The Evangelical Alliance Board

Board Chair: Mike Talbot

Mike Talbot has been the Vicar of Emmanuel Church, Northwood since 2002, having spent almost 15 years in Northamptonshire - first in Rushden, and then, for 11½ years, at the Church of Christ the King in Kettering. Prior to ordination, Mike worked at St George's Crypt in Leeds for a couple of years before joining the staff of Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) where he spent five years trying to encourage students to buy (and read!) Christian books.

He is married to Jan, a Nurse Practitioner in General Practice and they have two children, David and Kathryn (married to Richard). When they arrived in Northwood, they also acquired a West Highland Terrier puppy, Deeble, who lives under the misapprehension that she is Top Dog.

Board Member: Arlene Small

Arelene Small is a barrister with a keen interest in all aspects of children work, her experience includes handling applications for emergency protection, care and freeing orders and adoption matters among other ancillary applications. Arlene represents local authorities, parents and the child at these hearings.

She is the recipient of the Blackstones Entrance Award and the Benefactors Award.

Involved in a number of Inner London community activities, Arlene teaches at a Sunday school and drives a van for local children. She also teaches choreography to a youth dance team and organises youth activities such as concerts and personal development courses. Arlene also participates in a mentoring programme and visits schools to talk about career development. She enjoys Kai-bo and drumming.

Board Member: Derek Tidball

Derek Tidball was the principal of the London School of Theology (formally LBC) for 12 years and has been on staff of LST for a total of 26 years. A former President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, he has also served as the pastor of two local churches and as Head of the BU's Mission Department. He is widely involved in the leadership of a number of Christian agencies and is a Vice-President of the Evangelical Alliance as well a trustee and former chair of Network.

Derek holds a PhD from Keele University and is a wide ranging author. He remains deeply involved in theological education and is a Visiting Scholar at Spurgeon's College.

Board Member: Olu Ojedokun

Olu Ojedokun was born in London, and was nurtured in Nigeria.  He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Nigerian Supreme Court and was previously affiliated to the Law Society of England & Wales.  Olu used to work as part of a legal consultancy in London and for five years he was the Administrator of the Overseas Fellowship of Nigerian Christians UK.

Olu is a regular newspaper columnist, has made appearances on television current affairs programmes and holds a PhD in International Relations and Ethics from Nottingham Trent University.

Through serving 'African Majority' Churches in Britain, Olu aims to develop cross-cultural skills and Bible Expository preaching.  He currently works as a Field Director with Friends International in the UK, serves on the Board of the African and Caribbean Alliance and is married to Ola and they have two daughters.

Board Member: Graeme Clark

Graeme Clark is a Minister of Religion and Lecturer in Theology at the Scottish Baptist College. With16 years experience of pastoral ministry, he specialises in urban mission, spiritual and pastor care.

Graeme served for 10 years as the Executive Director of Glasgow City Mission, an interdenominational mission which works alongside churches and other Christian agencies to provide for the spiritual and material welfare of those in need in Glasgow.

Graeme has served on a number of national and international associations and has a deep concern for mission that engages with the whole person, with society and culture. He believes in taking a biblical approach to urban needs.

Board Member: Ruth Gilson

Ruth Gilson is the Director of The Girls Brigade England and Wales after having worked in public relations and development in the organisation as well as serving as a volunteer Girls Brigade leader since the age of 18.

In 2006, Ruth co-founded Arise Ministries, an initiative of Girls Brigade that seeks to ‘reach a generation’ of children who have never heard the good news about Jesus. She was formerly the Co-Director of Arise Ministries.

Ruth has extensive experience working with Christian organisations. Her specialty is in mission consultancy, children and youth and equipping saints in evangelism. She is also a Myers Briggs trainer.

Board Member: Ken Morgan

Ken Morgan is a Chartered Accountant who spent over 35 years in practice in Staines, specialising in advising family businesses on development, planning and taxes.

A leader of Crusaders (now Urban Saints) from 1965-2000, Ken also founded the Crusader group in Virginia Water with his wife, Gill. In addition, he served as the National Chairman of Crusaders, and is currently involved in the leading of an annual Urban Saints Camp. He is a Board member of Compassion UK and East to West as well as various other charities.

Ken leads regular groups on trips to India to do practical work with the poor. A sports lover, he enjoys playing golf and supporting Southampton.

Board Member: Pat Storey

Pat Storey is Rector of St. Augustine's Church of Ireland in Derry, Northern Ireland. She has been ordained for 11 years after bringing up two children and working as a church youth worker and then for WeightWatchers. She is married to Earl who works for a Church of Ireland project aimed at peacemaking, and has two grown up children - Carolyn (21) and Luke (17). They have lived both North and South of the border in Ireland and love to travel, eat out and meet with friends.

Pat has been involved with Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland for ten years, and has just resigned as Chair of Executive to be on the UK Board. She is also involved in the Church of Ireland Youth Department and in Derry and Raphoe Youth.

Pat is happiest with her family, friends and church! She feels incomplete without a dog since Heidi, the golden retriever died in April but her persuasiveness has not worked on Earl yet. Watch this space.....Pat also likes to get her own way!

Board Member: Derek Crookes

Derek Crookes works as a business advisor and is a member of the ‘Message’ business support group in Manchester. He is Co-Founder and Co-Organizer of the Manchester Prayer Breakfast, whose vision it is to see leaders at all levels of society enabled by God to strengthen the spiritual and moral values of the city and region.

Derek also leads youth at Aquasports, an independent camp affiliated with Youth for Christ. In addition to his role as a Board member of the Evangelical Alliance, he is a trustee of Open Arms International, a joint UK / USA charity doing medical relief work, pastor training, and evangelism in Africa.

Derek is married to Sue and has two daughters, Esther and Olivia. He enjoys organising golf trips to Florida as a means of ministering to men who have had no experience of Christ.

Board Member: Julian Richards

Julian Richards is the senior leader of Cornerstone Church in Swansea. He began pioneering the church in an economically and socially deprived area of Swansea in 1989. Cornerstone serves its local community with many social action projects and has received a number of awards in recognition of its community work.

Julian also leads the Swansea Churches Forum, serving to represent the Church in Swansea to local government. He is President of Gweini, serving to represent the Churches in Wales involved in community work to the Welsh Assembly.

Julian is married to Sarah and they have three children. Julian and Sarah travel regularly speaking to people on how to build a church that attracts, influences and engages with contemporary society.

Board member: Tim Cawston

Tim was born in Norfolk and attended Leeds and Reading Universities having trained as a biochemist.  Since 1996 Tim has headed a laboratory team in the Department of Rheumatology in the Medical School at Newcastle University.  He previously worked in Addenbrookes hospital.  Tim is married to Joy and they have two sons.  He has a varied church background, having attended Christian Brethren, Anglican, Pentecostal and FIEC churches.  Tim is currently enjoying worshipping at Jesmond Parish Church in Newcastle.  Tim has been on the Alliance Council since September 2008.

Board Member & Council Chair: Roger Forster

Roger Forster attended St John's College, Cambridge, graduating in Mathematics and Theology.  After a period in the Royal Air Force, he worked as an itinerant evangelist until 1974 when he established the Ichthus Christian Fellowship.  Among his many responsibilities he is Honorary Vice-President of TEAR Fund.  Roger was one of the founders of March for Jesus, was on the Board of the AD2000 Movement and the Council of the Evangelical Missionary Alliance for many years.  He has been involved with the Evangelical Alliance since the early 1970s, as a Member of Council, and has served on a number of Alliance Committees.

Roger has written many papers and booklets on a variety of topics.  He is also the author of several books.

Roger is married to Faith, and they have three married children - two of them in full time ministry, and one an Artistic Director in theatre.