Update: Church Leadership
Praying for our leaders at Encounter Sunday, February 2026
At Proximity Church, leadership is shared, prayerful, and rooted in love. We believe God calls and gifts people for different roles, and that healthy leadership is collaborative, accountable, and servant-hearted. Together, our leadership teams steward the spiritual life, vision, and practical functioning of the church.
Team Leader
The Team Leader is appointed based on calling, gifting, and character, and carries responsibility for spiritual governance, strategy, and vision stewardship, ensuring that decisions made collectively by the Oversight Team are faithfully implemented. Charl Harman currently serves in this role.
Key responsibilities:
Provide executive oversight for the church’s vision, direction, and operations
Work in close partnership with the Oversight Team in prayer, discernment, and decision-making
Lead and support the Leadership Team, offering pastoral care, guidance, and encouragement
Represent the church in wider initiatives and strategic conversations
The Team Leader is supported and held accountable by the Oversight Team in spiritual matters, and by the Trustees in legal, financial, and governance matters, reflecting our commitment to shared leadership and healthy accountability.
Paid Hours: Two days per week
We thank Christie Harman, who voluntarily served as Team Leader and as part of the Oversight Team. His leadership was marked by faithfulness, spiritual depth, wisdom, and care, and he played a significant role in stewarding the church’s life and vision during his season of leadership.
Oversight Team
Jon Biddle, Charl Harman, Kwok Lee, Wendi Lee
The Oversight Team supports the Team Leader in spiritual governance, strategy, and vision stewardship; acting as a spiritual anchor for the church.
The Oversight Team was established in 2025 with an initial one-year commitment to strengthen leadership during Charl’s maternity leave. This season of shared oversight proved to be an invaluable gift to the church, bringing wisdom, accountability, and depth. Because of this, the Oversight Team has been reformed for this new season, continuing to serve the church’s life and direction.
We are delighted to welcome Jon Biddle, who has previously served as an overall leader in the church. Jon brings experience, insight, and a heart for people, and we are grateful for his return to this team.
We also want to sincerely thank Andy and Anne Biddle, Peter and Deb Connor, and Caroline Smith, who served so faithfully and generously on the Oversight Team during its first year. Their prayer, wisdom, and commitment played a significant role in shaping and strengthening the church, and we are deeply grateful for all they gave.
Key responsibilities:
Provide spiritual oversight and discernment for the church as a whole
Steward the church’s vision, mission, and strategy
Support and strengthen the Leadership Team and Team Leader
Ensure the church operates in alignment with Scripture and sound doctrine
The Oversight Team is collaborative, Spirit-led, and team-based, reflecting the New Testament model of shared leadership.
Leadership Team
Charl Harman, Debbie Olajugbagbe, John Peters, Scott Riddle
The Leadership Team provides pastoral care, discipleship, and operational oversight within their House Churches and ministries, while contributing to the wider leadership of the church.
Key responsibilities:
Shepherd and disciple people within their House Church or ministry
Provide pastoral care and spiritual leadership at a local level
Lead and host church gatherings, meetings, and ministry initiatives
Partner with the Oversight Team and Team Leader in shaping church life
We also honour Carla Dunn, Joyce Gjoni, and Emma Riddle, who previously served as House Church Leaders and have since stepped into new seasons. We are grateful for their faithfulness, love, and leadership, and bless them as they continue to follow God’s call.
Trustees
Alex Connor, Deb Connor, Peter Connor, Robb Harman (Chair), Matt Long, Katy Smith
The Trustees hold responsibility for the church’s legal, financial, and governance oversight, ensuring Proximity Church operates with integrity and in line with its charitable purpose.
Key responsibilities:
Ensure compliance with charity law and good governance
Provide financial oversight and stewardship of resources
Oversee responsibilities connected to our leased premises, including insurance, safety, and risk management
Support long-term sustainability and strategic decision-making
Trustees provide the secure framework that enables pastoral leaders to focus on spiritual leadership and mission.
Operations Manager
Wendi Lee
The Operations Manager supports the practical and organisational life of the church, helping ensure that vision is lived out clearly, sustainably, and with good care.
We honour Emma Riddle, who previously served in this role and brought great faithfulness, care, and excellence to the church’s operations.
Key responsibilities:
Support the Oversight and Leadership Teams
Coordinate church calendar, rhythms, and events
Maintain good practice across church operations
Paid Hours: One day per week
How Our Teams Work Together
While each team has a distinct role, leadership at Proximity Church is intentionally collaborative and interconnected. We value clear responsibility alongside healthy overlap, shared discernment, and open communication.
In practice, this includes:
Shared spaces for prayer and discernment
Clear communication loops between House Churches and wider leadership
Occasional crossover in meetings and conversations
The Operations Manager working across teams to connect vision and practice
Trustees staying linked with the Team Leader and Oversight Team so governance and spiritual direction inform each other
What stays the same
Each team retains its distinct responsibilities and authority
House Church Leaders continue to lead, disciple, and pastor their communities
Oversight Team continues with spiritual governance and vision stewardship
Team Leader continues to implement agreed vision and strategy
Trustees maintain legal, financial, and governance accountability
Leadership remains prayerful, servant-hearted, and Scripture-centred
What continues to grow
Greater intentional collaboration and crossover
House Church insights shaping wider leadership decisions
Leadership that is increasingly relational, transparent, and shared
The aim is not to blur roles, but to strengthen trust, clarity, and unity, so together we can serve God and His people well.
A Servant-Hearted Church
Every leadership role at Proximity Church is a servant role, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Leadership is shared, accountable, prayerful, and rooted in love for God and people.
“From him the whole body, joined and held together… grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:16)
“That God may fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives…” (Colossians 1:9–10)