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“The new system is simpler, more user-friendly and more accurate in matching the needs of a church minister search to the qualifications of candidates. It is our hope and prayer that the new CBF-LeaderConnect system will enhance our ability to serve ministers and churches,” said Clarissa Strickland, CBF’s networking specialist.
 
Beginning on Thursday, May 9, both the new and old CBF-LeaderConnect sites will be available on the Fellowship website at www.thefellowship.info/leaderconnect. At that time, individuals and churches who are already using the CBF-LeaderConnect system can enter their information on the new site, as information and documents from the old system will not be automatically transferred to the new platform. No matching will occur before May 16, when the new system is open to new and current users.
 
“We are excited about this newly designed tool for churches and clergy leaders. The ability to help churches and candidates discover one another will be much more reliable and robust. This is going to be a helpful tool for all of us,” said Bo Prosser, CBF’s coordinator of missional congregations.
 
CBF’s reference and referral service is provided to CBF churches and individuals at no cost. In addition to matching congregations and candidates to one another, the reference and referral service also provides resources for churches as they form search committees and begin the process of looking for a new minister.
 
“We believe that a church which has found the particular person God intends to serve as a pastor or in a staff leadership role is poised for great ministry and witness in the community, in the nation and around the world. That person will, in turn, be a great blessing to that local church and its ministry and witness,” said Strickland.
 
The new CBF-LeaderConnect system can be found at www.thefellowship.info/leaderconnect. All questions regarding the system should be directed to Clarissa Strickland at cstrickland@thefellowship.info.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
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“The new system is simpler, more user-friendly and more accurate in matching the needs of a church minister search to the qualifications of candidates. It is our hope and prayer that the new CBF-LeaderConnect system will enhance our ability to serve ministers and churches,” said Clarissa Strickland, CBF’s networking specialist.
 
Beginning on Thursday, May 9, both the new and old CBF-LeaderConnect sites will be available on the Fellowship website at www.thefellowship.info/leaderconnect. At that time, individuals and churches who are already using the CBF-LeaderConnect system can enter their information on the new site, as information and documents from the old system will not be automatically transferred to the new platform. No matching will occur before May 16, when the new system is open to new and current users.
 
“We are excited about this newly designed tool for churches and clergy leaders. The ability to help churches and candidates discover one another will be much more reliable and robust. This is going to be a helpful tool for all of us,” said Bo Prosser, CBF’s coordinator of missional congregations.
 
CBF’s reference and referral service is provided to CBF churches and individuals at no cost. In addition to matching congregations and candidates to one another, the reference and referral service also provides resources for churches as they form search committees and begin the process of looking for a new minister.
 
“We believe that a church which has found the particular person God intends to serve as a pastor or in a staff leadership role is poised for great ministry and witness in the community, in the nation and around the world. That person will, in turn, be a great blessing to that local church and its ministry and witness,” said Strickland.
 
The new CBF-LeaderConnect system can be found at www.thefellowship.info/leaderconnect. All questions regarding the system should be directed to Clarissa Strickland at cstrickland@thefellowship.info.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
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“North Carolina CBF is a Fellowship rich with many gifts,” said Paynter. “It has been awe inspiring to meet so many talented and dedicated people.”
 
This whirlwind tour kicked-off with a lunch event Tuesday, April 30 at First Baptist Church of Asheville, where Guy Sayles is pastor, followed by dinner at Peace Haven Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, pastored by Nathan Parrish. While in Winston-Salem, Paynter met with Gail O’Day, dean of Wake Forest University School of Divinity. The Center for Congregational Health was also represented at the Tuesday evening gathering.
 
The Memorial Baptist Church in Greenville and pastor Greg Bowers hosted Paynter on Wednesday, May 1, and First Baptist Church Raleigh, pastored by Chris Chapman, welcomed Paynter at a luncheon, Thursday, May 2. Representatives from Chowan University attended the Greenville gathering and representatives from Campbell University and Duke Divinity School were in attendance to greet Paynter in Raleigh.
 
During her trip, Paynter met with a diverse group of CBF supporters including many students, lay leaders, pastors, representatives from CBF-partner ministries, and also civic leaders.
 
“Ministry leaders and CBF church families have welcomed Suzii along with large numbers of students and interns from CBF-partner divinity schools and churches. The meetings have been full of energy and discussion focused on elevating CBF’s identity and mission support,” said James R. Smith, CBF Foundation president.
 
The five-city tour had its fifth and final stop in Charlotte with a dinner and program at St. John’s Baptist Church with senior minister Dennis Foust. The meeting included representatives from Gardner-Webb University and Wingate University as well as numerous area churches. During a question and answer session, Paynter fielded questions about her vision for the Fellowship, urging those in attendance to continue collaborating and to “celebrate partners” involved in CBF life.
 
At the conclusion of the program in Charlotte, Larry Hovis, executive coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, invited one person from each congregation in attendance to lay hands on Paynter during a moment of prayer and blessing.
 
 “It was a joy to accompany Suzii on this tour around North Carolina. I’m pleased that our folks had a chance to get to know Suzii and her vision for the next chapter in CBF’s life and ministry. I’m equally grateful that she had the opportunity to meet our churches and ministry partners and to experience firsthand the tremendous assets that reside in our state,” said Hovis.
 
“Through the years, we’ve all known that Suzii was a leader among us. It is fitting that someone with Suzii’s heart is now leading the Fellowship,” added Foust.
 
Paynter praised the leadership of CBF and CBF-partner institutions in the state.  “I was especially happy to meet deans and scholars from our divinity institutions. Finding places of service for these great students is a priority for our Fellowship,” explained Paynter. “And I’m thankful to Larry Hovis and Linda Jones of CBFNC for their creative and inspired leadership.”
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
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First Baptist Church of Richmond hosted an intimate gathering at the historic Pusey House Saturday evening, April 20, for local pastors and supporters. Paynter shared with the group her hopes and dreams for the future of CBF.
 
“My dream for CBF is that we become the most vital and most vibrant religious community in the United States. I want to strengthen our voice here and around the world,” Paynter said.
 
“That’s my pledge, to be in this with you, as partners, to listen, to organize. We’re going to have a well-run organization that is built for the future. That is my commitment, to make that transition for CBF, to work with our partners in the most productive way possible.”
 
Paynter also expressed her appreciation to the group for their welcome and support. “I’m so grateful that you have welcomed me tonight and I feel so blessed by the welcome that I’ve had throughout the whole Fellowship. And it’s really not about me; it’s about what we can do together. People are joyful and hopeful about that across generations.”
 
On Sunday, April 21, Paynter offered a word of welcome and gratitude during both morning services at the church. “Your commitment and leadership is known, not just here but throughout the world,” Paynter told the congregation. “It is an honor to be here today. And I stand in gratitude to you. Thank you for your hospitality to our Fellowship.”
 
First Baptist’s senior pastor Jim Somerville expressed his excitement to the church about the future of CBF under Paynter’s leadership. “In 10 minutes at the reception last night, I think I got more inspiration from Suzii Paynter than I’ve gotten from anybody in a long time. It made me want to get out of my chair and get on with the mission,” Somerville said.
 
From Richmond, Paynter traveled to Norfolk, Va., for a dinner Sunday night at Freemason Street Baptist Church, where she received a warm welcome from pastor Steve Jolly and answered questions from the congregation.
 
At a lunch Monday, April 22, hosted by Fredericksburg Baptist Church, pastor Larry Haun presented Paynter with a $10,000 check to support CBF missions and ministries. “We challenge everyone to join in because to do what she’s talking about doing is going to take money, more than we have given before, giving better than we’ve given before, all of us together, to be able to accomplish that,” said Haun.
 
During a luncheon hosted by University Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Va., Paynter received a letter signed by pastor Michael Cheuk and deacon chair Rachel Nottingham Miller affirming the relationship of University Baptist with CBF.
 
“We affirm CBF’s mission that seeks to help and equip churches to discover and fulfill their God-given mission. We affirm CBF’s vision of being a movement of congregations bearing witness to the Gospel not just locally, but throughout our nation and the world,” the letter read.
 
“We affirm the values of CBF grounded in the freedom of biblical interpretation and congregational governance, the participation of women and men in all aspects of church leadership and Christian ministry, and religious liberty for all people.”
 
In the letter, University Baptist pledged to pray for CBF field personnel, promote and collect the CBF Offering for Global Missions, participate in CBF-sponsored ministries and attend CBF regional and national assemblies.
 
This letter follows the 2012 Task Force Report’s encouragement for congregations to embrace their identity by writing a letter that details the church’s partnership with CBF. “I would encourage other CBF congregations to consider doing this, too, as we all get together and affirm our identity,” said Cheuk.
 
Paynter has been accompanied on this five-city tour by James R. Smith, CBF Foundation president, and Rob Fox, CBF Virginia field coordinator. “All of the meetings in Virginia have exceeded our expectations. We’ve found a really engaged CBF community that is eager to work with our new leader, Suzii Paynter,” said Smith.
 
Fox added, “I wish each and every one of our church leaders could have been on tour with us to hear Suzii Paynter articulate her hopes and dreams for our future together. For those who were able to participate in the CBF tour, they can offer a witness to Suzii’s energetic spirit and the groundswell of excitement we have heard about the future of our Fellowship.”
 
Paynter wraps-up her Virginia tour with lunch and dinner events Wednesday, April 24, at Rosalind Hills Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va.
 
She will travel to North Carolina April 30-May 2 for another five-city tour, visiting CBF churches and supporters in Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greenville, Raleigh and Charlotte.
 
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
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Colleen Burroughs, vice president of Passport Camps, who chaired the Nominating Committee as past moderator of CBF’s Coordinating Council, called Jones a prophetic voice and an engaging leader.  “Kasey Jones understands the technical changes in our governing structure and the reasons why those changes are so vital to the future of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,” Burroughs said.
 
“Reverend Jones is a gifted and busy pastor.  I'm so grateful she prayerfully decided to say ‘yes’ to leading us into this new, beautiful season in the life of CBF.”
 
As a member of CBF’s 2012 Task Force, which recommended significant governing and structural changes to the organization, Jones is pleased with the progress made toward implementing the Task Force Report.
 
“This is a thrilling time in the life of CBF and I am humbled and honored to be nominated as moderator-elect during such a pivotal time,” said Jones. “I believe our cooperative community will continue to grow and thrive.”
 
The Nominating Committee also recommended Jason Coker to the position of recorder. Coker is pastor of Wilton Baptist Church in Wilton, Conn. Having previously served on the CBF Coordinating Council as chair of the Personnel Committee, he believes bright days are ahead for CBF.
 
“With Suzii Paynter as our new executive coordinator and a new organizational structure continually unfolding, this is truly an unprecedented time for our Fellowship,” Coker said.
 
The nominating committee’s recommendations will be presented for approval at the General Assembly in Greensboro, N.C., on Friday, June 28. Bill McConnell, a businessman and lay leader from Knoxville, Tenn., is the current moderator-elect and will succeed moderator Keith Herron at the conclusion of the General Assembly. Herron, pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., will assume the role of immediate past moderator.
 
Under the new organizational structure being enacted at the 2013 CBF General Assembly, McConnell, Herron, Jones and Coker will assume leadership roles on the body’s new Governing Board. As past moderator, Herron will also be an ex-officio member of the Nominating Committee.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
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Beginning his work in the CBF Atlanta Resource Center on June 17, Huett will work with the CBF Leadership Team, comprised of all CBF coordinators, to develop and execute a comprehensive strategic communications and marketing program for the Fellowship. He will also manage and provide direction to the Fellowship Advancement staff.
 
Huett currently serves as the director of communications for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC), a CBF partner organization in Washington, D.C. As a part of the BJC staff for more than 12 years, Huett’s promotional coverage of organizational leaders and policy positions was picked up by media such as The Associated Press, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek magazine and NPR’s Morning Edition. In addition, he developed and helped implement a capital campaign concept to establish a Center for Religious Liberty on Capitol Hill and helped establish the organization’s blog, mobile news and website presence.
 
“I welcome Jeff Huett to the Leadership Team of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,” said CBF executive coordinator Suzii Paynter. “Jeff has a record of success and innovation in his leadership of communications and marketing at the Baptist Joint Committee. He is a great addition for us as we step across the threshold of the future for the Fellowship.”
 
A graduate of Baylor University’s Journalism and Business Administration programs, Huett served as the editor-in-chief of the Lariat, the school’s student newspaper. During his time in Waco, he also wrote for the Waco Tribune-Herald, and was named the Outstanding Journalism Graduate in 2000.
 
In addition to his degrees from Baylor University, Huett holds a Master of Arts in Media and Public Affairs from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he was a Larry King Scholar. He is also accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America.
 
"It's an exciting time to be a Fellowship Baptist and to join with the other CBF staff in engaging people in missions and equipping them for ministry," Huett said. "I look forward to telling that story and encouraging others to do the same."
 
Huett joins the Fellowship Advancement team of full-time communications, marketing and development staff, including:

• Brian Greer, internal development manager
• Aaron Weaver, communications manager
• Candice Young, marketing manager
• Emily Holladay, communications associate

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
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At the news conference, Ka'thy Gore Chappell, leadership development coordinator for CBFNC, explained the ministers' motivation for speaking out.
 
"Our scripture repeatedly calls us to care for the immigrants and strangers among us. As Christians, we know that Jesus taught us in Mark 12 and Matthew 22 that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves," said Chappell.
 
"We stand ready to support legislation that reflects our Christian values and builds the common good. We are driven by a moral obligation rooted deeply in our faith to address the needs of immigrants in our country," added Scott Orr, pastor of Lindley Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C.
 
Fortino Ocampo, pastor of Centro Familiar Cristiano in Siler City, N.C., emphasized the personal nature of the immigration reform debate.
 
"Daily, ministers in our CBFNC Hispanic Network face checkpoints and racial profiling. Police officers, who act as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, camp outside our churches on Sunday mornings to check IDs," said Ocampo.
 
Other speakers included Glenn Pettiford, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem; Brandon Hudson, pastor of Northwest Baptist Church, Winston-Salem; Hector Rengiso, pastor of Iglesia Bautista, Goldsboro; Linda Jones, co-pastor of Via Faith Community and missions coordinator, CBFNC; and Javier Benitez, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Roca Forte, Pittsboro and Hispanic leader-coach for CBFNC.
 
The coalition also encouraged other ministers and leaders to take the "I Was a Stranger Challenge," a prayer challenge to read and reflect on a Bible verse or passage relating to how immigrants are to be treated.
 
The coalition called specifically on North Carolina’s Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr as well as on Reps. Virginia Fox and Mel Watt to support immigration reform that respects the God-given dignity of every person, protects the unity of the immediate family, respects the rule of law, guarantees secure national borders, ensures fairness to taxpayers and establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents.
 
These guidelines are derived from a statement of immigration reform principles released last year by the Evangelical Immigration Table, a diverse coalition comprised of the nation's largest evangelical organizations.
 
The “Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform” has been endorsed by hundreds of prominent leaders including Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) executive coordinator Suzii Paynter, who has been active in comprehensive immigration reform efforts.
 
“Comprehensive immigration reform is justice for all, returning us to the rule of law and reordering justice for more than 20 million people in our country,” Paynter said.
 
The Evangelical Immigration Table is spearheading an initiative April 17 in Washington D.C. called the Evangelical Day of Prayer and Action for Immigration Reform. This daylong event will include a news conference, meetings with members of Congress and their staffs and also worship services.
 
David Beckman, president of Bread for the World, a CBF partner, is among the featured speakers. Fellowship Baptists will be among the thousands of participants as CBFNC is planning to transport a group of ministers to Washington D.C. for the Day of Prayer and Action.
 
“I encourage people of faith to contact elected officials of both parties and ask them to fix our broken immigration system. Support solutions with our voices April 17,” said Paynter.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
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The Council adopted a final recommendation to present to the CBF General Assembly, Kasey Jones, pastor of National Memorial Baptist Church, Washington D.C., to serve as moderator-elect and Jason Coker, pastor of Wilton Baptist Church, Wilton, Conn., to serve as recorder. Jones and Coker are previous members of the Council and Jones was a member of the 2012 Task Force.
 
The Council also approved a recommendation from officers to present the names of 16 individuals to serve on the CBF Nominating Committee.
 
A final recommendation from the transitional Nominating Committee was passed to populate the newly-created Governing Board, Missions Council and Ministries Council. The transitional Nominating Committee is comprised of CBF state and regional coordinators, along with past-moderators Harriet Harral and Colleen Burroughs.
 
“This is the culmination of a year’s worth of work by the Coordinating Council and brings the 2012 Task Force Report to life. We have an implementation team that has helped orchestrate each organizational move and the persons recommended today will provide the leadership team for the next year,” said Keith Herron, CBF moderator.
 
“This is an exciting time in the life of the Fellowship,” added moderator-elect Bill McConnell, who will succeed Herron as moderator July 1. “We are going in the same direction but doing so in a different manner. The Fellowship’s new Governing Board will now have a better opportunity to dialogue with and support CBF’s Atlanta staff.”
 
The following individuals will now be presented to the CBF General Assembly in Greensboro, N.C. in June for final approval:
 
Nominating Committee
–Keith Herron, Kan. (immediate past moderator)
–Chris Aho, N.C.
–Valerie Burton, Ala.
–Ruth Cuellar, Ga.
–John Daugherty, Fla.
–Jason Edwards, Mo.
–Anne Vestal England, Fla.
–Bruce Gourley, West.
–Josh Hunt, S.C.
–Christopher Ingram, N.C.
–Stacy Nowell, Va.
–Susan Reed, Ky.
–Tamara Tillman Smathers, Ga.
–Mike Smith, Tenn.
–Carolyn Staley, Ark.
–Dennis Young, Texas.
 
Governing Board
–Bill McConnell (moderator).
–Paul Baxley, Ga.
–Daniel Carro, Va.
–Matt Cook, N.C.
–Garry Dollar, Ill.
–Doug Dortch, Ala.
–Susan Fendley, Tenn.
–Wayne Patterson, S.C.
–Steve Wells, Texas.
–Jean Willingham, Fla.
–Patricia Wilson, Texas.
–Joy Yee, Calif.
–Camille Allen Snyder, Miss.
 
Missions Council
–Mimi Walker, Ga. (chair).
–Stephen Porter, Texas.
–Mike Oliver, Ala.
–Alan Sherouse, N.Y.
–Alice Mull, Ky.
 
Ministries Council
–Michael Cheuk, Va. (chair).
–Terry Ellis, La.
–Emily Hull-McGee, Ky.
–Christy McMillin-Goodwin, S.C.
–Steve Sheely, Ark.
–Leta Tillman, Texas.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
]]> Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT  
“I have been thoroughly blessed by my relationship with endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors,” said Pickle. “They are the presence of Christ in the world. I thank God for calling, gifting and guiding them to their ministries. It has been my privilege to serve in this ministry.”
 
The Texas native joined the CBF staff in 2001 as CBF chaplaincy and pastoral counseling endorser, after serving as the endorser for hospital, hospice and pastoral counseling at the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board. Prior to becoming an endorser, Pickle spent seven years as a chaplain at the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, Calif.
 
Under his leadership, the Fellowship has doubled the number of endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors, created a structure for the Council on Endorsement and secured a seat for the chair of the council on the CBF Coordinating Council.
 
In addition, Pickle has been an active member of the Council on Ministry in Specialized Settings (COMISS Network) since 1992. This network includes certification and accreditation organizations, 16 faith group endorsers, pastoral care organizations and the National VA Chaplaincy Center. In 2003, he was awarded the COMISS Network Medal, whose previous recipients include Erik Erikson and Henri Nouwen.
 
“George Pickle has served our Fellowship well,” said Bo Prosser, CBF coordinator for missional congregations. “Under his leadership, we have gained credibility with the multiple agencies across the chaplaincy and pastoral counseling landscape. Through his influence, we have endorsed hundreds who relate to their professional field through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship designation. We will miss his devotion to this special group of ministers. We are blessed by his continuing friendship and commitment to our work.”
 
In addition to his ministry as a chaplain and chaplain endorser, Pickle has served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Santa Monica, Calif., and campus minister for the Progress Baptist Convention and the University of Southern California.
 
Since 1999, Pickle has served with the Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplains as a presenter at their orientation. He has also served as a representative of endorsers on the Certification Committee of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors since 2005 and a member of the Association of Religious Endorsing Bodies since 2000.
 
After retirement from CBF, Pickle will continue his private counseling practice, where he specializes in grief counseling.
 
Prosser says a job profile will be developed and a search committee named in the coming days.
 
“We hope to have a restructuring of the job assignments and a new person in place by early fall,” he said.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
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The Council approved a motion authorizing the executive coordinator to negotiate terms of the CBF Atlanta Resource Center’s current lease in order to move the offices of the Fellowship, CBF Foundation and Church Benefits Board to a new Atlanta location.
 
“This relocation moves us towards a space that addresses and fits the movement that we’re headed in through our re-organization,” said Keith Herron, CBF moderator and pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. “As an organization, we are headed in a new direction and sometimes new spaces are needed for future needs.”
 
The CBF offices are currently located in the Administrative and Conference Center building on the Atlanta campus of Mercer University, a CBF partner. During the first few years of its 22-year history, the Fellowship offices were located in commercial spaces in the Atlanta area. In the mid-1990s, as Mercer University was creating the McAfee School of Theology, CBF collaborated in helping to fund a building on the Mercer campus, an arrangement which resulted in CBF becoming a tenant in that space from December 1996 to October 2008. Then, as both McAfee and CBF grew, CBF rented space in the larger Administrative and Conference Center.
 
“CBF has always had a strong relationship with Mercer from its beginning,” said Suzii Paynter, CBF’s newly elected executive coordinator. “Leaders from the organizations worked together not only to provide a place for the Fellowship on the Mercer campus, but also worked together in partnership in areas of theological education, missions and congregational ministry. As we look at implementing the 2012 Task Force Report, we are exploring a change in our location to reflect our evolving identity and needs, but we also continue to embrace our creative partnerships with Mercer.”
 
Mercer continues to be an advocate for the ministries of CBF field personnel through the Mercer on Mission program, which engages a group of students in mission work every summer. Mercer faculty members have also worked alongside CBF field personnel, such as Sam and Melody Harrell. Mercer engineering faculty members created a pump system to provide access to clean water for Kenyan villages where the Harrells serve. The school also provides scholarships for CBF field personnel children to attend Mercer University.
 
Continuing to work to implement the Task Force Report, the Council also voted to allow the transitional Nominating Committee to present four members of the Missions Council and six members of the Ministries Council to the Coordinating Council in a virtual meeting on April 4. Once these names are approved, they will be presented to the CBF General Assembly in June. The individuals nominated will comprise the first third of each council, with additional council members to be presented at the 2014 General Assembly. The transitional Nominating Committee is comprised of CBF state and regional coordinators, along with past-moderators Harriet Harral and Colleen Burroughs.
 
“In our work towards implementing the 2012 Task Force Report, we knew that the Governing Board had to be constituted in order to have the governance oversight that the Fellowship needed,” said Bill McConnell, CBF moderator-elect and a Tennessee businessman. “These smaller teams will allow us to get something in place to help staff leadership and the council chairs get a jumpstart in organizing and developing the councils.”
 
The Council also heard the following reports:
 

• Pat Anderson, the Fellowship’s interim executive coordinator who will end his service on March 31, talked about his excitement for the organization’s future.

 
“It has been my privilege and pleasure to be involved in the second transition of Fellowship leadership,” Anderson said. “Carolyn and I consider our 22 years with CBF our greatest life work. Through CBF, we’ve created friendships and associations that will last a lifetime.”
 

• Larry Hurst, the Fellowship’s controller, reported that as of Jan. 31, the Fellowship’s revenues were at $4 million, 92 percent of the projected amount and expenditures were at $2.4 million, 85 percent of projections.

 
The next meeting of the CBF Coordinating Council will be held via conference call on April 4.
 
More updates on the implementation of the 2012 Task Force Report can be viewed online at www.thefellowship.info/2012taskforce.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
 
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Paynter will leave her post as director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission and director of the Advocacy Care Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) at the end of the month and join the CBF Resource Center staff in Atlanta on March 1.
 
“We knew that if the 2012 Task Force Report was going to be implemented, we needed to pick a certain kind of person,” said George Mason, chair of the search committee and pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. “We were looking for someone we could trust, who would inspire us and give us confidence. At the end of the day, it was obvious to us that we were inspired and that Suzii Paynter was the right person.”
 
As the Fellowship’s executive coordinator, Paynter succeeds previous executive coordinators Daniel Vestal (1996-2012) and Cecil Sherman (1992-1996).
 
“I am so excited to know that this period of discernment, and in fact this whole weaving of my life together, has brought me to this point where I feel a great sense of awe and responsibility,” Paynter said. “I’m here today and for the days to come to facilitate and nurture the vision presented by the 2012 Task Force Report. My dream is that we will come to be the most vital and vibrant Christian community in the United States, and that we will embrace our arms around the world.”


Following Paynter’s election, the Council continued work on implementation of the organization’s promising future as presented by the 2012 Task Force Report, which was approved by the 2012 General Assembly. The Council voted unanimously to pass a recommendation from the legal committee to adopt a new constitution and bylaws as proposed by the 2012 Task Force Report. The legal committee met weekly for more than three months, consulting with outside attorneys and studying the 2012 Task Force Report, before presenting the proposed constitution and bylaws to the Council.  
 
The document, which is available online at www.thefellowship.info/2012taskforce, will be presented to the CBF General Assembly during the first business session Thursday, June 27, with a business break-out session afterward to address questions. The General Assembly will then vote to approve the document in the business session Friday, June 28.
 
“We set out to write a constitution that would be easy to understand, that would maintain parts of the current constitution that it should and that would remain faithful to the 2012 Task Force Report,” said Patricia Wilson, chair of legal committee chair and professor at Baylor Law School.
 
On the first day of its two-day meeting, the Council also approved the following:

• A conflict of interest policy for CBF staff and members of CBF boards, committees and councils, which was presented by the legal committee.  
• A $12.4 million budget for 2013-2014 fiscal year, which was presented by the finance committee and will be voted on by the General Assembly in June.
• A recommendation from the global missions committee to create a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called CBF Responds to receive donations for disaster relief.

 
“This is an historic 24 hours we are spending together. We are conducting the business of carrying out the will of God for this Fellowship,” said CBF moderator Keith Herron, pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. “We have an opportunity to shape things for the future. We already hold the Fellowship in our hearts, and now we also hold it in our hands and minds.”
 
For more information on Paynter, including biographical information, videos, photos and endorsements, go to www.thefellowship.info/paynter.
 
The CBF Coordinating Council meeting continues Friday at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
]]> Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT  
“CBF and ABC have great affinities,” said Pat Anderson, the Fellowship’s executive coordinator. “We share a Baptist history and heritage which blesses our work, and we share a Baptist view of congregational life, missions and social justice. Our paths intersect in so many ways that it is quite natural for us to want to work together intentionally in common tasks, as we do in significant ways, while also maintaining our unique identities. Roy Medley and I thought it would be useful for our leadership staffs to have a time of dialogue.”
 
Discussion among staff from the two organizations focused on challenges and successes in Baptist life, including partnerships, organizational structures and programs designed to serve Christians and churches. The collegial gathering gave staff members opportunities to learn about the workings of the two organizations and share ideas and resources for ministry.
 
“For me, on a larger scale, I want to know how we can strengthen the moderate voice in Baptist life,” said Roy Medley, ABCUSA general secretary and ecumenical officer. “Are there things we can do together that would strengthen each other … whether it’s the co-appointment of missionaries or doing a conference together. Are there points where we can intersect with each other and benefit each other? I hope these are some initial steps we have taken today as we have gotten to know each other.”
 
In 2007, CBF and ABCUSA met together in Washington, D.C., for the Fellowship’s annual General Assembly and ABCUSA’s biennial meeting. At that gathering, the two organizations jointly commissioned field personnel to missions service – Duane and Marcia Binkley serving among Karen refugees.
 
In the past, CBF and ABCUSA have partnered together in disaster response efforts, including the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Katrina and recently, Hurricane Sandy. The two organizations also have common partners in ministry, such as the Baptist World Alliance, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Affairs, Baptist Center for Ethics and Baptists Today.
 
Staff from ABCUSA, which is based in Valley Forge, Pa., included Roy Medley, general secretary and ecumenical officer; Leo Thorne, associate general secretary for mission resource development; Jeff Woods, associate general secretary for regional ministries; Alan Musoke, treasurer and associate general secretary for finances; Pat Hernandez, national director of women in ministry and transition ministry; Annie Marcucci, director for travel and conference planning and Johnson Eapen, director of human resource development. Staff from the Fellowship included Pat Anderson, interim executive coordinator; Connie McNeill, coordinator of administration; Bo Prosser, coordinator of missional congregations and Jim Smith, interim coordinator of global missions.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT  
After collecting nominations for three months, the CBF officers presented a motion to the Coordinating Council Thursday by conference call to make the members of CBF’s Movement Leadership Team the transitional Nominating Committee. The Movement Leadership Team is comprised of all the CBF state and regional coordinators, representing Fellowship Baptists from different geographic areas.
 
“The CBF officers held several strategic conversations last fall about how best to populate the Nominating Committee,” said Keith Herron, CBF moderator and pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. “While we worked hard in the usual way by considering persons across the width and breadth of the Fellowship, [CBF Interim Executive Coordinator] Pat Anderson offered a suggestion that we consider utilizing the state and regional coordinators, as ‘no one knows Fellowship folks better than them.’”
 
The Movement Leadership Team, with the addition of past-moderators Harriet Harral and Colleen Burroughs, will serve as the transitional Nominating Committee through the 2013 General Assembly. Its members will recommend to the General Assembly members of the Governing Board and chairpersons for the Ministries and Missions Council. They will also recommend to the CBF officers a list of persons to serve as the on-going Nominating Committee. All nominations will be presented to the General Assembly in a business session June 27 in Greensboro, N.C.
 
“These decisions will allow us to continue an accelerated transition, which will complete our move to the new model as outlined by the 2012 Task Force,” said Bill McConnell, CBF moderator-elect and a Tennessee businessman. “By working with the state and regional coordinators we will have access to the Fellowship people with the needed skills. After this, the system that was voted on by the 2012 General Assembly will be in place.”
 
Harral, a lay person from Fort Worth, Texas, and former CBF moderator, will serve as chair of the transitional Nominating Committee. Harral is the president of The Harral Group, a consulting firm that specializes in organizational effectiveness. Burroughs, as the current CBF past-moderator, serves as one of the CBF officers. She is also the vice president of CBF partner Passport Inc.
 
The Coordinating Council will next meet February 21-22 in Atlanta.
 
More updates on the implementation of the 2012 Task Force Report can be viewed online at www.thefellowship.info/2012taskforce.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 

 
]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT  
Paynter currently serves as the director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission and director of the Advocacy Care Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), one of the Convention’s three major divisions. Paynter directs all public policy initiatives for state and federal issues and builds relationships with other religious bodies. In addition, she oversees church outreach, the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering, community care ministries of restorative justice, anti-human trafficking, hunger and poverty, healthcare ministries, the Texas Baptist chaplaincy program and Texas Baptist counseling services.
 
Paynter was selected as the candidate for the CBF executive coordinator position by a 10-member executive coordinator search committee. The committee has worked for the past year to identify the Fellowship’s next leader.
 
“My heart is full. I feel privileged and energized as the candidate for the Fellowship’s executive coordinator position,” said Paynter. “The Fellowship is blessed with leaders of all generations, robust state organizations and vital mission partnerships that are changing the world. I look forward to traveling towards a bright future, linking arms with this beloved community and sharing God’s transforming love.”
 
On Thursday, Jan. 17, the search committee presented Paynter to the Fellowship’s Coordinating Council. Next, Paynter will be voted on by the Council at its regularly scheduled meeting Feb. 21-22. If approved, she is expected to begin work in March at the CBF Resource Center in Atlanta.
 
“Sometimes things come together in a way that makes you believe something bigger is happening than you realized,” said George Mason, chair of the search committee and pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. “When a diverse search committee finds itself well-aligned with the wishes of a diverse CBF constituency, and when a candidate emerges who embodies without compromise all those hopes, you can't help but celebrate the power and presence of the Spirit. Suzii Paynter's life and work have unwittingly prepared her for such a time as this to lead Cooperative Baptists.”
 
As a leader at the BGCT since 2001, Paynter has envisioned, created and managed large-scale programs and projects that focus on ministering alongside and advocating for the least of these. Her experience and accomplishments reflect her commitment to the missional and cooperative work of Baptists at all levels – local, state, national, regional and international, as well as ecumenical and interfaith ministry.
 
Over the past decade, Paynter has gained a national reputation for her advocacy on important ethical issues such as religious liberty, hunger and poverty, environmental justice, human trafficking and immigration reform. She has been recognized by religious and secular organizations nationwide ‒ North American Association of Christians in Social Work, Baptist Center for Ethics, Sierra Club, Samaritan Counseling Centers, American Association of Retired Persons, Criminal Justice Coalition. Paynter’s work has been highlighted on television programs, including Moyers on America, and in print publications, such as the Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker.
 
During Paynter’s tenure at the Christian Life Commission, gifts to the organization’s world hunger offering have risen to record levels, including funding for CBF missions projects. Prior to her work at the BGCT, Paynter served as a national literacy professional, professor and consultant for 25 years.
 
“Suzii Paynter is one of us. She was present in our earliest gatherings and was deeply involved in helping create the ethos of the Fellowship movement even before the name Cooperative Baptist Fellowship was attached to it,” said Keith Herron, CBF Moderator and pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. “Suzii has made a name for herself as someone who’s inclusive and fair. She’s collaborative and imaginative. She’s ready to nurture mutual partnerships that build CBF’s reputation as a forward-thinking organization. She will bring creativity and energy to our work.”
 
A former member of the CBF Coordinating Council and former chair of the General Assembly Planning Committee, Paynter says she would look to both continue and build on the mission and ministry strengths of the Fellowship in her first months as executive coordinator.  This includes leading the implementation of the 2012 Task Force Report, which focuses on restructuring the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship movement in a manner that fosters increased collaboration and effectiveness.
 
“Suzii Paynter brings to CBF a long list of qualities that equip her to lead us with great competence,” said Pat Anderson, CBF’s interim executive coordinator. “Her work in the Texas Christian Life Commission has been stellar. Her predecessors include Foy Valentine, Jimmy Allen, James Dunn, and Phil Strickland ... all of whom have said that Suzii was the best of them all. She is committed to social justice, devoted to Baptist history, and has exemplary leadership skills. In addition, Suzii has a most engaging personality, is humble, courageous, and possesses a wonderful sense of humor. I look forward to great things in CBF under her leadership.”
 
An ordained deacon at First Baptist Church, Austin Texas and Sunday School teacher of more than 40 years, Paynter, who grew up at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, has consistently held positions of leadership at the Fellowship churches in Texas, Kentucky and Mississippi where she has been a member. She has served congregations alongside her husband, Roger Paynter, who currently pastors First Baptist Austin and teaches at the Seminary of the Southwest.
 
“Throughout my ministry, I have been the recipient of many gifts from the generous hands of Fellowship churches, friends and co-workers and therefore, I count it a true and joyous privilege to offer my best efforts and commitment to the future of the Fellowship,” Paynter said. “The success I have experienced, the sincerest moments of worship and praise, the formation of my spiritual strength have been shaped by Fellowship people who are co-laborers and mentors in God’s kingdom. I can’t wait to see what good gifts God has in store for the Fellowship in these next years.”
 
If elected in February, Paynter will succeed Daniel Vestal as the Fellowship’s executive coordinator. Vestal retired from the position in June 2012 after 16 years. Cecil Sherman served as the Fellowship’s first executive coordinator, leading the organization from 1992 until his retirement in 1996.
 
For more information on Paynter, including additional biographical information, video and photos, go to www.thefellowship.info/paynter.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
 
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“Tommy brings a wealth of experience and compassion to this role,” said CBF’s Interim Executive Coordinator Pat Anderson. “He has been a tireless worker and an excellent coordinator of churches, volunteers and other helping agencies.”

Although not a first responder organization, in the wake of disasters, CBF staff and field personnel, churches and partner ministries provide relief supplies, resources and volunteers. As coordinator, Deal said his first priorities are to continue strengthening the partner relationships that make disaster response possible, as well as improve communication to churches and other CBF constituents.

“CBF disaster response is an opportunity to be Christ’s presence during a very dark time in people’s lives,” Deal said. “We want to continue being the ones who come into areas neglected by others to stay longer in the recovery period. As a minister leading disaster response for CBF of Florida and serving public safety for most of my life, this role is a wonderful marriage of the things God has called and prepared me to do.”

Since May, Deal has served as the disaster response coordinator for CBF of Georgia. He will continue in this role as part of a collaborative relationship between CBF of GA and national CBF.

In addition to his role with CBF of Florida, Deal has served as a chaplain to numerous police and fire departments and a state board member for Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Deal has also received training in disaster response from FEMA. In conjunction with Deal’s leadership, Charles Ray will continue to fundraise and build partner networks in an effort to transform CBF Disaster Response into a sustainable mission of CBF.

“The goal of Tommy’s appointment is to both help manage and expand CBF relief efforts,” Harry Rowland, CBF’s missional church engagement specialist, said. “Charles Ray moved CBF from a ‘wait and see what we can do’ approach to a proactive, prepared network of state and regional response efforts, and now Tommy will build on that.”

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission. ]]> Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT  
Perkins Lee, who currently serves as minister of students at First Baptist Church, Auburn, Ala., will begin work at the Fellowship Resource Center in Atlanta on Jan. 1. A graduate of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, a CBF partner seminary, Perkins Lee recently served as a member of CBF’s 2012 Task Force and is part of the Implementation Team.
 
“Ruth is going to be an invaluable resource to us in translating our work into the direction of the 2012 Task Force report,” said Bo Prosser, the Fellowship’s coordinator of Missional Congregations. “As a member of the task force, Ruth brings a depth of understanding to the direction they were leading. She will definitely help us manage the details of transitions and help us stay intentional in this.” 
 
The Ministries Council, which is outlined in the 2012 Task Force report, will relate to the Fellowship’s Missional Congregations department. With the implementation process started, Prosser says he is structuring his staff with the report and its emphasis on a partnership model in mind.
 
Staff responsibilities include:
 
• Devita Parnell, missional resources specialist, will provide leadership to spiritual formation, developing resources, guiding leadership scholars, developing retreats and networks, encouraging spiritual formation and managing special events.
 
• Harry Rowland, missional church engagement specialist, will give leadership to networking, CBF Days at partner school, church start ministries and mission communities. 
 
 
• Clarissa Strickland, CBF’s networking specialist, continues manage the organization’s reference and referral services, helping connect clergy with open positions and churches with candidates. 
 
• George Pickle, chaplaincy and pastoral counseling endorser, and Jim Pope, chaplaincy associate for military chaplains, continue to serve the more than 600 CBF-endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors.
 
• Terry Hamrick, who left the CBF staff earlier this year, is under contract to manage the CBF Fellows program for new ministers, which is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. 
 
• Steve Graham, who left CBF national staff earlier this year to become the coordinator for CBF of Oklahoma-Kansas, will continue to be a part of the leadership team of CBF’s peer learning groups, directing the West region.
 
• Wanda Kidd, contract worker for collegiate ministries, continues to lead the Fellowship’s collegiate ministry, working with students at the General Assembly and directing the Congregational Internship program.
 
• David King, contract worker for new church starts, continues to work with church starters and new congregations.
 
“We have to position ourselves for the coming transitions,” Prosser said. “We are strategically organizing for partnering, for collaborating and for moving from the current resource model to the ministry partnership model.  These are exciting days for the Fellowship and for our area of ministry within the Fellowship.”


CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
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]]> Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT
“We hold the Fellowship in our hands,” said Keith Herron, CBF moderator and pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. “Pat Anderson has been helping us do that for the past few months and the shine has been on him. But the shine is about to shift. The next time we gather as a body, we’ll have a candidate for executive coordinator in front of us. The shine will be on that person. It’s an important thing we will do – to not only get to know each other but also to share a vision for the future together.”

The next meeting of the Coordinating Council will be a virtual meeting on Jan. 17. This meeting will related to implementation of the 2012 Task Force Report. The Council voted on Thursday that members would elect in mid-January a group of people to serve on the Nominating Committee, a first step in moving toward the organization’s new structure.

“We don’t take your trust in this process lightly,” said CBF past moderator Colleen Burroughs, who serves as vice president of Passport, Inc. “We take this process very seriously and will handle it with great care. We want everyone in this room – from every state – to send us names for the committee.” 

Current CBF officers will be receiving names from state and regions and the Fellowship at large in the coming months. Nominations can be made by e-mailing nominate@thefellowship.info.

The Council also heard the following reports:
 
• Larry Hurst, the Fellowship’s controller, reported the Fellowship ended its fiscal year Sept. 30 with revenues of $11.6 million, 95 percent of the original budget. Expected expenditures, which are still being processed, were at $11.4 million, 96 percent of the original budget. The staff is anticipating a one to two percent shortfall, although the exact amount won’t be known until the books are closed on the fiscal year next month.

• Bo Prosser, the Fellowship’s coordinator of missional congregations, gave the Council a report on the upcoming CBF General Assembly. The theme of this year’s event is “With great boldness,” based on 2 Corinthians 3:12. The Assembly will include a Wednesday evening service led by Baptist Women in Ministry that will celebrate the organization’s 30^th anniversary. On Thursday evening, new field personnel and church starters will be commissioned. And on Friday, the Assembly will hear from the new CBF executive coordinator.

• Ed Sunday-Winters, chair of the Global Missions Committee and pastor of Ball Camp Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenn., brought a recommendation to the Council to create an implementation team which would work to develop CBFResponds as its own legal entity for receiving funds for disaster relief. The Council approved the recommendation and the following people to serve on the team:  Bob Patterson, Warm Springs, Ga.; Clem White, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Bobby Broyles, Ballinger, Texas; Suzanne Morse, Pendleton, S.C.; Tommy Deal, Dalton, Ga.; Melissa Roysdon, Smithville, Tenn.; Myra Houser, Washington, D.C.; Harry Rowland, Atlanta, Ga.; Larry Hurst, Atlanta, Ga.
 
• Pat Wilson, chair of the Legal Committee and a lawyer from Waco, Texas, said the committee will be responsible for drafting a new CBF Constitution and Bylaws based on the 2012 Task Force Report. The committee has set a schedule for accomplishing this task and will present the draft to the Coordinating Council at its meeting Feb. 21-22.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
]]> Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT  
“We came out of the summer knowing we had to put wheels on the plan from the Task Force,” said CBF moderator Keith Herron, who serves as pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. “This is a historic time, a wrinkle in time, in which the past structure is about to give way to a new structure. For the near future, this is where we are headed. It’s decisive. It’s bold. We’re creating a map that that will take us on a journey. The Implementation Team is figuring out how we will take the next steps.”
 
The Council heard a report from the 2012 Task Force Implementation Team, which met earlier in the week. Herron, on behalf of the team, presented the Council with a transition timeline. Breaking into small groups, Council members discussed the transition timeline and focused their conversations on the following questions: What do you appreciate about this? What concerns you about this? Where do you want this to go?
 
After discussion and feedback, the Council approved the following amended motion from the Advisory Council:
 
“In order to begin implementation of the 2012 Task Force Report, we recommend the following transitional process to form the Nominating Committee. The officers will receive names from states and regions and the Fellowship at large. The officers will submit a slate of names on January 17th to the Coordinating Council that is authorized to elect the committee.
 
The Nominating Committee will elect its own chair and will present to the June 2013 General Assembly nominees for the Moderator-elect, the Governing Board and transitional leadership for the formation of the Ministries and Missions Councils.”
 
“We feel we need to kick start this transition of our organization,” said Pat Anderson, CBF’s interim executive coordinator. “We don’t need to take years to facilitate this. With guidance from Dave Odom, executive director for Leadership Education at Duke University, we have worked out a way to carry out the transition up to the 2013 General Assembly. Nothing happens in this new plan until we have a Nominating Committee. It all starts there.”
 
Also Thursday, Herron provided a report from the Executive Coordinator Search Committee. He said the committee is preparing to bring a candidate to the Coordinating Council at its February meeting. The candidate will be presented to the Advisory Council and announced to the public in mid-January.
 
“The search committee has been doing the kind of work that might be done with any ministerial search process,” Herron. “They’ve created a description of the kind of person we are looking for, and they have an impressive list of candidates. I was amazed at the quality of candidates and it makes me feel good as a CBFer to know that we will be in good hands.”
 
The Implementation Team’s transition timeline can be viewed online at www.thefellowship.info/2012taskforce.
 
The CBF Coordinating Council meeting continues Friday at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
 
]]> Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT  
Anderson and CBF moderator Keith Herron, pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., are setting the implementation process in motion. Their first step was putting together the Implementation Team and asking Dave Odom, executive director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, to provide leadership to the team meetings.
 
Members of the 2012 Task Force Implementation Team include:
 
• Ruth Perkins Lee; Minister of students, Auburn First Baptist Church; Auburn, Ala.
• Dave Odom; Executive director, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity; Durham, N.C.
• Bill McConnell; CBF moderator-elect and partner at Rogers & Morgan; Knoxville, Tenn.
• Keith Herron; CBF moderator and pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church; Kansas City, Mo.
• Renée Bennett ; CBF Recorder and assistant to the coordinator for finance, CBF of Georgia; Macon, Ga.
• Colleen Burroughs; CBF immediate past moderator and vice president of Passport, Inc.; Birmingham, Ala.
• Susan Fendley; Attorney (retired) for Tennessee Valley Authority; Knoxville, Tenn.
• Pat Anderson; CBF interim executive coordinator; Atlanta, Ga.
• Connie McNeill; CBF coordinator of administration; Atlanta, Ga.
• Bo Prosser; CBF coordinator for missional congregations; Atlanta, Ga.
• Jim Smith; CBF interim global missions coordinator; Atlanta, Ga.

“One of the recommendations of the 2012 Task Force is about being better partners with our partners and developing a seamless community,” Herron said. “Dave has great organizational savvy, and we’ve called on him to lead us through the process of implementation.”
 
After its October work retreat, the Implementation Team will share its initial report with the CBF Coordinating Council, which meets Oct. 25-26. With feedback from the Council, the team will continue to work on a proposal for implementation, presenting to the Council again in February and to the CBF Advisory Council in May. At the 2013 General Assembly, being held June 26-28 in Greensboro, N.C., the team will share a summary report.
 
“There’s always a sense of loss and hope related to any change,” Odom said. “In that regard, CBF is like any other human organization. One distinct advantage is CBF is a relatively new organization that doesn’t have as much weight as one of the historical denominations that would need to be adjusted. It’s already a network and it’s already a fellowship. We need to discover how to adjust our systems to, in some ways, be even more of the organization we already are.”
 
Learn more about the implementation team and 2012 Task Force report at www.thefellowship.info/2012taskforce.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT It’s Time: A Journey Towards Missional Faithfulness and You’ve Got The Time, an initiative to encourage churches to study the Bible by providing Scripture in audio format.
 
Created to be the next step in a church’s missional journey, Dawnings is a process for congregational formation and church health that features a series of visioning retreats, leadership development experiences and congregational study and prayer.
 
“Congregations will experience a depth of vision and a richness in mission that will in turn draw them closer to God’s spirit and one another,” said Bo Prosser, CBF’s coordinator for missional congregations.
 
Dawnings was created as a follow-up to It’s Time, a church-wide study program that helped numerous Fellowship churches understand what it means to be a missional congregation.
 
Today, Prosser said, most Fellowship churches are asking two questions “How do we begin the missional journey, or how do we deepen and enrich our missional journey?”
 
“Dawnings seeks to answer that by engaging the congregation in a series of spiritual conversations and prayer so that they are led to their own contextual direction in their unique communities,” Prosser said.
 
The grant will also help support CBF’s continuing college ministry, which has placed almost 200 students in local congregations in the past two years through Collegiate College Internships. Funding includes stipends, training and program administration.
 
The grant will also help create new resources including an annual prayer book, idea book which helps guide congregational development in its missional journey and a handbook for leading prayer retreats.
 
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
]]> Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT