The president of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand is formally an Officer of the Baptist Union and takes on the voluntary role for a year. Allan Taylor was elected at our Hui in November 2024.
Find more information on the role of president here.
Allan served in full-time Baptist pastoral ministry for 44 years, seven as assistant pastor at Te Atatu Baptist and 37 as senior pastor at Eastgate Christan Centre. He retired in October 2023. Allan is married to Lynette, and they have three married children and eight grandchildren.
One of my primary motivations in accepting the role of president was the opportunities it offers to connect with pastors, listen to their stories and encourage them in their ministry. These are challenging times, and I look forward to praying with them, especially those facing difficult circumstances.
Having started as a pastor at Eastgate when it was still a fledgling fellowship with no permanent facilities of its own will hopefully enable me to identify with pastors of new or smaller churches and those who are just starting out in pastoral ministry.
For pastors who feel isolated or on the fringe of our movement, I would like to help them feel more connected and valued members of our Baptist family of churches.
Prayer has always been an important part of my ministry journey, so I have chosen it as my theme for this year. I am keen to engage with pastors’ clusters and look at ways to mobilise a church in prayer — one of the most fruitful things I believe a pastor can do.
I am also looking forward to talking to pastors about identifying and developing leaders, building and leading a staff team, transitioning to a multicultural church, and how to sustain a long-term pastoral ministry.
One of my keen interests is global mission, and I am enjoying serving on the Arotahi Board. I will continue serving on the National Council in 2025, along with attending Carey Baptist College board meetings.
Having already received invitations to speak at churches, I look forward to sharing about the power of prayer as the key to gospel renewal.
I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be president of our movement and consider it a privilege to serve you all in this way.
Photo: Allan Taylor signs the president’s book at National Hui 2024, watched by outgoing president Susan Osborne. By Mike Crudge.
