East Midland Unitarians

How are we organised?

The district is currently run by a General Committee consisting of a president (elected for two years), a secretary, a treasurer, and an assistant treasurer (all elected annually), and congregational representatives (at least two per congregation). In the president's final year a vice-president is elected to succeed them. The district also has a publicity officer. The recently formed "Vision" Group plans events and undertakes tasks on behalf of the General Committee. The finance sub-committee of ten (the four officers plus six additional finance committee members, elected for three years - two retiring each year ,review requests for funding prior to the quarterly general meetings. The GC meets five times a year; on the first Saturday afternoon of March, June, September and December, and at the Annual General Meeting which is held in October, the meetings of which are hosted by a different chapel or fellowship each time.

District Officers/Posts

President Rev. Chris Goacher Chris was the East Midlands Partnership Minister, until he accepted the call to become the minister at Hinckley Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel in 2010. Chris discovered Unitarianism by chance when he walked past Friar Gate chapel after moving to Derby. Further research revealed that he had Unitarian ancestors and that Unitarianism was the faith that he had been searching for. Becoming an active Unitarian inspired him to train for the ministry, which led to ministries at Ashton-in-Makerfield, Warrington, Liverpool, and EMU, before coming to his present post in 2010. Rev. Chris Goacher

Vice President   Neil Fisher

Secretary Rev. Dr. Arthur Stewart Arthur Stewart was educated at St David's College, Lampeter, where he completed his Ph.D. He trained for the ministry at Manchester College, Oxford, and has served congregations in Sheffield and the Cotswold Group before coming to Leicester in 1989. In 2007 he was appointed tutor in Ministry at Harris Manchester College. He is married with three children. Rev. Dr. Arthur Stewart

Treasurer Eric Bolam   Eric Bolam

Assistant Treasurer Howard Wilkins Howard was born in Leicester and adopted by a local family. His father's job took him to Lancashire, London, and Somerset where his father died. His mother returned to Leicestershire where Howard has been ever since. Howard and his wife Joan discovered the Unitarian faith when Howard was sent to Tampa to work, even though he had walked past Leicester Great Meeting many times when at school in Leicester. Howard has five step-children, fourteen grandchildren, and four great grandsons which probably explains why he has been a member of the national Youth Panel for several years. Howard is a Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers and earned his living in the computer industry for thirty-five years until his wife's illness and his redundancy forced him to retire. Tel: 07703-459028 (mobile) 01455-635043 (landline)   Howard Wilkins

Finance Committee

Dr. David Wykes   Dr. David Wykes (*2010)	Ruth Archer   Ruth Archer (*2008)	Sheila Barwick   Sheila Barwick (*2009)
David Burton   David Burton (*2008)	Dougie Brown   Dougie Brown (*2010)	Sir Peter Soulsby, MP Peter has lived in Leicester South for over 30 years. During this time he served on Leicester Council - 17 years as Council leader. He spearheaded City Challenge, bringing over £400m of jobs and regeneration to Leicester - including the land for the Walkers Stadium. Throughout his public life Peter has campaigned for the very best for all our communities. He was knighted by the Queen in 1999 for services to the City of Leicester. In addition to his work on the East Midland district committee, Peter is also the Convenor of the General Assembly Executive Committee and Chairman of the committee at Leicester Great Meeting congregation. Sir Peter Soulsby (*2009)

* due for re-election

"District Connections" Representative   vacant

Publicity Officer Howard Wilkins Howard was born in Leicester and adopted by a local family. His father's job took him to Lancashire, London, and Somerset where his father died. His mother returned to Leicestershire where Howard has been ever since. Howard and his wife Joan discovered the Unitarian faith when Howard was sent to Tampa to work, even though he had walked past Leicester Great Meeting many times when at school in Leicester. Howard has five step-children, fourteen grandchildren, and four great grandsons which probably explains why he has been a member of the national Youth Panel for several years. Howard is a Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers and earned his living in the computer industry for thirty-five years until his wife's illness and his redundancy forced him to retire. Tel: 07703-459028 (mobile) 01455-635043 (evenings and weekends)   Howard Wilkins

Youth Officer   vacant

R.E. Officer Rev. Tom McCready Rev. Tom McCready

Unitarian Ministers in East Midlands

Rev. Chris Goacher Rev. Chris Goacher Chris was the East Midlands Partnership Minister, until he accepted the call to become the minister at Hinckley Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel in 2010. Chris discovered Unitarianism by chance when he walked past Friar Gate chapel after moving to Derby. Further research revealed that he had Unitarian ancestors and that Unitarianism was the faith that he had been searching for. Becoming an active Unitarian inspired him to train for the ministry, which led to ministries at Ashton-in-Makerfield, Warrington, Liverpool, and EMU, before coming to his present post in 2010. Hinckley

Rev. Patrick Timperley Rev. Patrick Timperley   Mansfield

Rev. Tom McCready Rev. Tom McCready Boston

Rev. Dr. Arthur Stewart Rev. Dr. Arthur Stewart Arthur Stewart was educated at St David's College, Lampeter, where he completed his Ph.D. He trained for the ministry at Manchester College, Oxford, and has served congregations in Sheffield and the Cotswold Group before coming to Leicester in1989. In 2007 he was appointed tutor in Ministry at Harris Manchester College. He is married with three children. Leicester