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About us

Leadership

Pastor Barry and the elders look after the spiritual welfare of the church. The trustees look after the charity.

Elders

Pastor and elders

  • Barry Forder

    Barry Forder

    Pastor

    Pastor of Calvary Chapel Portsmouth since January 2012, after a long association with the church.

  • Peter Arthur‑Worsop

    Peter Arthur‑Worsop

    Elder and treasurer

  • James Eden

    James Eden

    Elder

  • Wilfrid Wolmarans

    Wilfrid Wolmarans

    Elder

Serving on Sundays

Kids church and worship

  • Joy Forder

    Kids church lead and safeguarding officer

How the church is led

Simple, not a bureaucracy

The church elders look after the spiritual welfare of the church and give advice to the pastor on spiritual matters. The elders are not elected, but asked into service by the pastor. The trustees are responsible for CALVARY CHAPEL trust, a registered charity (no. 1050895), and look after the church’s finances and administration.

For us, church government is very simple. Committees and sub-committees are essentially non-existent. From what is seen in Scripture, we believe the pastor is responsible for the church, responsible to hear from God, and responsible to feed and love His people faithfully.

Elders are appointed to help the pastor care for the spiritual needs of the congregation (Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1–4), and deacons, including the trustees, to take care of the practical running of the church (Acts 6:1–4; 1 Timothy 3:8–10).