Christine Stride is Executive Assistant to the Baptist National Leader and works at the Baptist National Support Centre in Auckland. She is a member of Titirangi Baptist Church in Auckland.
New Zealand Baptists voted in our new National Leader at the 2025 Hui in Palmerston North, November 6-8. Delegates also voted on members of National Council, Missions Council and the Carey Baptist College Board.
Chris Chamberlain voted in as new National Leader
Chris has over four decades of pastoral and leadership experience in the Baptist Union of New Zealand (BUNZ) under his belt. He will start his new role as National Leader in February 2026, working mostly from the National Support Centre in Auckland. Chris’s most recent role was regional leader for the Upper South Association. Prior to that he was senior minister of Christchurch’s Oxford Terrace Baptist Church (OTBC) for 17 years and he chaired National Council for three years. Chris and his wife Julie, who is pastoring at OTBC, plan to move from their home in Christchurch to Auckland.
A new face for National Council
All National Council nominees were successfully elected. The newest member is Ngaire Button. Ngaire has a background in business, politics, and Māori health, and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Theology degree. She is a member of St Albans Baptist Church in Christchurch.
Blue Bradley was re-elected. Blue is the director of Northern Easter Camp and attends Auckland’s Royal Oak Baptist Church.
Rod Robson was also re-elected to National Council where he has been serving as chair. Rod is pastor at Opawa Baptist Church in Christchurch.
Read more about the elected National Council nominees here.
Mission Council elections
All Mission Council nominees were successfully elected. The nominees were Eduardo Mendonca, Ravi Musuku, Susan Osborne and Bradley Nicolson.
Brazilian-born Eduardo Mendonca is pastor at New Generation Church in Christchurch.
Ravi Musuku is a former BUNZ president and Mission Council member. Ravi has a broad understanding of missionary activities in India and other parts of the world. He is a member of Auckland’s Balmoral Community Baptist Church.
Susan Osborne is also a former BUNZ President and Mission Council member. She served overseas with the NZBMS/Arotahi for 40 years from 1975-2015. Susan attends Trinity Baptist Church Titahi Bay in Wellington.
Bradley Nicolson leads Baptist Resources Limited and has served on Mission Council. He is a Registered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and is a member of Oxford Terrace Baptist Church.
Read more about the elected Mission Council nominees here.
Carey Baptist College Board elections
All Carey Baptist College nominees were successfully elected.
James Thomas has extensive experience in the education system and brings strong gifts and abilities related to learning and educational pedagogy. James is a member of Auckland’s Windsor Park Baptist Church.
Santhosh George is pastor of Ormiston Community Baptist Church in East Auckland. Santosh worked in business strategy consulting before completing the Pastoral Leadership programme at Carey.
Read more about the elected Carey Baptist College Board nominees here.
As National Leader Chris Chamberlain has a seat on National Council, Mission Council and the Carey Baptist College Board.
Stay tuned for more news from the National Baptist Hui coming soon.
Image caption: Chris and Julie Chamberlain with Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Rev Dr Elijah Brown outside Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in 2024.
Image credit: Charles Hewlett.
