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November 30, 2023

By Jeff Huett

DECATUR, Ga. – Building on a 10‐year foundation laid for its formal advocacy efforts, the Cooperative
Baptist Fellowship has selected two women leaders in CBF life to guide the future of CBF Advocacy both
in Washington, D.C., and in partnerships with local churches across the Fellowship.

Jennifer Hawks, who currently serves as the associate general counsel for BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), has been named CBF’s director of advocacy. Sharon Felton, the associate pastor for students at Faith Baptist in Georgetown, Ky., has been named congregational advocacy manager.

As director of advocacy, Hawks will focus on representing CBF at a national level, stewarding CBF’s voice in advocacy issues and ensuring a public witness for racial justice.

In her congregational advocacy manager role, Felton will encourage congregational leaders to pursue
advocacy efforts as a ministry of the congregation and consider how they may be advocates for racial
justice. She will work with CBF’s Congregational Ministries team to maximize opportunities to invite
congregations into the ministry of advocacy and equip them for faithful public witness so that they
might participate in the transformation of their communities.

Hawks to Build CBF Presence in the Nation’s Capital

Hawks has served for nine years as BJC’s associate general counsel. She holds a law degree from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Divinity Degree from George W. Truett Theological Seminary. In her work at BJC and before, she has had experience in legislative advocacy, legal advocacy and coalition building within and beyond Washington, D.C. She will be based out of the nation’s capital and will begin work with CBF on February 15.

Hawks said she is excited to deepen relationships across CBF to help partner churches, states and regions, and networks enhance their ongoing ministries with advocacy.

“Advocacy is an essential part of our Christian prophetic witness, and I am thrilled to be joining the CBF
team to establish an advocacy presence for CBF in our nation’s capital,” she said. “Sometimes being the
hands and feet of Christ means writing letters to the city council or walking the halls of Congress.

“Each generation must decide whether and how to take up the prophetic mantle and speak truth to
political power. I am energized and ready to connect CBF’s prophetic witness to the issues of the day.”

Stephen Reeves, CBF’s outgoing director of advocacy and executive director of Fellowship Southwest,
said Hawks is a “natural choice” for the role and is excited she feels called to serve CBF.

“Her years of experience with BJC, one of CBF’s closest advocacy partners, means she understands CBF
and the community of faith‐based advocates in Washington D.C.,” Reeves said. “Her experience leading
coalitions and advocacy efforts on the Hill will serve CBF well as she becomes our first DC‐based
advocate. Her background as an attorney and ordained minister means she has the depth of knowledge
necessary to lead our churches in the policy realm.”

Felton to Serve Congregations and Communities

Felton has served as associate pastor to students at Faith Baptist Church in Georgetown, Ky., for nine years while also implementing grassroots advocacy programs supporting public education as the director of Pastors for Kentucky Children since 2018. She currently works alongside CBF’s Outreach and Growth team on a variety of racial justice projects in support of CBF’s Dr. Emmanuel McCall Racial Justice and Leadership Initiative. She previously served on a contract basis leading CBF’s advocacy efforts against predatory lending in Kentucky. She has earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University. Her role at CBF begins Dec. 1.

Felton said she is looking forward to exploring the intersection of missions and advocacy to serve our communities and create a more just world for everyone.

“God calls us to love with all that we are and all that we have and to love our neighbors as
ourselves. Justice is one of the most important ways to show love to our neighbors,” Felton said. “There
are so many forms of advocacy we can engage in across the Fellowship, and I can’t wait to explore them
together.

“I am interested in hearing and learning about the issues and needs in each of our communities and
seeing how we can work together to create beloved community for all,” she said. “Great work is already
being done, and I look forward to connecting congregations and groups so that we can learn from one
another.”

Brian Foreman, CBF’s Coordinator for Congregational Ministries, said Felton will be a substantial
resource for congregations engaging in advocacy work at the various levels churches are called to
participate.

“CBF’s commitment to advocacy has been shown in all the ways we have encouraged, trained and
demonstrated strategies in which congregations can be involved,” Foreman said. “With Sharon’s
addition to the staff, CBF is demonstrating an even stronger commitment to resourcing congregations
around issues of importance to their calling around justice and ministry issues, both locally and
nationally.”

CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley commented on the growth of CBF Advocacy and his excitement
about the future.

“Ten years ago, Suzii Paynter and Stephen Reeves cast a compelling vision for the establishment of CBF
Advocacy as a necessary extension of the most transformative ministries of our congregations and the
transformative work being done by field personnel around the world,” Baxley said. “In these years,
important initial steps have been taken not only in shared public witness toward policy change but also
in the empowerment of local congregations to be conveners and advocates in their own communities.
Our Toward Bold Faithfulness process several years ago confirmed that a strong sense of calling to the
mission of advocacy and public witness across our Fellowship.

“Today we begin the next season in the growth of CBF Advocacy. I am profoundly grateful that Jennifer
and Sharon are joining our incredible CBF staff. They each have unique gifts, experiences and qualities
that prepare them for the important work we have asked them to do. I look forward to serving with
them and seeing new opportunities for faithful prophetic witness that will come.”

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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.