Dr Keith
Gardner
Dr Paul
Coulter
Michael
Shaw
Rachel
Shields
The day to day work is managed by our Management Team, consisting of Executive Director, Dr Paul Coulter, and volunteer Operations Manager, Gareth Kimpton. They serve on a voluntary basis.
Board
The work of the Centre is planned and overseen by a Board of Directors chaired by Dr Keith Gardiner.
Management team
Associates
Our services are delivered by some of our Directors along with volunteers and associates.
People
The work of the Centre for Christianity in Society is carried out by a varied team of volunteers and associates who are all committed to our vision of connecting Christ with contemporary culture and united in our core beliefs and values.
Management Team
The Management Team coordinates the day to day work of the Centre. They serve on a voluntary basis.
Dr Paul Coulter,
Executive Director
Paul lives in Lisburn with his wife, Gar-Ling, and their two children. His day job is as Head of Ministry Operations for Living Leadership, which seeks to support Christian leaders and their families to live in Christ joyfully and serve Him faithfully.
Paul has worked as a medical doctor, a cross-cultural pastor and a lecturer in practical theology. He continues to teach ethics and other subjects in theological colleges. Paul holds primary degrees in medical genetics and medicine, an MA and PhD in theology, and a post-graduate certificate in higher education teaching. He is author of numerous articles, several book chapters, Clarion Call: Finding Joy in Christ with John the Baptist (2021, PESIOD Publications) and Serving Two Masters? Probing the tensions between science and faith in the art of Healthcare (2022, Christian Medical Fellowship). In his spare time he enjoys cycling, walking and reading historical novels. For more information about Paul, visit his personal website.
Gareth Kimpton,
Operations Manager
Gareth is a Kiwi but has been living in Northern Ireland for more than 20 years. He is married to Gill and they have two children and a precious granddaughter.
Gareth lives in Co. Down and works in property management. He is an active member of his local church and sees CCS as having an important role to encourage Christians to develop a greater Biblical worldview of contemporary society. Gareth holds a MCS from Regent College, Vancouver
Directors
Our Directors are responsible for setting the strategic priorities of the Centre and ensuring that its ministries are furthering its aims. They serve on a voluntary basis.
Dr Paul Coulter,
Executive Director
Paul lives in Lisburn with his wife, Gar-Ling, and their two children. He is Head of Ministry Operations for Living Leadership
Dr Keith Gardiner,
Chair of Board
Paul has worked as a medical doctor, a cross-cultural pastor and a lecturer in practical theology. He continues to teach ethics and other subjects in theological colleges.
Paul holds primary degrees in medical genetics and medicine, an MA and PhD in theology, and a post-graduate certificate in higher education teaching. He is author of numerous articles, several book chapters, Clarion Call: Finding Joy in Christ with John the Baptist (2021, PESIOD Publications) and Serving Two Masters? Probing the tensions between science and faith in the art of Healthcare (2022, Christian Medical Fellowship).
In his spare time he enjoys cycling, walking and reading historical novels. For more information about Paul visit his personal website.
Keith lives outside Lisburn with his wife Ruth and two daughters. He is Church Growth Officer in the Diocese of Down & Dromore
Keith trained as an academic surgeon before being appointed as a general and colorectal surgeon in Northern Ireland. In addition, he has undertaken regional leadership roles in surgical research, nutrition support and medical education.
Keith holds degrees in medicine, medical research and clinical education as well as qualifications in general surgery and quality improvement. He is currently undertaking a Masters’ degree in Theology through Belfast Bible College.
His new role in church growth, since March 2021, involves nurturing generosity in the church and attracting investment in the extension of God’s Kingdom.
Michael Shaw,
Director
Michael lives in Belfast with his wife, Lauren, and their son, Ezra. He serves as Associate Pastor in Strandtown Baptist Church.
Rachel Shields,
Director
Rachel lives outside Belfast with her husband John. She is a part-time student in theology.
Michael lives in Belfast with his wife, Lauren, and their son, Ezra. He serves as Associate Pastor in Strandtown Baptist Church.
Michael previously worked as a Broadcast Journalist at the BBC in Belfast and as a Media Manager at Procter and Gamble in London.
He holds degrees in Theology from Oxford University and in Law from Durham University. He is currently studying towards a Masters' degree in Theology through the Irish Baptist College.
Michael is passionate about gospel-centred Bible teaching and apologetics.
Rachel lives outside Belfast with her husband John. She is a part-time student in theology.
Although born in the UK, Rachel spent her childhood in the USA and Canada before emigrating to Edinburgh, Scotland to study nursing. Following her marriage to John and the subsequent births of their four children, Rachel experienced a sudden conversion to faith in Christ. She spent the following years raising her family and studying theology at Belfast Bible College and Cornhill, Belfast.
Rachel holds a Master's degree from St Andrew’s University on the interface between Christian faith and contemporary culture. She also teaches John’s Gospel to the Women’s Study Fellowship in Belfast Bible College. Her other interests include conversational apologetics and reading.
Associates
Our associates contribute to the work of the Centre as speakers and authors in areas of expertise. To find out about the criteria associates must meet click here.
Sarah Coffey,
Associate
Sarah lives in the Ards Peninsula with her husband Kurtis and their daughter. She works as a Registered Nurse in Community & Primary Care setting.
Sarah has a keen interest in gospel-centred apologetics with a particular focus on young people and women. In addition, she has a passion for standing for life and speaking out truthfully against abortion and currently serves as spokesperson for NIvoiceless.
As an Associate with the Centre, Sarah is one of our Knitted Together speakers.
Andy Witherall,
Associate
Andy is a lay evangelist with the Methodist Church in Ireland, based in County Tyrone.
His sense of calling to be as an evangelist began when he was a Relay Worker with UCCF. He subsequently worked with London CIty Mission and obtained a master’s degree in Philosophy and Religion at Heythrop College.
He is passionate about engaging people in the important questions and objections surrounding faith and culture and in training and equipping believers to give a defence for the hope that they have.
As an Associate with the Centre, Andy speaks on a range of apologetics and cultural issues.
Tim Houston,
Associate
Tim lives in Belfast with his wife Claire. He is studying for a Bachelor of Divinity at the Irish Baptist College and preaches regularly. He has a Bachelor of Arts in History and Theology from Queen’s University. Previously he worked in banking and hospitality but always with a sense of God’s call on his life for full-time ministry.
Tim has taught English and Bible lessons with CEF Romania online and in-person and he and his wife have a passion for the work in Romania. In his spare time he enjoys reading, board games, drums and playing basketball.
As an Associate with the Centre, Tim is one of our Knitted Together speakers.