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

Daniel Gardiner

• Board member since 2016
• Church: Christies Beach Baptist Church

Committee Membership

• Assets Management
• Audit, Risk & Compliance
• Nomination & remuneration

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Ministry, Tabor completed Nov 16

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.

Vice 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.

Gaynor Johnson

• Board member since 2016
• Church: Parkside Baptist Church

Committee Membership

• Accreditation and Ordination (Chair)
• Nomination & Remuneration (N&R)

Qualifications

• BSc(Hons), MDiv (Tabor)

Biography

Gaynor brings 30 years of experience in private business; has served as Treasurer, Secretary and Chair of Church Council at PBC; and served on the Board of Maranatha Health (NFP operating in Uganda) from its inception in 2008 until the end of 2014.

Over the years, Gaynor has benefited through her roles from the advice and practical help of Baptist Churches SA. Gaynor is keen to help maintain the standard of help offered to all our churches by BCSA. Through her theological studies Gaynor is interested in development of Pastors. Gaynor wants to see our churches benefit from best practice in all aspects of governance and see the outworking of the kingdom in BCSA’s area of influence.

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.

James Whalland

• Board member since 2015
• Church: 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 to opportunity to put his professional experience and qualifications into use for a faith and church context.

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.

Dan Beasy

• Board Member since 2021
• Church: Rostrevor Baptist Church

Committee Membership

• Accreditation and Ordination

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Ministry

Biography

Rev Dan Beasy completed his Bachelor of Ministry at Tabor College Adelaide majoring in Biblical Studies. He 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. He currently serves as Lead Pastor at Rostrevor Baptist Church. Prior to becoming Lead Pastor at Rostrevor in 2016, Dan served 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 for 8 years from April 2013 to July 2021.

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.