By CBF Communications The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has named 16 ministers in their “first-call” as CBF Fellows for 2020-2022. These ministers represent the fifth cohort of the CBF Fellows program, an initiative launched in 2012 with support from the Lilly Foundation to assist young clergy in their “first-call” in making a healthy transition from … Continue reading
By Miriam Cho I recently did a podcast episode with my friends at Duke Divinity School about preaching as Asian American and Latina women. In the episode, I reflected on my ongoing journey of finding my voice in preaching. Growing up, I had only seen men preach at church; it would have been scandalous to … Continue reading
For congregations to thrive and Christ’s mission among us to flourish, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has entered a season of discovering where God would focus our work together. Take CBF’s online survey about your church and your personal ministry aspirations before Feb. 2. This devotional is part of a series in January that tells stories of “Bold Faith” … Continue reading
By Rev. Rebecca Caswell-Speight During my sophomore year at Georgetown College, I heard God’s call for me to go into ministry. The call that day is still one of the strongest feelings I have ever experienced. Alone in the in the middle of my dorm room, God spoke to me. I sobbed, I sat and … Continue reading
By Liz Andrasi Deere This year, Wendy Joyner Peacock is celebrating her 24th anniversary as pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Americus, Ga. Wendy likens her role as pastor to that of a symphony director. She describes it as, “helping the congregation to make beautiful music…valuing the gifts that each part of the symphony has … Continue reading
By Jenna Sullivan As I approached the long-awaited event of graduation, I began to reflect on my experience of earning my Master of Divinity. Why did I choose this three-year seminary degree? Why did I choose to sit in classrooms and wrestle with existential questions, theological perspectives and endless discussions with peers? As I remember … Continue reading
In my work as the national CBF’s reference and referral coordinator, I have been pleased (and a tad surprised) to have received requests from three churches in one week who at least say they are open to considering women in their search for a new pastor. This may not sound like big news to many … Continue reading
Courtney Kreuger, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pendleton, SC authored and offers the following hymn for use among churches observing Martha Stearns Marshall Sunday or other women’s emphasis: Continue reading
The following post is from Reid Doster, Coordinator of CBF Louisiana. He also serves as Louisiana’s Disaster Response Coordinator and pastor of Bridgewater Community Church. Rev. Enola Lee, of the Dowey-Gaston A.M.E. Church, Madisonville, knocked on the backdoor of the Bridgewater Church “Friendship House,” at the opposite end of her block. Holding an unlit … Continue reading
In my work with CBF in the area of reference and referral, it can get pretty discouraging for both myself and for women pastors who are seeking places of service. Openness to the whole idea seems to come pretty slowly to our churches. I often hear, “I don’t think our church is ready for that.” Continue reading