Council nominates Rupert Lazar for Vice-President (2015-16)

The Revd Rupert Lazar, minister of East Barnet Baptist Church, has been nominated as the next Vice-President of the Baptist Union.

The nomination was made at the recent Baptist Union Council meeting, and will be voted on at Assembly on 16 May in Peterborough. If elected Rupert will serve as Vice-President during 2015-16 and become President of our Union in 2016-17.

Nominations for Vice-President were invited during November and December 2014, with completed nomination forms to be received by 31 December.

As no nominations were received, the Vice-President was nominated by Council at its March meeting, in line with the Baptist Union constitution. This was the first time a new streamlined process was used for nominations, which were sought mainly online.

Rupert was born in Trinidad in May 1956 and came to join his family in Edmonton, North London, when he was 14 years old. He has been married to Joanne for 22 years and they have two children – Ainsley (19) and Sarah (16).

In his teenage years, as a young Christian at Edmonton Baptist Church, Rupert was involved in youth work and prison ministry. In 1989 whilst working as an insurance underwriting clerk, he heard, and responded to God’s call on his life and went to Spurgeon’s College. At the end of his training and formation, God led Rupert to West Croydon Baptist Church where he served for 17 years, the last eight of which he was the Team Leader. Rupert is currently serving God as a Minister at East Barnet Baptist church where he has been since 2010.

Presently, he serves the Baptist family in various capacities: District Minister (LBA); mentor; Supervisor of Minister-in-Training; Ministerial Recognition Committee and Moderator of Nomination Committee. He has also served the Union in the past in the following ways: Agenda Committee; National Strategy Forum; Black and Minority Ethnic Ministers’ Forum (LBA) and President of Spurgeon’s College.

Rupert particularly enjoys working in partnership with Jesus in building multi-cultural churches. He has a passion to nurture Christians to be vibrant and confident in their faith. He longs to see Christians growing in their openness to the Spirit and using their spiritual gifts to serve the Lord. Rupert says that he loves many, many things including watching/listening to cricket, Star Trek and relaxing with a good book.
 
The Revd Dr Chris Ellis is currently Baptist Union President. He will be succeeded by the Revd Jenni Entrican at this year’s Assembly. For more about the President, visit http://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/220617/President.aspx