April 25, 2022

By Aaron Weaver

DECATUR, Ga. — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida and the Caribbean Islands (CBF FL/CI) has selected Rev. Tammy Snyder as its next Coordinator.  

A servant leader with 21 years of ministry experience in both church and parachurch organizations, Snyder succeeds Ray Johnson, who announced his retirement in January following a 15-year tenure as CBF FL/CI Coordinator.

Since 2016, Snyder has served as Associate Pastor of Bayshore Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla. She was previously Minister to Adults (2012-2016) and Women’s Ministry Director (2009-2012) at Bayshore.

Snyder comes to the position with deep involvement and leadership in the Fellowship at both the state and national levels, including service as Chair-Elect of the CBF Missions Council, former Moderator of CBF FL/CI, member of the Representative Assembly of CBF FL/CI and a Dawnings Discernment leader. She is a current member of the CBF Global Missions Transition Team.

Snyder is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (B.S., Education), Temple University (M.Ed., Educational Leadership) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.A., Theology and Ministry). She also has received 400 hours of Clinical Pastoral Education from Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and is a graduate of the Spiritual Transforming Community Program of the Transforming Center in Chicago, Ill. She was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2013 by Bayshore Baptist Church.

Snyder expressed her excitement to begin serving in this new role and praised the diversity and inclusive spirit of the network and its churches.

“The diversity of CBF FL/CI and its churches is a true gift,” Snyder said. “We must always remember to celebrate this by keeping an inclusive spirit and big tent mentality. Beautiful ideas and relationships emerge when we make space for everyone.”

Outgoing Coordinator Ray Johnson highlighted Snyder’s love for CBF churches, their leaders and missions.

“I am so thrilled that Tammy Snyder has been elected to serve as CBF of Florida and the Caribbean Islands’ next state coordinator,” Johnson said. “She brings a tremendous love for our region’s Fellowship Baptists, our churches and their leaders, and especially for CBF missions. These are challenging days for all of us, and I can’t think of anyone better to lead us joyfully, passionately and fully into God’s preferred future.”

Johnson shared his gratitude for the 15 years he was able to serve Fellowship Baptists in Florida and the Caribbean Islands.

“Personally, I am so thankful for the 15 years that I served CBF FL/CI,” Johnson said. “I know of no better ‘familia,’ and I know, too, that Tammy will be both humbled and blessed by this beautiful calling.”

CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley praised the selection of Snyder, who he described as a “gifted minister and outstanding leader.”

“The search committee and Representative Assembly for CBF Florida and the Caribbean Islands has made an outstanding choice in calling Tammy Snyder to serve as Coordinator,” Baxley said. “Tammy is a gifted minister, outstanding leader and has demonstrated a strong commitment to the health and vitality of congregations and to our participation in Christ’s mission around the world. Because of her leadership of the Future Directions Team that was created by CBF FL/CI more than a year ago, she is deeply committed to the vision discerned in that process. I look forward to working closely with her as she begins her new ministry.”

Baxley also expressed his “profound gratitude” to Johnson on his retirement following 15 years of service to CBF FL/CI.

“Ray’s commitment to our Fellowship and his support of our mission around the world has been a gift to all of us. His leadership in this transitional season has created a stronger future for CBF in his region and beyond. I wish Ray and his family all the best in retirement and look forward to continued friendship in our Fellowship.”

Snyder will begin her new role on June 4 traveling to the Bahamas with Johnson and Baxley.

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CBF Florida is a network of individuals and churches who are dedicated to being the presence of Christ to the most marginalized, in Florida and the Caribbean and then the world. Learn more at www.floridacbf.org.