Director of Ministries

Melinda Cousins

• Director of Ministries since 2021
• Church: 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 had been a pastor with Baptist Churches SA since 2002, serving at Blackwood Hills Baptist and Richmond Baptist. She has also served as State Director for Global Interaction, Lecturer at Burleigh Theological College and Bible College SA, 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.

President

Scott Cadman

• Board member since 2018
• Church: Flinders Street Baptist Church

Committee Membership

• Moderating
• Assets Management

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) and BD

Biography

Scott has served in churches in England, New Zealand and for the last 12 years at Flinders St 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 has recently joined this board. 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.

Vice President

Elizabeth Moncrieff-Philp

• Board member since 2015
• Church: Mt Barker Baptist Church

Committee Membership

• None currently

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 who is senior pastor at Mt Barker Baptist church and together they have 6 children and 8 grandchildren.

Linda Carrapiett

• Filling Casual Vacancy since 2020
• Church: 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

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 working as the Chief Financial Officer of the Julia Farr group in the disability sector.

I am keen to provide a valuable contribution to the board through strategic thinking, financial knowledge and governance skills. I am particularly interested in participating in strong, robust governance processes. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and it is exciting to use my skills and experience to serve the Baptist churches of SA.

Rev. Dr Tony Ling

• Board member since 2016
• Church: Victor Harbor Baptist

Committee Membership

• Accreditation & Ordination

Qualifications

• BMin, DMin (MST)

Biography

Tony has a diversity of pastoral experience in Baptist churches since 1987, serving in three churches in two States, suburban and rural. In these contexts, Tony has experience in planting a church, leading through change, conflict management and church growth. Tony’s governance experience includes three school Boards, various community consultancy groups dealing with rural communities in crisis. Tony’s Doctoral research paper was centred on Pastoral burnout in the context of church culture, and he continues this research into spirituality and mental health.

He values the opportunity to serve God in the broader context of church life outside of his local ministry, putting back into the family of Churches.

Andrew Edelsten

• Board member since 2021
• Church: 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 7 years ago where he had a lengthy background in HR in both education and health sectors. He is currently the Executive Director of Human Resources at Tyndale Christian School Group, based at Salisbury East. He was a highly valued member of the DOM search panel and because of his relative newness to the Baptist church scene his perspectives were especially valuable.

Joshua Baldwin

• Board member since Nov 2019
• Church: 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 specialised 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.

Nathan Walker

• Board member since Feb 2023
• Church: 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 to bring his personal and corporate experience to the Baptist Churches of SA.