August 28, 2023
By Jeff Huett
DECATUR, Ga. – First Baptist Church of Morrow, Ga., has called a long-time CBF staff member and director of the Fellowship’s work with Young Baptists as its first female pastor.
Devita Parnell, who has served on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship staff for more than 16 years, will begin her tenure at FBC Morrow next month.
Parnell’s leadership of CBF’s Young Baptist Ecosystem has worked to strengthen links between CBF, Young Baptists, the local church and other partners.
She has served Baptists for two decades, including as a development officer for McAfee School of Theology, where she earned her Master of Divinity, as staff member of CBF Georgia and as a campus minister.
Brian Foreman, CBF’s Coordinator for Congregational Ministries, said Parnell will be missed, and will leave behind a strong network and structure for the Young Baptist Ecosystem to build on. Foreman said he’s confident in the continued strengthening of that work.
“Devita is a gifted preacher, teacher and facilitator and has led with a sharp focus on developing genuine relationships,” Foreman said. “Well miss her on the CBF staff but are grateful to God that she will remain a leader in our Fellowship.
“CBF has and will continue to have a strong commitment to work with our Young Baptists, continuing to build on the intentional collaboration Devita has fostered, including with state and regional offices in Young Baptist spaces,” Foreman said. “Young Baptists are an incredibly valuable and important part of the Fellowship family.”
Parnell expressed her appreciation for CBF’s role in her journey and her readiness for the next step.
“Tradition says you start your ministry in the congregation and then move to the denomination. My journey has been the exact opposite,” she said. “I feel prepared now more than ever to jump into this new thing God is doing in me and in the church!”
She continued: “I could not be at this point in my career and calling journey without my experience at CBF,” she said. “I have learned so much from and have been inspired by my colleagues; the beautiful ministries of our field personnel and chaplains; and the churches and ministers we serve who are creatively and faithfully serving their communities.
“I have spent just about my entire ministry career serving through CBF — 20 years total (16 years at the global level and four at CBF of Georgia), which amounts to two-thirds of CBF’s life. We have ‘grown up’ together, and I feel blessed to have helped build a foundation for ministry, especially with Young Baptists.”
Paul Baxley, CBF’s executive coordinator, celebrated Parnell’s two decades of gifted leadership
and commitment to the life of the Fellowship, which included a tremendous contribution not only to the lives of Young Baptists but also to the creation of resources to support congregations toward thriving.
“Now Devita becomes the pastor of First Baptist Church in Morrow,” Baxley said. “While we grieve that her season on CBF’s staff is ending, we are celebrating that God has called her to this new season of ministry and know her gifts will flourish in new ways. And while the primary focus of her giftedness will now be offering pastoral leadership to her congregation, we rejoice that she will continue to be a leader in our CBF community and are grateful that we will continue to serve together.”
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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.