Council Executive
Council Officers
President: Deaconess Margaret Rodgers
Secretary: Rev Bruce Thornton OAM
Treasurer: Mr Eric Wallis
Chairman of Committees: Rev Silas Horton
Public Affairs Director: Rev Rod Benson
Representatives of Churches
Anglican: Deaconess Margaret Rodgers
Baptist: Rev Bruce Thornton OAM
Christian Reformed: Mr Ray Hoekzema
Churches of Christ: vacant
Congregational Churches: Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC
Presbyterian: Rev Adrian van Ash
Salvation Army: Major Marina Randall
Council Appointees
Rev John Edmondstone OAM
Mrs Lesley Hicks
All officers except the Public Affairs Director serve in an honorary capacity.
President - Deaconess Margaret Rodgers
Margaret Rodgers, BA, BD, ThL, a longstanding member of the Council, was elected President on 3 June 2008. She is the first woman President of the Council. Margaret presents the popular Sunday news commentaries on 2CH. Ordained a Deaconess in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney in 1970, Margaret was a Tutor at Deaconess House (1969-73), Principal of Deaconess House (1976-85), Research Officer for the Anglican General Synod (1985-93), CEO Anglican Media Council (1994-2003), and Media Officer for Archbishop Peter Jensen (2004-2007). Margaret succeeded the late Bernard Judd as presenter of Sunday news comments on 2CH. She is an active member of St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Newtown.
Secretary - Rev. I. Bruce Thornton, OAM
Bruce Thornton, MComm, GradDipAdmin, DipTh, FAIM, FCIS, MAIW(NSW), commenced training for the Baptist Ministry in 1956. He then held several pastorates and in 1971, became the Superintendent of Sydney Rescue Work Society, later known as Communicare Sydney, and became a recognized authority in Children’s Services administration, establishing a network of children’s services across Sydney. In 1989 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community. Gaining post-graduate degrees in Commerce and Administration, he became a Chartered Secretary and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. From 1988 to 2001, Bruce was General Secretary of the Baptist Union, and since March 2002 in (busy) retirement has served ably as Secretary of the NSW Council of Churches.
Treasurer- Mr Eric Wallis
Eric Wallis qualified as a certified practicing accountant (CPA) in 1962 and has served as treasurer to the Council since being elected as an Anglican representative in 1996. He retired in 2003 after 48 years in the full time work force - 20 years in industry and commerce and 28 in professional practice, including as a registered tax agent. From 1973-1993, Eric served as honorary treasurer of the media unit Anglican Television.
Chairman of Committees - REV SILAS HORTON
Details to be advised.
Rev. John H Edmondstone, OAM
John Edmondstone has been part of the NSW Council of Churches since his election in 1970, and when he began work with 2CH in the field of religious programming; thus he is the Council’s longest serving member. He was its president from 1997 to 1999. He has also served as National President of the Baptist Union of Australia. When Director of Religious Programs for 2CH, he ensured quality Christian content. He is still an occasional broadcast presenter. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services in religious broadcasting.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR - Rev. Rod Benson
Rev Rod Benson, BA(Hons), DipMin, BMin(Theol), GradDip(AdultEdn&Trng), MA, is an ethicist with the Tinsley Institute, an activity of Morling College. Previously he was founding Director of the Centre for Christian Ethics, a Baptist research centre established in 2004, and has planted or pastored four Baptist churches in Queensland and NSW. He is Secretary of the Baptist Union of NSW Social Issues Committee, and Secretary of the Baptist Historical Society. Rod is married to Michelle and has three sons. He attends Dural Baptist Church. He is one of five Baptist representatives on the Council and was appointed as Council’s Research Officer on July 1, 2006. His current role as Public Affairs Director for the NSW Council of Churches includes management of this website, assisted by former website manager Lesley Hicks.
A copy of the Constitution of the Council of Churches in NSW Inc. (also known as the NSW Council of Churches) is available here.