New Elders - The Fab Four
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. 1 Peter 5:2
This month, we would like to introduce you to four new elders who are going to be serving alongside our site pastors as ‘shepherds of the flock’. Different church streams have different terms and expectations for leadership roles within the church, so if you are new to Kerith, this blog will explain a bit about our leadership structure and hopefully go some way to demystifying the role.
What do elders do?
Elders are responsible for the spiritual direction and well-being of the whole church community. The usual rhythm is to meet once a month to prayerfully consider questions around our theology and doctrine; the pastoral care of people, especially in the most significant situations people face; and the strategic direction of the church. Once a month, we meet with Simon Benham, our senior pastor, who leads the team across all our sites, and the agenda for our discussions and prayer often follows the things that God is stirring in his heart. In alternating months, we meet in our respective site teams with our Site Pastors to offer pastoral support and encouragement for them, too. Together, we contribute our perspectives, pray and share any sense of God’s direction to discern what’s next, or how to approach an issue. On a bigger topic, we may well have some reading and researching to do, discussing issues openly and looking to come to an agreement through honest reflection and discernment.
Importantly, for Kerith, elders have what we describe as corporate authority, not unilateral authority. That means an individual elder cannot make decisions on behalf of the elders outside of the group, nor can they insist on a particular approach or way of doing things in the day-to-day running of the church. Operational matters are rarely discussed, because those are delegated to the responsibility of “Office Team” at Kerith, which includes all of those employed in support of the church.
Why new elders?
We are a growing, diverse church. Each of our sites is seeing new people joining, and increasingly, it was felt that each site would benefit from a site-based elder who could support site pastors and who would be actively involved in that specific site. New elders have been identified for Bracknell and Windsor in response to this need. We hope to have more site-based elders in the future, especially where there is only one (or none) on a site at the moment.
How do you get to be an elder?
Elders are invited to join the eldership team by our senior pastor in consultation with the existing elders and site pastors. They are usually surprised by the invitation and curious about what God is calling them into. You don’t have to be old, but you would be a mature Christian of good character who is already serving and contributing faithfully in the church. See 1 Timothy 3: 1-12. We have men and women serving as elders at Kerith. That hasn’t always been the case (we used to have male-only eldership) – you can read our theological reasons for changing that for women in leadership and eldership at Kerith here.
Meet the new elders!
Ida Astley - Bracknell Elder
“Hi there! My name is Ida, and I've been a part of Kerith for nearly 15 years since I graduated from university. Originally from Albania, I moved to the UK when I was 18 to study, and it has since become my beloved permanent home.
I'm a chartered accountant working in the Audit department of a professional services firm. I'm married to Tom, and we're blessed with two wonderful children, Grace (5 years old) and George (2 years old).
If I had to pick three words to describe myself, they'd be: hospitable, creative, and caring. I love blending the best of Albanian and British cultures, and hospitality is a core value for me—bringing warmth and generosity to everyone around me. I enjoy connecting with people and making meaningful impacts, and in my free time, you'll find me outdoors exploring new places and snapping photos.
My favourite book is "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers, and as for my favourite film... I'm still figuring that one out! I rarely watch films more than once, but Tom is currently trying to get me to watch the "IMDb Top 100 Films."
When it comes to food, I can't resist anything with lamb, especially roasted lamb with lots of meze dishes—preferably enjoyed outside.”
Joey Harman - Bracknell Elder
“Married to Jonathan for 37 years. Mother of Katie & Anna. Grandma to Jesse. Words that describe me: curious, creative & fun. My favourite place is Switzerland, preferably up a mountain. I love to ski & enjoy taking in the amazing views. I like celebrating people & hearing their stories around our table. I love a good murder mystery book & at the moment am reading Lisa Jewell novels.”
Sola Bambgboye - Bracknell Elder
“Hi, My Name is Sola Bamgboye, and I am married to the very lovely Funmi, and we have two beautiful daughters, Dunni and Tito. We have been a part of the Kerith Bracknell family for over 12 years now and have loved every single moment of it. Outside the church, I work as a Management & Technology Consultant, leading complex transformation initiatives for my clients.
If I was to describe myself in a few words, I would say: Fun-loving, Passionate, Friendly & God-lover.
I love singing, watching movies, travelling (when I can spare the time for it), and I’m partial to a good laugh in the company of friends and family.
Fave meal – Pounded yam and vegetable soup with lots of meat
Fave book – Too hard to choose
Fave film – Impossible ask! Too eclectic for my own good!
Fave place visited – The Bahamas, must go again soon!!
I love meeting new people, seeing them grow in their walk with God and being passionate about seeing all that we do in church and beyond in accordance with God’s word. I also have a keen interest in financial intelligence and investments, and would love to see everyone in God’s family making informed decisions about their finances. I’m grateful to be a part of the Kerith Bracknell family and incredibly humbled to be asked to serve as an elder. It’s a noble task, and I intend to follow God’s leading every step of the way. Remember to pray for us as we serve!”
Edward Issitt - Windsor Elder
“My name is Edward, and along with my wife, Rachel and our two teenage daughters, Bethany and Hannah, we are part of the Windsor site of Kerith Community Church.
In my day job I lead a team of NHS Chaplains at a West London Hospital.
When I am relaxing, I enjoy reading, music and travelling. I’m currently reading ‘Conclave’ by Robert Harris. My favourite restaurant is The Ivy, overlooking Windsor Castle.
Three words that describe me: sociable, musical, international.”
Let’s warmly welcome and lift up our new elders in prayer. We’re deeply grateful and eager to see how God will work through them.
Blog written by Ben Oliver & Jacqui Webber-Gant