By Aaron Weaver
DECATUR, Ga. — “Together, we are better,” CBF Moderator Debbie McDaniel told the Governing Board of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
McDaniel shared this message during her welcome address at the June 27 board meeting ahead of the 2023 General Assembly in Atlanta.
“I’m grateful for your investment in your church and in our Fellowship. I’m grateful that you intentionally bring and share your gifts and talents because together we are better….Each time we are together, whenever I leave, I feel refreshed and excited about what is happening across our Fellowship,” said McDaniel, a lay leader at First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala.
Board member Charles Watson and Human Resources manager LaToya Cross gave a presentation on proposed policy changes to the CBF employee handbook, as well as revisions to the field personnel manual impacting the compensation structure and housing benefit for CBF field personnel. The Governing Board voted to approve both proposals.
The Governing Board also adopted a gifts acceptance policy and heard reports from CBF staff leaders on different areas of ministry and operations, including an employee flourishing process.
CBF Moderator Debbie McDaniel recognized four departing members of the Governing Board. “You have been instrumental in helping us be who we are,” she said.
The four outgoing board members include: Steve Sheely, pastor, Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Ark.; Jewel London, clergy, The Church Without Walls, Houston, Texas; Patricia Wilson, Past CBF Moderator and professor of law at Baylor University; and John Scott Jr., CBF Recorder, attorney and layperson from Birmingham, Ala.
CBF Moderator-Elect David Hull closed the meeting with prayer.
Ministries Council
The CBF Ministries Council also met Tuesday afternoon to look forward to where God is leading in becoming more responsive, proactive and innovating to the needs of CBF congregations. Led by chair Ellen Di Giosia, the council discussed the importance of helping congregations develop their ministry philosophies.
The conversations of the Ministries Council focused on its tasks of identifying needs of congregations and the CBF community to be resources collaboratively, and identifying assets that reside in the various areas of the CBF community that can be deployed for collaborative ministries.
Missions Council
The Missions Council meeting opened with a devotional from Southeast Asia-based field personnel Brooke and Mike and featured a report from CBF Global Missions Coordinator Laura Ayala as well as CBF staff members Javier Perez, Ellen Sechrest, Lindsi Hines, Nell Green and Dianne McNary. New CBF field personnel Jana Lee and Stella Perrin were introduced to council members. Lee and Perrin will be commissioned on Friday to begin their work in Cyprus.
Ayala emphasized the importance of long-term presence of CBF field personnel and shared about her ongoing work to visit all six CBF field personnel teams—Asia, Africa-Middle East, Europe, FMT, International North America and Rural-Urban America. Before the conclusion of her first year of service, Ayala will have met in-person with all CBF field personnel.
“It’s not just going, it’s also learning while we are visiting,” she said. “We have many things ahead of us.”
Additional reporting by Lauren Lamb and Meg Rooney.
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CBF is a Christian network that helps people put their faith to practice through ministry efforts, global missions and a broad community of support. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.