Clearspring Church Gloucester | Our Team
Clearspring Church Overseers
The Clearspring Church Leaders page is an incredible resource! It's the perfect place to look for information on who does what, find contact information for ministry staff and stay up-to-date on new developments at the church.
So what is a Biblical Overseer?
An Overseer is someone who looks after the spiritual wellbeing of God’s Church. As superintendents of God’s Church they are to set an example by the way they live, communicate and act towards others. We recognise that no Overseer is perfect, however they should be living in accordance with the New Testament requirements for Godly leadership.
Our Overseers are appointed on the basis of first being tested in regards to the following areas,
A) Mature spiritual development.
B) Mentally and emotionally stable characters.
C) At least five years commitment to the church.
D) Committed attendance to the two main services.
E) Natural leadership qualities.
F) Serving others without wanting recognition.
G) Not desirous for titles, positions or money.
H) Evangelistically hearted.
As a church in Gloucester we have both male and female Overseers. The male Overseers look after the spiritual wellbeing of the men. Whilst the female Overseers look after the spiritual wellbeing of the women. As Paul is the Primary Overseer he is responsible for looking after the spiritual wellbeing of the whole church, both male and female members.
Clearspring Church Gloucester | Our Lead Pastor
PAUL LYNDON BURTWELL (B.A. Honours in Christian Theology and World Religions, University of Gloucestershire; PGCE, QTS in Religious Education, University of Gloucestershire) is the Pastor of Clearspring church, Brockworth and an Apologist for Professor William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith Ministry. Paul served as Head of Religious Education for the Bishops College (2008 - 2013), before entering into full time Pastoral ministry in Gloucester. You will often see Paul on Television sharing Bible teaching and Christian perspectives on current issues. He has authored five books and has reached more than five million people with his teaching materials.
Paul is married to Sarah and the couple have three boys.
Clearspring Church Gloucester | Primary Church Team
Lead Pastors
Paul & Sarah Lyndon Burtwell
Prior to full time ministry, Paul was a Credit Controller for the Lloyds London Market and Head of Religious Education at the Bishops College.
Sarah is the co-founder of Clearspring Church Gloucester. She has a background in schools work and she is currently the Office Manager of a Private School in Gloucestershire.
Women's Pastor Kim Burtwell
Kim has a background in insurance and schools work. She is currently a Religious Education teacher at a secondary school in Gloucester. Kim is one of the child protection officers in the church.
Media Pastor Nicky Taylor
Nicky has a background in hairdressing and college lecturing in Gloucester. She currently works part time for the church and her media work reaches and encourages millions of people across the globe.
Men's Pastor Corie Robinson
Corie has a background in Legal Services and Business Management. He serves in the worship team and heads up the Men’s Social ministry.
Biblical Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons (This is what God wants!)
An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless – not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Titus 1:6-9
Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
1 Timothy 3:2-7
In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.
1 Timothy 3:8-12