By Lauren Lamb

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has selected Meg Rooney, student at Candler School of Theology, and Jordann McMahan, student at Truett Seminary, as the 2024 Vestal Scholars. 

The Fellowship’s most prestigious scholarship, named in honor of former CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal and his wife, Earlene, was created in 2011 to further CBF’s commitment to theological education. The annual scholarship is a foundational element in the Fellowship’s focus on nurturing young Baptists. Recipients of the Vestal Scholarship will have demonstrated academic excellence and displayed a deep commitment to the local church and to CBF. 

Meg Rooney is a third-year student at Candler School of Theology at Emory in Atlanta, and serves with CBF as a freelance copywriter. She has been an intern with CBF in communications and marketing since September 2022. Rooney has a Bachelor of Writing from James Madison University. 

“During my undergraduate time at James Madison University, I had the opportunity to write an honors thesis, which talked about the interconnectedness of language and theology,” said Rooney about her work. “Women have either been granted or denied access to their calling based on language. Through that undergraduate thesis I realized I could not continue writing about women in ministry without being a woman in ministry myself.”  

Jordann McMahan is a third-year student at George W. Truett Theology School at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She has a Bachelor of Arts in in Philosophy at Old Dominion University. She has served as a residential chaplain since January 2023, caring for over 700 Baylor students. “This job in particular has been preparing me for congregational ministry, as I am involved in pastoral care for students every day in so many different seasons of their lives.”  

McMahan has interned with Baptist Women in Ministry. “This has been such an encouragement and such a wonderful opportunity,” she said. “I get to see and hear about the ways other women have overcome obstacles in pursuing their ministry.”  

A committee of CBF’s Ministries Council selected the two scholars. They will be recognized at the upcoming CBF General Assembly, June 19-21, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Learn more and register for free at www.cbf.net/assembly. 

The CBF Foundation stewards the long-term growth of the Daniel and Earlene Vestal Leadership Scholar Endowment Fund. We invite you to leave a legacy of Baptist leaders for future generations by making a bequest gift in your will towards the fund. You can also have an immediate impact by making a gift towards the fund here.  Contact Shauw Chin Capps at scapps@cbf.net for further assistance.   

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The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 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. Learn more at www.cbf.net.