Dianne Tidball receives Presidency nomination 

The Regional Team Leader of the East Midlands Baptist Association (EMBA) has been appointed Vice-President of our Union

Dianne, a former teacher who has served as EMBA team leader for eight years, was one of three nominations for the President for the year 2017-18. The others were Roger Sutton, who heads the Gather network, and the joint candidacy of the youth and children specialists Jacky Storey and Bob Morris.

Voting closed at the end of March, and Dianne will now be welcomed at the Baptist Assembly on May 14. She will become President at the 2017 Assembly. At this year's event our current President Jenni Entrican will be succeeded by Rupert Lazar.

Responding to the news, Dianne described herself as 'delighted, honoured and privileged' to be elected as the next President. 

'My prayer is that I might, in some small way, inspire, encourage and support our Baptist movement in celebrating all that God has done through Christ, speaking out the Good News of Jesus and sharing God’s love in practical, creative and compassionate ways.'

After 20 years in teaching, Dianne has served as a minister in two Baptist Churches, Ruislip and North Bushey. For the past eight years she has served as Regional Team Leader in the East Midlands (she will be stepping down later this year) and served on a number of national committees.

She is married to Derek with one son Richard who is married to Jenny. She has written a number of books published by IVP and Christian Focus, has been a speaker at various conferences and travelled widely teaching the Bible and inspiring others in discipleship.

In her candidacy profile she wrote:

'As I reflect on God’s extravagant love, his unending grace and the gift of his Son I am conscious of how thankful we can be and the privilege that is ours in knowing Jesus Christ as Saviour. I am routinely energised by the power of the Gospel, the importance of discipleship and the need for leadership.

'I believe in the local church. There is nothing so engaging and attractive as a group of people sharing together the love of Christ. As Christians worship, care for each other, and look to serve their community with kindness and compassion, and share Good News they are an inspiration and a catalyst for transformation.

'My hope and prayer is that God’s Baptist people might be renewed by the Holy Spirit with a fresh joy in knowing Christ and his Gospel and overflow with the presence of God that many more might share ‘life in all its fullness’. So, if called to be President of the Baptist Union, then my theme would be along the lines of ‘Contagious Good News; enthusiastic discipleship; skilled leadership’. Knowing that when we encounter God for ourselves and are filled with joy in his presence that is contagious and offers hope to all.

I have a strong commitment to growing healthy churches where the Scriptures are routinely taught and followed; where the Holy Spirit is given opportunity to lead and when discipleship is focussed and lovingly sacrificial. A significant part of being a healthy church is having effective leaders (of all styles and cultures) who lead with wisdom, intention and grace.

“Be strong and very courageous for the Lord your God is with you.” Joshua 1:9.