bennett served as member, vice chair and chair of chandos primary school governing body (1986–1992) and as a governor of yew tree community school (1984–88). both schools are in birmingham, uk. he was a member of birmingham community relations council (1985–92) and chair of the birmingham affairs committee of birmingham churches together (then the birmingham council of christian churches) also serving on the executive and free church committees (1987–92). also in birmingham, he was secretary of what is now called the birmingham council of faiths (1985–92), secretary of small heath advice centre (1985–89), chair of oldknow bengali association (1984–1992) and a member of the highgate advice centre management committee (1985–1992). in these capacities, he engaged in advocacy, fund raising, recruited staff and liaised with the charity commission, city council and government departments. he organised play schemes, supplementary schools and excursions. bennett assisted several birmingham mosques with obtaining charitable status and funds for community activities. he did so while serving as a birmingham delegate on the general committee of the west midland baptist association the regional body of his own denomination. at national level during his period with the british council of churches he served on the executive committees of the interfaith network for the uk, the council of christians and jews and the world congress of faiths. he was also a member of the religious studies committee of what was previously called the school curriculum and assessment authority of the uk department of education. for several years an associate member of the iona community bennett has also visited the taizé community. he has led student groups at both communities over easter (1986 and 1997 respectively). in 2005 he attended the centenary congress of the baptist world alliance.