Synod Office & Staff
Office hours for telephone calls:
9am-4pm Monday – Thursday
Outside these hours, the answer machine will record messages.
West Midlands Synod Office, Digbeth-in-the-Field URC
Moat Lane, Yardley, Birmingham B26 1TW
Office Phone: 0121 783 1177
Steve Powell
Synod Treasurer
Steve is the Treasurer of the URC West Midlands Synod, a Trustee, and a member of various committees. He represents the Synod at General Assembly and works closely with the Finance Officer and Synod team to ensure compliance with charity law and financial practices. Additionally, he serves as the Church Treasurer in Coventry.
Matthew McDade
Property Officer
The role focuses on supporting pastorates, churches, ministers, elders, and others in the care and development of churches and manses. This includes identifying necessary repairs from inspection reports, recommending suitable systems, and attending meetings to discuss property matters. Additionally, the role involves visiting properties and collaborating with the Eco Grant Group on maintenance and repair issues.
Working Monday to Wednesday
Karen Wise
Finance Officer
The Finance Officer plays a crucial role in managing the financial affairs of the West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church. She works with the Honorary Treasurer to oversee accounting, financial management, and provide guidance to local churches on financial matters. Additionally, she supports key committees, including the Synod Resources & Compliance Committee and the Trust Company Board.
Working Monday to Friday
financeofficer@urcwestmidlands.org.uk
Paul Mountain
Trust Officer
Paul Mountain is a solicitor and is our Legal and Trust Officer and Secretary to the Trust Board. In that role, Paul provides support to local churches and other Synod officers in matters of governance, charity law and transactions. On more complex projects and higher value transactions, the Trust officer works regularly with external lawyers and other independent advisers as required.
Working Tuesday to Thursday
Melanie Smith
Training & Development Officer
Melanie Smith is the new Training and Development Officer and Pastoral Consultant, bringing experience as a URC minister since 2012, having served in the UK and Fiji. Before ministry, she worked as a Chartered Accountant and held roles in Christian Aid and the Community for Reconciliation. She is eager to connect, offer training, and support churches with funding and grants.
Helen Laird
Children and Youth Development Officer
Helen Laird is the new Children and Youth Development Officer, dedicated to supporting and equipping others in their ministry. She has experience training teams for Open the Book and providing Messy Church and Roots resources for all ages. She is available to assist with starting new projects, recruitment, and discussions on growing in numbers or deepening faith.
Works Monday to Friday with some weekend and evening work
Donna Gordon
Safeguarding Officer
The Safeguarding Officer is the colleague who receives all safeguarding concerns and can walk you through the next steps to ensure the right outcome. Donna also provides training from foundation to advanced level training. She is happy to host training online or in person.
Working Monday to Friday
Andrew & Sally Willett
Mission Development Officers
The Synod are committed to mission, reaching out with the good news of the Gospel so, have employed Sally and Andrew Willett, a married couple, who job shares the role of Mission Development Officers. Their desire is to help, equip, enthuse and enable mission. Please contact them to discuss any aspect of mission and we have lots of experience to draw from. The Synod is keen to promote church growth, and several churches are growing, please have a look at the Leading your church into growth (LYCIG) section of this site.
mdoAndrew@urcwestmidlands.org.uk mdoSally@urcwestmidlands.org.uk
Anji Barker
Pioneer Cluster Leader
Anji leads a pioneer ministry movement within the West Midlands URC, helping local churches engage their communities in innovative ways. Through the Seedbeds Pioneer Hub, trained pioneers are now working across four communities, with Anji providing support and resources. They are available to meet with churches and individuals interested in exploring pioneering opportunities in the region.
Works Monday to Friday with some evening and weekend work
Emma Wright
Communications
The Communications Officer helps maintain the website and sends out a monthly newsletter to Ministers and Church secretaries.
Ms Lindsay Peniston
Office Manager & Moderators PA
Lindsay is the Office Manager and the Moderator’s PA. Feel free to give her a ring regarding any speaker requests for the moderator or any office queries.
Working Monday to Thursday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Miss Emma Price
Admin Assistant
My role as Admin Assistant is to provide general office support , and administrative support to the Synod Safeguarding Officer, Property Officer and Training and Development Officer.
Working Monday to Wednesday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Mrs Lynne Lloyd
Administrator
Lynne supports the day to day book keeping and end of month bank reconciliation and posts onto SAGE accounts system. She pays all invoices once approved by Finance officer or another Synod Officer. She helps distribute Investment income in August each year to the relevant churches who we hold investments for, then send a letter in February each year advising them of holdings as at year end for their accounts. She also deals with EM2/EM3 and Sabbatical grants on receipt from Training Officer and then liaise with Church House for part reimbursement along with supporting payroll with Karen overseeing it.
Working Thursday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
finance@urcwestmidlands.org.uk