The National Leader of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand is formally an Officer of the Baptist Union and is elected by Assembly on four-year, then three-year terms as recommended by Assembly Council.

This role oversees the strategic and spiritual wellbeing of the collective of 250 faith communities, along with their leadership team and the regional Association Chairs. The vision and direction of our movement of churches is shaped and guided by the National Leader who accounts to Assembly Council.

Our current leader

Kia ora

I love Jesus. I love the Bible. I love the Gospel. I love the Church. And I love Mission.

My number one task is to keep the eyes of New Zealand Baptist’s firmly fixed on Jesus. It is his words that we must listen to the most. He will show us what our priorities must be. How to treat one another. How to live in our neighbourhoods. It is the power of his Gospel that will bring renewal to people and places.

While my leadership philosophy comes from the Bible verse, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love”, I have been mostly shaped in my own leadership by people with severe intellectual and physical disability. My daughter was born with inoperable brain cancer. Despite living until she was 13 her life was marked out by much suffering. And my 28-year-old son lives with the cognitive abilities of a 9-month-old baby.

Prior to becoming National Leader I spent 13 years on the staff at Carey Baptist College, 8 of these as Principal.

From the National Leader's keyboard

Charles Mail: Inspiring leaders Image
Articles
March 20, 2023 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Inspiring leaders

Our Baptist National Leader keeps us posted on the happenings in faith communities across Aotearoa.

Charles Mail: Gold get-togethers Image
Articles
March 13, 2023 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Gold get-togethers

Our Baptist National Leader keeps us posted on the happenings in faith communities across Aotearoa.

Charles Mail: Passionate about youth Image
Articles
March 6, 2023 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Passionate about youth

Our Baptist National Leader keeps us posted on the happenings in faith communities across Aotearoa.

Youth Catalyst Image
News
March 1, 2023 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Youth Catalyst

It is exciting to announce that Ethan Miller has been appointed to the role of Youth Catalyst for the Baptist Churches of New Zealand, commencing…

Charles Mail: Where our help comes from Image
Articles
February 26, 2023 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Where our help comes from

Our Baptist National Leader keeps us posted on the happenings in faith communities across Aotearoa.

Charles Mail: Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer Image
Articles
February 20, 2023 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Charles Mail: Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer

Our Baptist National Leader keeps us posted on the happenings in faith communities across Aotearoa.

Spectacular Youth: Youth Catalyst Image
News
November 30, 2022 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Spectacular Youth: Youth Catalyst

This is a news update coming from a message sent on 29 November 2022 to Baptist Youth Pastors and Leaders – we’re keen to share…

“…present everyone fully mature in Christ…” Image
News
November 9, 2022 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

“…present everyone fully mature in Christ…”

An update from our National Leader, Charles Hewlett, for 2022.

Getting to know…Charles Hewlett Image
Articles
October 10, 2022 | Charles Hewlett Channel: 2144749

Getting to know…Charles Hewlett

‘Getting to know...’ is a new column where we discover more about our Baptist whānau, meeting someone in our team of 40,000 in each post.

A new chapter for Baptist Registration Image
News
September 5, 2022 | Chris Chamberlain, Charles Hewlett and Glenn Melville Channel: 2144749

A new chapter for Baptist Registration

Baptist pastors and chaplains have a registration process similar to many other occupations such as teachers, medical practitioners, counselors, electricians, and lawyers.

Charles' Podcasts

Photo gallery of people and places