attempt to move things forward for the better.

Other Trustees

Stuart Anslow
Eleanor Brennan
Kenny Brown
John Crosse
Andrew Ginn

How our groups work together

Responsibilities for governance of the YBA are carried out through the Executive Group and the three sub-groups (Ministry, Trust and Finance) that report and are accountable to it.

Executive Group

The key decision-making body acting on behalf of the YBA churches

All major strategic decisions relating to the work of the Association are taken by the Executive. This includes major issues referred from the sub-groups. While these groups deal with detailed matters, it is the Executive which keeps the overview and focus of the Association.

The Executive's key tasks include:

Maintaining the aims and developing the strategies of the YBA;
Setting policies and reviewing the practice of the YBA in terms of Ministry and Mission;
Setting policies and reviewing the practice of the YBA Trust Corporation as managed by the Trust Group;
Maintaining the financial practice of the Association through setting budgets and approving accounts;
Supporting and resourcing YBA staff and volunteers to carry out their functions, roles and responsibilities
Undertaking representation and partnership with the Baptist Union of Great Britain, St Hild College, BMS World Mission and other recognised bodies.

Ministry Group

The Ministry Group has overall responsibility for:

Interviewing candidates for ministry, both lay and ordained;
Reviewing the development of Newly Accredited Ministers (NAMs);
The ongoing support and encouragement of ministers and pastors;
Developing training for ministers and pastors;
Encouraging healthy relationships in our churches.

Trust Group

The Trust Group manages the trusteeship affairs and properties of the Association along with our Trust Officer, Revd Ann Chesworth. The Trust Group provides advice and expertise to local churches on matters relating to trust deeds, church constitutions and rules, membership, property and legal concerns.

Finance Group

The YBA Finance Group oversees the Association's financial matters on behalf of the Executive, ensuring that matters of YBA finance are properly considered and managed. Part of this is the YBA Grants Group which as a task group of the Finance Group meets to consider applications for grant support from YBA member churches and ministers.

Meet the Team