ATLANTA – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council implemented a structure designed to address new strategic priorities that emerged from the Fellowship-wide 2008-2009 discernment process.
Breaking into collaborative groups around the priorities of Engaging Missionally; Honoring Race, Gender and Generations; and Interacting with the World Community, the Council members were challenged to address the priorities in their local churches while they helped CBF address them globally.
“I thought it was a good meeting,” said Hal Bass, CBF Moderator, “as we tried to build the agenda around our new structure, and I thought it went well. I detected a strong sense of engagement with the broad initiatives and priorities as well as the specific ministries of the Fellowship.”
After a year of closely monitoring its finances, the Fellowship reported finishing the fiscal year Sept. 30 with revenues of $12.9 million, 78 percent of projections, the national Coordinating Council learned at its meeting Oct. 22-23 at First Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga.
Larry Hurst, the Fellowship’s controller, reported that expenses as of the end of August were $12.3 million, or 81 percent of the projections. Final expenditure numbers for the fiscal year including September were not yet available.
“This time last year, the economy was in a free fall and none of us knew when the bottom would eventually hit,” said Colleen Burroughs, Finance Committee chair. “By March, the Resource Center implemented a financial contingency plan and has managed to work within an 80 percent budget. They have done an amazing job.”
She then challenged the churches of the Fellowship to honor the commitments they made 20 years ago when they came together to launch CBF.
“I am concerned and discouraged at what I am seeing related to local church budgets,” Burroughs said. “Many churches are choosing to borrow from what has traditionally been money designated for cooperative work of the CBF.
“Yes, budgets are tight, but, lead courageously. Challenge your congregations to live uncomfortably. Remind them that they walk alongside a group of people who committed to do something cooperatively 20 years ago. Do not borrow from that commitment.
“If you do, you borrow from an investment in young ministers. You borrow from injustice in North Africa. You borrow from poverty in Texas and the investments in cooperative work to bring long-term solutions to global poverty. Do not borrow from the commitment we have made together as Fellowship Baptists to offer a thoughtful, global gospel.”
In his executive coordinator’s report, Daniel Vestal identified the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today and the need for a re-awakening to authentic Christian discipleship.
“As I stand before you this morning I want to give witness to a spirit-driven awakening that is happening,” Vestal said. “There is a discontent in churches of the old way of missions. There is a visceral desire for hands-on missions.
“My deep conviction is that the wind of God’s spirit is blowing within this movement that is the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. I see the General Assembly in Charlotte and in Tampa as significant opportunities for us to reflect on our past and project our future.”
The Council heard reports on the following:
- Bo Prosser, the Fellowship’s coordinator for congregational formation, introduced the Council to the You’ve Got The Time, an initiative to enlist all partnering congregations in a Bible listening program next year. The Fellowship is offering a free MP3 New Testament to every person in a partner church and others who support the work of the Fellowship who agrees to engage in listening to God’s word. The Fellowship is asking churches to designate a 40-day period during 2010 to participate in this transformational ministry.
- An update on the 2010 General Assembly, to be held June 24-25 in Charlotte, N.C., was given by Connie McNeill, the Fellowship’s coordinator of administration. The theme for this year’s event is “And so we are,” based on 1 John 3:1. This will be the 20th General Assembly for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Bill Leonard, dean of the Wake Forest School of Divinity, and Lauren Winner, professor of Christian spirituality at Duke Divinity School.
- An update on the recent global missions strategic visioning process included an overview of the four priorities that have emerged ‒ innovative models for missional engagement in the 21st century; focus on ministries affecting justice reconciliation; ministries affecting the most neglected; and empowerment, involvement and encouragement of local leadership through ministry training.
- The Finance Committee approved a 5 percent administrative fee that will be applied to designated gifts, with the exceptions of gifts for field personnel funding, the CBF Offering for Global Missions and CBF state and regional organizations.
- Don Durham, president of the CBF Foundation, reported that the Fellowship’s investments had rebounded and now totaled approximately $16 million under management with the Foundation. Overall, the Foundation’s investments had recovered and now are at a more than $30 million.
- Keith Herron, chair of the personnel committee, presented a statement of affirmation related to one of the priorities: “The personnel committee affirms CBF’s efforts to honor, race, gender and generations and encourages the continuation of this focus in all operational areas for the on-going health of the organization.”
The next meeting of the CBF Coordinating Council will be February 18-19, 2010, at First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
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