Assembly Board
Learn more about the people who comprise Baptist Churches of South Australia and the Northern Territory’s elected Assembly Board.
The Assembly Board’s role is to ensure that Baptist Churches SA & NT’s ministry is done in accordance with its values, mission, purpose, and strategic goals. They establish and oversee our governing policies and seek to do so with strategic vision, a future perspective, and an appreciation for diverse viewpoints.
Members of the Assembly Board
Officers of the Association
Rev Dr Melinda Cousins
Director of Ministries
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Director of Ministries since 2021
Richmond Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- As DoM Melinda participates in all the current committees
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Bachelor of Theology (Honours)
- Advanced Diploma of Theology (Pastoral Ministry)
- Master of Arts (Theology)
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision (Pastoral)
Biography
Melinda has been a pastor with Baptist Churches SA & NT since 2002, serving at Blackwood Hills Baptist and Richmond Baptist. She has also served as State Director for Global Interaction (now BMA), Lecturer at Burleigh Theological College and Bible College SA, and as Senior Lecturer at Tabor College before being appointed Director of Ministry Accreditation in 2016 and then Director of Ministries in 2021. Melinda has a deep love for God’s word and God’s world and is committed to seeing our biblical and theological values shape our actions as we participate in God’s mission together as a movement of local churches thriving in Jesus transforming the world.
Rev Scott Cadman
President
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Board member since 2018
Current term ends November 2024
Flinders Street Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Moderating
- Assets Management
- Nomination & Remuneration
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) and BD
Biography
Scott has served in churches in England, New Zealand and for the last 17 years at Flinders Street Baptist. He has spent most of his ministry in inner and central city churches. He served on the Assembly Council of the Baptist Churches in New Zealand for a period and joined this board in 2018. He has a deep love and commitment to the local church and more than a passing interest in how long held Baptist principles fashions and shape our lives as Baptist Christian churches.
Elizabeth Moncrieff-Philp
Vice-President
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Board member since 2015
Current term ends November 2024
Parkside Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Nomination & Remuneration
Qualifications
- BA BTh MSW Grad Dip Mental Health Science
Biography
Elizabeth has been actively involved in not-for-profit governance for the past 20 years. She has served on the executive of Interserve Australia as vice chair for three years. She joined the board of TEAR Australia in 2006 and served for 8 years, the last two years as National Chairperson. She also chaired the board of West Coast Youth and Community Support (an independent homelessness service) for four years through a period of constitutional review and structural change. Elizabeth spent 6 years in Nepal as a partner of Interserve in the 1980s. On return to Australia, she completed a Bachelor of Theology and Master of Social Work and currently works in the field of mental health. She is married to Leigh and together they have 6 children and 8 grandchildren.
Rev Daniel Gardiner
Immediate Past President
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Board member since 2016
Current term ends November 2024
Christies Beach Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Assets Management
- Audit, Risk & Compliance
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Ministry
Biography
Daniel has served on a variety of church, church denominational and not-for-profit boards in the UK and as a founding Director of ‘Cherish Uganda’ (a major NGO providing care for orphans with HIV). Concurrently with Pastoral leadership in churches, including church planting in Scotland, Daniel developed a multi-branch real estate business. This experience in property and church development means he understands pastoral, business and financial leadership. Being a strategic thinker, Daniel can see value in providing a perspective to the Baptist movement informed by his experience from different fields and other regions around the world.
Elected members
Linda Carrapiett
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Board member since 2020
Current term ends November 2026
Unley Park Baptist
Committee Membership
- Asset Management Committee
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Economics
- Graduate Diploma in Accounting
- Fellow of Chartered Accountants of Australia & New Zealand
Biography
Linda has over 30 years experience in finance and business in a range of senior leadership roles including public practice, large corporates and not for profit organisations. Currently she works as the Chief Financial Officer for the Julia Farr group in the disability sector. Linda provides a valuable contribution to the board through strategic thinking, financial knowledge and governance skills. She is particularly interested in participating in strong, robust governance processes, and is grateful for the opportunities she has to use her skills and experience to serve the Baptist churches of SA & NT.
James Whalland
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Board member since 2015
Current term ends November 2025
Unley Park Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Audit & Risk (Chair)
Biography
James’ commercial experience includes areas of risk and insurance. In addition to this he has not for profit board experience with the State Youth Exec for Churches of Christ. James values the opportunity to put his professional experience and qualifications into use for a faith and church context.
Andrew Edelsten
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Board member since 2021
Current term ends November 2026
Unley Park Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Nomination & Remuneration Committee
Qualifications
- Masters of Human Resources
- Fellow of Australian Human Resources Institute (FAHRI) & Certified Practitioner of HR (FCPHR)
Biography
Andrew (Andy) is an active member at Unley Park Baptist and is Chair of the church Council where he also serves as a deacon. Andy moved to Australia with his family from the UK in 2016, where he had a lengthy background in HR in telecommunication, education and health sectors. He is currently the Director of Human Resources at Tyndale Group of Christian Schools, based in Salisbury East. He was a highly valued member of the DOM Search process and because of his relative newness to the Baptist church scene his perspectives were especially valuable. Andy is married to Angela, and they have a daughter, April.
Joshua Baldwin
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Board member since 2019
Current term ends November 2025
Clovercrest Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Asset Management
Biography
Currently the Director for the Munro Group, Joshua has been in the real estate industry since 2011 and specialises in the formation and consulting of community plans in South Australia. A member of Clovercrest Baptist since 2015 and previously a member of the Uniting church, he has served in local church roles as well as state based leadership roles. He is thankful for the opportunities he has had to be involved with faith-based organisations and is passionate about moving them more deeply into the mission that God has called them to.
Rev Dan Beasy
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Board Member since 2021
Current term ends November 2024
Rostrevor Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Accreditation and Ordination
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Ministry
Biography
Dan is passionate about seeing leaders identified and discipled and seeing people move from places of brokenness to wholeness in Jesus Christ. In 1997 he founded Lifewell Conference to empower individuals and equip churches to respond holistically in restoring lives to Jesus Christ. Lifewell Conference continues to help people live well as Jesus intends today. Dan married his wife Ellen under the Moreton Bay figs in Adelaide’s Botanic Park in 2010 and they enjoy being parents to their young son, Tommy. Dan is a graduate of the Arrow Leadership Program and an Accredited & Ordained Pastor with Baptist Churches SA & NT. He currently serves as Lead Pastor at Rostrevor Baptist Church, after serving as an Associate Pastor there for 5 years and for over 10 years in various ministry roles at Enfield Baptist Church. Dan served on the Baptist Care SA Board from April 2013 to July 2021.
Nathan Walker
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Board member since February 2023
Current term ends November 2026
Richmond Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- Accreditation and Ordination (Chair)
Biography
Nathan has over 20 years of recruitment and HR experience, currently working in a senior national role with a large recruitment and labour hire firm. His particular focus is on people engagement and management, training, development and compliance. Nathan values the opportunity to bring his personal and corporate experience to Baptist Churches SA & NT.
Jasmine Berry
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Board member since Nov 2023
Current term ends November 2025
Trinity Baptist Church
Committee Membership
- None currently.
Biography
Jasmine is a member of Trinity Baptist Church and has been attending since 2016. years. By profession, she is an occupational therapist with over 20 years experience. Jasmine, and her husband Scott, spent four years fostering children through the department of Child Protection. Jasmine was also a Councillor for Mitcham Council from 2018 – July 2020. Other community services committees include Governing Council and ‘Grounds’ subcommittee coordinator for CLG primary 2018, FUSE volunteer mentor for refugees 2015, Co-coordinator of the first White Ribbon March, Adelaide 2014, Board member for Enfield Baptist Church ‘Lifewell’ Centre 2007 & 2008, Volunteer Coordinator of Play ‘n’ Chat Group, Enfield Baptist Church 2008, Group Facilitator, CBT group Enfield Church 2005-2009 and Volunteer Advocate, Compassion Australia 2001 & 2003 – 07.
Neil Wright
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Board member since Jan 2024
Current term ends November 2027
Cornerstone Christian Fellowship
Committee Membership
- None currently.
Biography
Neil has been serving as senior pastor at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in the Northern Territory since 2010. He served as President of the Baptist Union of NT, until its amalgamation with BCSA to form BCSANT in November 2023. Previously he has been a police officer, firefighter and managed a landscaping and arboreal business in Darwin. He has been on several governance boards, including the Northern Territory Christian Schools, Baptist Union of the Northern Territory and Baptist Care NT. He has a passion to see churches as a place of life transformation.
Assembly Board Committees
Accreditation & Ordination Committee
- Nathan Walker (Chair)
- Colin Rolfs
- Dan Beasy
- Gaynor Johnson
- Julie Gardiner
- Melinda Cousins
- Elliot Keane
- Tony Ling
Assets Management Committee
- Linda Carrapiett (Chair)
- Bridget Townsend
- Daniel Gardiner
- Joshua Baldwin
- Melinda Cousins
- Scott Cadman
Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
- James Whalland (Chair)
- Daniel Gardiner
- Glenn Dixon
- Melinda Cousins
Moderating Committee
- Melinda Cousins (Chair)
- Mark Sanders
- Mark Foley
- Scott Cadman
Nomination and Remuneration Committee
- Scott Cadman (Chair)
- Andy Edelsten
- Liz Moncrieff-Philp
- Melinda Cousins