By Hayley Beckett on 6th November 2025
EBA Council Summary 01 November 2025
EBA Trustees with no apologies met on Saturday 1 November.
Lou Webber (EBA Moderator) welcomed everyone. In opening the meeting Lou read from Psalm 95, sharing that worship should be at the heart of everything we do including working through a trustee meeting agenda.
As part of an annual cycle the meeting opened with some trustee training with this year’s focus on the responsibilities of a trustee using the Charity Commission jigsaw diagram and talking through each of the 6 sections.
David Mayne (RMTL) presented the team report reporting on where EBA team members had been involved or spent time with churches and ministers. Gale’s last day as part of the regional team was 31 October and the team and some of the trustees had the pleasure of taking Gale out for a farewell lunch earlier in the month. David also reported that following the EBA developments communication to the churches there had been a few responses to this email which will all be taken into account as discussions continue.
David then presented strategic priorities for 2026, most of which will rollover from 2025 which fall under the following four headings
The council agreed to these as priorities for 2026.
Gillian Jones (EBA Safeguarding lead) has written a report for trustees. Gillian continues to see a steady flow of enquiries and situations requiring guidance and help. She has been encouraged by the attendance at DPS training events which has been beneficial for building relationships with those within EBA churches who undertake this important role. Trustees offered thanks to Gillian for all she adds to the life of the association.
Richard (EBA Treasurer) presented the budget for 2026. Trustees spent time discussing the budget which will see a decrease in income of £32,000 from our share of national Home Mission giving leaving us with a £123,000 deficit. EBA trustees have serious concerns over the formula that dictates the way the Home Mission fund is shared and will write to BU trustees expressing these concerns. Trustees approved the budget with serious concerns on the financial position of EBA.
Hayley Beckett (EBA Company Secretary) brought the Administration Report which highlighted discussions the finance sub group had around EBA properties both in terms of the property we need and ensuring the properties we own are kept within the required standards required by landlords and against our own Environmental and sustainability policy.
The trustees reviewed and approved an updated Reserves Policy and designated two trustees to be part of the grant decision making body for Mission Project Grants and Minister’s Bursary grants.
Trustees then spent some time discussing the National Financial Model Review this review will affect all parts of the Baptist Family and EBA trustees needed to engage with the information as in early 2026 decisions may be required to be made. Trustees were also presented with a theological reflection paper on the appointment of regional ministers that had been commissioned following various appointments in the last few years. Initial comments were shared with a view to return to this paper for further discussion in 2026.
As mentioned in previous summaries and within EBA communication in early 2026 there will be some listening and sharing events which we would hope most churches will engage with, that dates have been included in the monthly bulletin and will be on the EBA website.
The meeting closed in prayer.
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