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fellowship!
Inside CBF
April/May 2007
fellowship
Roundup
CBF leaders participate in national Christian event
Leaders from the Fellowship met with leaders from 35 churches and organizations at the annual meeting of Christian Churches Together (CCT) in Pasadena, Calif. The 2007 meeting focused on evangelism and poverty. “CCT is the broadest ecumenical experiment ever attempted in this country,” said Fellowship Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal. “It represents a desire for Christian unity that doesn’t compromise the integrity of any of the participating bodies, but creates a way for us as Christians to draw closer to one another in Christ and explore ways for us to share a common witness to the nation.”
Carter, Clinton meet with Baptist leaders
approved two changes to the bylaws. The first change involves the recognition of the newly-created CBF Midwest region, and the second amends the process for appointing members of the Council on Endorsement for chaplains and pastoral counselors. The budget and bylaw change must be voted on by the General Assembly in June.
Web-based service to assist with job placement CBF has launched Leader ConnectCBF, a Web-based, résumé-matching service that will help churches find prospective ministers and ministers find places of service. On the Web site, candidates can complete a profile and submit a résumé, and churches can submit position descriptions. Leader Connect-CBF will match qualified candidates with open positions, but CBF staff will continue to review all information submitted. To learn more about Leader Connect, go to www.
Billy Howard photo
Leaders of 40 Baptist organizations, including CBF, convened in January and announced plans for a Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant Jan. 30–Feb. 1, 2008, in Atlanta. Joining in the meeting were former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. “This has been what may turn out to be one of the most historic events, at least in the history of Baptists in this country, and perhaps Christianity,” Carter said. “We Jimmy Carter speaks to Baptist Leaders in Atlanta. believe it will bear fruits.” Plans for the celebration, which is expected to draw more than 20,000 Baptists, grew out of the North American April 13-14 Baptist Covenant, a document signed North Central Region CBF 2007 Spring by Baptist leaders at The Carter Center General Assembly in 2005.
thefellowship.info/involved/network/ Placement.icm.
CBF of Oklahoma acquires new space Through a gift from one of its supporters, CBF of Oklahoma is purchasing a building on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. This building will be home to CBFO, as well as His Nets and Mainstream Baptist of Oklahoma. The building will continue to function as an outreach center for students, meeting place for a new church start and other related activities.
Chaplains endorsed by CBF The following chaplains and pastoral counselors were endorsed at the February meeting of the CBF Council on Endorsement: Dale Cross, Atlanta, Ga.; Carl Hart, Conyers, Ga.; Rosemary Barfield, Louisville, Ky.; Renate Kruklis, Tucker, Ga.; Amanda Ducksworth, Atlanta, Ga.; Larry Lawhon, Winchester, Va.; Cal McIver, Sacramento, Calif.; Rommel Moye, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Gary Sparks, Tyler, Texas; Michael Ferguson, Calypso, N.C.; Justin Murphy, Shelby, N.C.; John Halbrook, New York, N.Y.; Caby Byrne, Memphis, Tenn.; Gretchen Watson, Frankfort, Ky.
Upcoming Events
Coordinating Council approves $16.48 million budget The CBF Coordinating Council approved the recommended $16.48 million budget for 2007-2008 at its February meeting. The Council also
Vol. 17, No. 2 Coordinator • Daniel Vestal Coordinator, Fellowship Advancement • Ben McDade Editor • Lance Wallace managing Editor • Patricia Heys Associate Editor • Carla Wynn Phone • (770) 220-1600 Fax • (770) 220-1685 E-Mail • fellowship@thefellowship.info Web Site • www.thefellowship.info
fellowship! is published 6 times a year in Sept./ Oct., Special I (Oct.), Nov./Dec., Feb./Mar., Apr./May, Special II (July) by The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Inc., 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, GA 303414115. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. USPS #015-625 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “fellowship!” Newsletter, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145-0329
Speedway Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Ind. Info: northcentralcbf.com
April 16 “Growing Generous Churches, Growing Generous Christians” Religious Life Center, Mercer University, Macon, Ga. Info: www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/ conferences/index.htm. April 20-21 CBF of Arkansas 2007 Spring Conference Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark. Info: www.cbfar.org Alabama CBF 2007 General Assembly Birmingham, Ala. Info: www.alabamacbf.org Kentucky Baptist Fellowship 2007 General Assembly Winchester, Ky. Info: www.kybf.org April 21 Tennessee CBF 2007 General Assembly Signal Mountain Baptist Church, Signal Mtn, Tenn. Info: www.Tncbf.org April 27-28 CBF of Missouri 2007 General Assembly First Baptist Church, Lee’s Summit, Mo. Info: www.cbfmo.org
April 27-28 CBF of SC 2007 General Assembly First Baptist Church, Clemson, S.C. Info: www.cbfofsc.org May 4-5 Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast 2007 General Assembly Sabattus, Maine Info: www.thefellowship.info/Inside%20CBF/ NE.icm May 10-11 Emerging Church Conference Yates Baptist Church, Durham, N.C. Info: www.cbfnc.org May 21 - 25 Festival of Homiletics, Transformational Preaching Nashville, Tenn. Info: www.festivalofhomiletics.com JunE 28-29 2007 CBF General Assembly Washington, D.C. Info: www.thefellowship.info/involved/events/ generalassembly.icm July 29 - Aug 3 CBF Boot Camp for Church Starts Truett Seminary at Baylor University, Waco, Texas Info: dking@thefellowship.info
coordinator Words from the By CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal
The Baptist Witness Baptists are a minority within the Body of Christ, but we are a significant minority. For 400 years we have fulfilled an important role of witness, dissent and ministry. Ours is a noble tradition shaped by people of faith in Jesus Christ. Our evangelical fervor has concentrated on helping people to Christ. However, we have often acted as if we were the only authentic Christians. We have often lived in isolation from other believers with little interest in ecumenical efforts. Our real passion was growing our own church and denomination. One of the encouraging signs among missional Baptists is a desire to be authentic disciples of Christ, above all else. I see a genuine yearning for Christian spirituality, community and mission. However, we should not minimize the commitment to the convictions that make us Baptist. Now more than ever, we need to be unapologetic about our identity. We hold convictions, although not exclusively of freedom, autonomy and the voluntary principle. It was easier for Baptists to advocate for religious freedom when we were a minority in this country. Now that we are part of the religious establishment, it is more difficult to be as fierce in our advocacy. I am disturbed when I listen to the struggles of Muslims in the U.S. Where are the Baptist voices championing the rights of Muslims? Where are the Baptists befriending this religious minority? And why are Baptists silent in the midst of a loud drum beat from the religious right calling for prayer in public schools, the display of the Ten Commandments on government property and school vouchers for Christian education? Why are so many Baptist congregations buying into the phenomenon where the pastor is more like a CEO than a shepherd and the church is more like a corporation than a fellowship? What happened to the believer’s church or congregational polity? So I do not want to relinquish the centrality of our Christian commitment or our convictions as Baptists. I realize that in Glory there will not be any denominational distinctions between us, but we are not in Glory yet. We are on earth. So for now, I am not willing to give up my identity as a Christian or as a Baptist.
C o o p e r at i v e B a p t i st F e l l o wsh i p