Isle of Wight Leadership Team
I want to take a moment to share an exciting update about our site leadership. If you were with us on Sunday (12th Jan 2025) you will have heard this, but wanted to share it here too.
With a new venue and a fresh season ahead, it's the perfect time to explain where we've come from and where we're heading.
Our Journey So Far
As most of you know, I serve as the site pastor here, alongside Paula, our site coordinator. For those who are new, let me explain how Kerith's leadership works. We are one church spread across four sites—three on the mainland and us here on the Isle of Wight. Though we are in different locations, we function as one unified church family.
Kerith Leadership Structures
At a church-wide level, we have several leadership layers:
Trustees – Oversee all legal and financial responsibilities, as we're a registered charity.
Elders – Provide spiritual and directional oversight. This includes:
Simon Benham – Our senior pastor
Ben Oliver – Our executive pastor, who also leads the office team
Other elders who guide and support across all sites.
Each site has Site Pastors like myself and there are also Ministry Leads who manage key ministries centrally such as Shari our Worship Champion, and Jo Foster our Kids Champion. To find out more about our teams and structures visit our website here.
Isle of Wight Leadership
Our site has always had unique challenges, being more remote than the mainland sites. While the central church leadership provides great support, we've felt the need for a strong, local leadership presence on the ground, but haven't ever really taken that much beyond the site pastor.
Previously, we had a vision team, which acted as a spiritual sounding board for me. This team played a key role in guiding us during significant moments—like our move from Freshwater to Carisbrooke. However, it was fairly informal and never fully defined.
Now, with a new venue and a new season, it's time for a more established leadership team to help us move forward. I strongly believe in leading as part of a team—it's safer, healthier, and more effective. A team brings encouragement, wisdom, challenge, and fresh perspectives.
Introducing Our New Leadership Team
I've spent time over the past 6 months praying and thinking about this team and talked it through with Simon & Ben Oliver, who know each of these people well. I'm pleased to introduce the initial members of our site leadership team. These individuals were mostly part of the former vision team and have already been instrumental in supporting and guiding our church.
The Leadership Team Members
Paula & Rich Mosdell
Chris & Char Reddecliff
Ben Britton
Char Wells
Andy Smith (newly invited)
Myself
Andy Smith is a recent addition who wasn't part of the vision team, but I believe he'll bring valuable insight. He'll join our meetings for a few months before deciding whether to commit long-term.
Each of these people is deeply committed to our mission of seeing Jesus glorified on the island. They embody wisdom, integrity, and a shared heart for our vision. Over time, the team will evolve—people may step down, and others may join, ensuring fresh voices and diverse perspectives.
What This Leadership Team Is (and Isn't)
It's important to clarify the role of this leadership team:
What It's Not
It's not a group of elders. While we hope to eventually have site-based elders, we're not there yet. This team is a step in that direction.
It's not about individual power. Team members aren't here to make solo decisions or "run" things. They're here to offer wisdom, support, and prayer.
It's not a church council. The team won't review every decision—decision-making will remain a collaborative process led by me.
It's not perfect. We're a group of flawed individuals seeking God's guidance together.
What It Is
A team offering support, encouragement, and accountability for me as the site pastor.
A group of trusted voices, helping to guide the spiritual direction of our site.
A team meeting once every half-term to discuss big-picture issues like growth, vision, and alignment with our mission.
Broader Voices Shaping Our Leadership
Beyond this team, there are other key people who contribute to our church's leadership:
Andrew Hughes – Oversees our Revive social justice ministries
Bridget Hughes – Leads the kids' ministry alongside Andy
Small Group leaders
Preaching team
On a personal level, I'm supported by and receive input and accountability from:
A supervisor/counsellor I meet with monthly
Sim Dendy, a mentor and pastor of Freedom Church in Romsey, who advises me once a term.
The wider Kerith team, including the Site Pastors, Catrina Benham the Sites Director, Simon Benham – Senior Pastor and Ben Oliver – Executive Pastor
These wider voices play an important role in keeping our leadership grounded, accountable, and well-supported.
Leadership—A Shared Responsibility
While we have a leadership team, every member of our church plays a role in shaping its culture. Whether or not you're officially part of the team, you have an influence on the environment we create. We want to be a church made up of thermostats, not thermometers—people who set the spiritual temperature rather than merely reflect it.
By working together, we can continue to build a church that's loving, welcoming, encouraging, and outward-focused.
Looking Ahead
This is an exciting step forward for us as a church. I hope this update reassures you that I'm not leading alone but surrounded by a capable, committed team, keen to seek God and His plans faithfully.
If you have any questions, concerns, or simply want to chat more about what this means, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm always up for grabbing a coffee.
Let's Pray Together
I'd love for us to pray—for this leadership team, and for us as a church. Let's ask God to guide us, anoint us, and lead us into this new season with faith, wisdom, and unity.
I'm so grateful for each one of you that call Kerith home, who are comitted to Helping people find their way back to God here on the Island. This isn't a mission we do on our own, and I'm grateful we get to do it together.