By Aaron Weaver

February 19, 2024

DECATUR, Ga. — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has named the Rev. Dr. Lynn Brinkley as Pan African Koinonia Field Ministry Coordinator, a position focused on assisting the Pan African Koinonia in fulfilling its purpose to cultivate an increased presence of Black individuals and churches throughout CBF life. As a member of CBF’s Outreach and Growth team, Brinkley will work to invite, empower and equip new and existing members into the Fellowship.

The Pan African Koinonia are members of CBF from the African diaspora, including African Americans, Caribbean, Africans and more. This ministry is committed to providing support for the Pan African community and enhancing the life of the wider CBF network by creating courageous spaces that inspire genuine Christian fellowship, encourage racial and cultural understanding, and cultivate beloved community.

Brinkley has a long history of collaboration with CBF through the local church and its partners. Since 2020, Brinkley has served as Associate Director of Baptist Women in Ministry, where she has been an advocate for all women, bridge builder, caretaker and boundary expander for women seeking their calling and place in ministry. She is also a board member of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC).

Previously, Brinkley served as director of church, alumni and student relations at Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, N.C., where she was on staff for 13 years. In this role, she helped develop a recruitment strategy that effectively increased the number of Black students. Since 2012, Brinkley also served as an adjunct instructor, teaching in both the Divinity School and Christian Studies Department at Campbell University. While serving at Campbell, Brinkley hosted several prominent global and national Black faith leaders, including Dr. Emmanuel McCall during his visit as commissioning service speaker in 2007.

Brinkley has spent the past 20 years connecting with Black clergy, including serving as vice-president of the ministers’ division of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. In October 2023, she was instrumental in securing the leadership to pass a history resolution in support of women in ministry. Throughout her career, Brinkley has invested in building relationships with other historically Black national and regional bodies like Progressive National Baptist Convention and National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference Inc. and Lott Carey to name a few.

She is a graduate of North Carolina State University (B.S.), University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (M.S.), Campbell University Divinity School (M.Div.) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley expressed his enthusiasm for the selection of Brinkley.

“I am incredibly pleased that Dr. Lynn Brinkley is joining our CBF Global staff as field coordinator for the Pan African Koinonia,” Baxley said. “Lynn is a remarkable leader whose gifts, graces and previous experiences uniquely position her to lead our ministries to deeply engage Black congregations and individuals in the life of our Fellowship so that our denominational community can more beautifully reflect the image of God and offer a more powerful witness in this nation and the world. Lynn’s significant leadership in Baptist Women in Ministry, her service at Campbell Divinity School, her volunteer leadership at Baptist Joint Committee and her deep connections with a number of Baptist denominations will all form her leadership in our Fellowship and be a gift to our life together.”

Kasey Jones, CBF Associate Coordinator for Outreach and Growth, echoed Baxley and emphasized Brinkley’s unique qualifications for the position.

“Dr. Lynn Brinkley brings to this position a love for the Black church, a proven track record of increasing Black participation into institutions in which she’s served,” Jones said. “She is certified in diversity, equity and inclusion, and is an educator, preacher and highly relational. I look forward to what the Lord will do in her and through her for and with CBF.”

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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.