The following post is from CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal. The text originally appeared in his Sept. 15, 2010, column “Words from the Coordinator.”
When CBF began 20 years ago it was formed with the best thinking/planning that was available. The organization reflected that time and the historical context of our beginning. Through the years we have given attention to organizational matters, and in many ways I believe we have matured institutionally.
In April of this year I called together the leadership of more than 20 partnering ministries, along with state/regional leadership and the senior staff from Atlanta to begin planning for the General Assembly in 2011. Babs Baugh, who will chair the 2011 Assembly, co-hosted this event and also funded it with a gracious grant from the Baugh Foundation. From that retreat at Callaway Gardens here in Georgia there emerged a strong consensus that we need a greater clarity and commitment around our institutional identity, mission and organizational structure.
So I asked our moderator, Hal Bass, along with the officers, to appoint a committee to vision the missional and organizational future of CBF. The Coordinating Council in its June meeting gave a blessing to the purpose of this “2012 Task Force” with the idea that it will bring reports and recommendations to the next two assemblies.
The composition reflects a wide diversity within CBF. If you go on the CBF website at www.thefellowship.info/2012taskforce, you will find a brief biography of each member of the Task Force.
- David Hull (chair), First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Alabama
- Stephen Cook, First Baptist Church, Danville, Virginia
- Alan Culpepper, McAfee School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia
- Susan Deal, College Park Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida
- Ray Higgins, CBF of Arkansas,
- Laura Hoffman, Third Baptist Church, St. Louis, Missouri
- Hollyn Hollman, Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs
- Tony Hopkins, First Baptist Church, Greenwood, South Carolina
- Larry Hovis, CBF of North Carolina
- Kasey Jones, National Baptist Memorial Church, Washington DC
- Ruth Perkins Lee, First Baptist Church, Auburn, Alabama
- Rene Maciel, Baptist University of the Americas, San Antonio, Texas
- Connie McNeil, CBF, Atlanta
- Jean Willingham, CBF of Florida
They will be asked to address the following questions.
- What is the best model of community that fosters missional collaboration rather than competition for resources?
- How can we refocus and streamline organizational structures in order to provide leadership and resources for churches and other ministries to respond more effectively to global challenges?
- How do we help Baptist churches and organizations embrace their identity as partners with this community?
The Task Force has already had a conversation (via conference call) and will have its first face-to-face meeting at the end of September. In the weeks/months ahead they will be seeking input and ideas from the CBF family with a comprehensive “listening plan.” The work of this group is vital to CBF, and all of us are deeply grateful for their willingness to serve.
Let me ask you to do a few things: First, pray for them as they listen and learn, and then as they discern and decide about their recommendations. Second, go to the website www.thefellowship.info/callaway and listen to the presentations at the Callaway Gardens Retreat. None of them are more than 10 minutes, and you will find them thoughtful and meaningful. Or you can download the manuscripts of the presentations and read them. But let me encourage you to give attention to what has already been presented. Third, let this Task Force hear from you. Several have already done so, but I hope you will feel free to write/call any or all of them. You can also send your comments through the 2012 Task Force website. And then as more formal listening opportunities unfold, please participate.
With all my heart, I believe God has called and created Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and a host of partnering ministries, into being. God has blessed us and worked through us, and we should be thankful. In the spirit of gratitude let us dream/hope/plan for a bright future. With an open heart/mind let’s ask and answer some hard questions about congregational identity while keeping our focus on denomination/institution serving churches rather than churches serving denomination/institution.
With “an abundance mentality” let’s explore ways to increase resources for the mission we have been given. Let us not be afraid to consider different models (new and old) of connection and collaboration for effective ministry. In the coming months let us attend to our organizational and institutional well-being. Let us seek ways to be more effective and fruitful, more vibrant and vital
I realize that these kinds of conversations can be tedious to some and divisive to others. But I refuse to believe that this is inevitable. I have great confidence in the people who will lead us, in the process that will unfold and in divine Providence. I also believe that our most fruitful ministry is in not in the past twenty years but in the next twenty.
Daniel Vestal is executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, serving since 1996.