A Note on Joining the Work of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

This is a letter I wrote and read to the church on Sunday morning of this week (9/22/24)

Greetings,
 
Last week, we had the privilege of hearing from Glen Foster, Executive Coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship West, the Western regional association of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF).
 
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) is an organization that exists to support churches and their leaders. It is structured much like American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains (ABCRM), with which this church has a long-standing affiliation.
 
At the July Church Board meeting, I presented a proposal for consideration, to become a part of not only ABCRM but also CBF. This proposal was approved. 
 
ABCRM and CBF are two organizations that provide congregational and clergy support. This church has a very long-standing history with ABCRM, and I have a long-standing ministerial relationship with CBF. CBF subsidized my seminary education, the first church to call me as associate pastor was a CBF church, and I am endorsed as a chaplain through CBF.
 
All that this affiliation with CBF means is that we get an extra layer of support as a congregation, and I have access to clergy support initiatives like pastor peer groups, book clubs, and retreats, to nurture my own spirituality and faith while I join in helping you to nurture yours.
 
It does not mean that we are becoming a different church, or merging with any other churches, or getting a new name. It just means that we are a part of a group of churches that are on CBF’s radar – they will check in with us from time to time, ask us how they can be supportive, and come and visit us from time to time. It’s a good thing.
 
Just like Steve Van Ostran and Rodney Perry visit us from time to time just to check in on behalf of ABCRM, staff from CBF and CBF West will check in with us from time to time, simply to be there for us, fellowship with us, and encourage us as we seek to be the people God has called us to be and do the work that God has called us to do.
 
I hope this helps to clarify any confusion, and I hope that you will be as blessed by CBF’s support of the Church at Eaton, as I have been blessed by their support of ministers all over the country and the world.
Blessings,
-Pastor Sara -