The Movement Leadership Team (MLT) of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is holding a three-day gathering this week, January 12-14, in Decatur, Ga., to collaborate and share updates and stories. The MLT—a team comprised of the coordinators of the 18 CBF state and regional organizations, CBF coordinators as well as the CBF moderator—gathers three to four times a year to promote effective communication throughout the Fellowship, cast vision and direction for CBF, share information and learn from one another.

MLT convener Terri Byrd opens up the three-day gathering of CBF state and regional leaders.

In 2014, the MLT adopted the following four-fold purpose statement:

• Steward— As the only identifiable leadership group in the CBF community without time-limited rotating terms, steward CBF’s identity and brand within and beyond the Fellowship.
  • Strategize — From its unique position relating to national and state/regional councils and boards, develop and implement strategy to accomplish the goals of the Fellowship.
  • Share — Serve as a forum for communication, collaboration, dialogue, asset-sharing, network development and fellowship building across the Fellowship.
  • Speak — From its unique perspective as connectors between regional constituents and CBF’s global presence, speak to the Fellowship on matters affecting our shared mission and ministry.

Marlon Hall of The Awakenings Movement and Duke Divinity School

New MLT convener Terri Byrd, who serves as coordinator of Alabama CBF, is leading the January gathering with the theme of “Sharing the Story.” During the first day, MLT members heard updates about the work of the CBF Ministries Council as well as updates on CBF ministries and missions from CBF staff. The group also took part in a prayer activity as well as a devotion led by Trisha Miller Manarin, coordinator of the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Day two of the summit featured time focused on the theme of “Sharing the Story” with guest presenter Marlon Hall, who serves on the faculty of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity’s Foundations of Christian Leadership and Denominational Leadership courses. Hall, who leads The Awakenings Movement in Houston, Texas, is a storyteller who uses photography, anthropology, filmmaking and writing to assist others in “telling better stories to us about us.”

The MLT gathering concludes today with more focus on story sharing as well as a time for conversation with CBF Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter.

You can view photos from the MLT gathering here.

Additional reading:

CBF Ministries Council meets, continues its work to strengthen ministry initiatives (1/12/16)