KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & WORKSHOP Leaders

PAUL BAXLEY was unanimously elected as the fourth executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in January 2019. He frequently preaches and teaches across the 30-year-old Fellowship as he leads this diverse community that includes nearly 1,400 congregations, thousands of individuals, 19 state and regional organizations, 800-plus chaplains and pastoral counselors, dozens of theological education and ministry partners, and 60-plus field personnel serving in 20 countries.

General Session 1/Worship Leader

Thursday | 3:30 p.m.

BROOKE BEASLEY has been a member of First Baptist Church in Clayton for over 30 years. She has a passion for building relationships both in her career in IT sales and as a Mission Friends leader in her church. She believes that change happens through connection. Connection to our God, connection to each other, connection through shared experiences. She and her husband Ryan are proud parents to their 3 rescue pups and 9 month old baby boy, Ciarán.

Workshop – Why Investing in Healthy Congregational Relationships = Flourishing

Friday | 10:15 a.m.

SARAH BLACKWELL is a contributing writer for Word&Way and a 2020 graduate of the Gardner-Webb School of Divinity. She teaches in the religion department at Wingate University and is an active member at Providence Baptist, Charlotte. She is the author of God is Here, a new illustrated spiritual formation book for children based on encountering God in nature.

Workshop – Why Investing in Healthy Congregational Relationships = Flourishing

Friday | 10:15 a.m.

BECKY BRYANT is a retired high school biology teacher. She and her husband have been members at Ardmore Baptist Church for over 30 years where she enjoys singing in the choir, leading in Sunday Bible study, serving on various committees and leading an All Together Ardmore walking group.

Workshop – Why Investing in Healthy Congregational Relationships = Flourishing

Friday | 10:15 a.m.

EILEEN CAMPBELL-REED (she/hers) is visiting associate professor of pastoral theology and care at Union Theological Seminary, New York City. She is co-director of the Learning Pastoral Imagination Project (a national, ecumenical, longitudinal study of ministry), founder and host of Three-Minute Ministry Mentor (weekly video, blog and podcast), and author of Pastoral Imagination (2021) and the #PandemicPastoring Report (2022).

Workshop – Collaboration for Clergy and Lay Leaders in a New Era of Ministry

Friday | 1:15 p.m.