Por CBF Communications
In June 2025, Cooperative Baptists voted to elect Jason Callahan to serve as CBF Moderator-Elect for CBF in 2025-2026. Callahan previously served two terms on the CBF Governing Board from 2015-2021, including chairing the Finance Committee.
On Thursday, June 18, Callahan will assume the role of CBF Moderator, the Fellowship’s highest-ranking officer, succeeding Tanya Parks, former Slovakia-based field personnel and co-pastor of University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Check out our Q&A with Callahan to learn more about him below.
Tell us a little about your story. Where did you grow up, how was your faith formed and what drew you toward business and executive leadership?
I grew up as a military brat. My father flew F-4 fighter jets for the U.S. Air Force, so our family moved frequently. I lived in Alabama, Germany, California, England and Nevada before graduating from high school in Las Vegas and heading to Baylor University.
My faith was shaped primarily by my mother, who was the spiritual leader in our home. She made sure church was a central part of our lives, and I was deeply involved in church and youth ministry growing up. Going through confirmation in the Methodist Church helped me begin taking ownership of my faith and understand what it means to follow Christ.
My interest in business and leadership was influenced by my father as well. After retiring from the Air Force, he became a chief financial officer and seeing his transition into the business world inspired me to pursue a similar path. After graduating from Baylor, I earned my MBA from the University of North Texas and began a career focused on helping organizations grow, adapt and thrive through periods of transformation.
How did you first become connected with CBF, and when did this Fellowship begin to feel like home?
After graduating from Baylor, my wife, Emily Callahan, and I moved to Dallas. We married in 2001 and joined Wilshire Baptist Church, where we quickly became involved in the life of the congregation. We spent many years teaching 10th-grade Sunday school and used our summer vacations to serve at youth camps.
Through our involvement at Wilshire, we built lasting friendships with church staff, including several pastoral residents, who first introduced us to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. When we later moved to Memphis and joined First Baptist Church Memphis, we found another welcoming CBF community and developed close friendships that deepened our connection to the Fellowship. Through these relationships, we came to appreciate CBF’s commitment to local churches, meaningful faith formation and ministry done in partnership with others. Over time, CBF became much more than a network we were connected to—it became a family and a place we could truly call home.
You are stepping into this role as a layperson. What does lay leadership mean to you, and what do you hope other lay leaders across CBF hear in your service as Moderator?
Lay leadership is a reminder that God calls all of us to serve and to use the gifts, talents and experiences He has entrusted to us. Ministry is not limited to those who serve in vocational church leadership. Every follower of Christ has a role to play in advancing God’s mission.
Throughout my career, I have worked with high-growth organizations undergoing significant transformation. That experience has taught me how to build teams, navigate change and help organizations execute their strategies effectively. As Moderator, I hope to bring that perspective to CBF while encouraging other lay leaders to recognize that their professional experiences can be valuable tools for Kingdom work. God can use each of us, wherever we are called to serve.
You previously served on the CBF Governing Board and chaired its Finance Committee. What did that season teach you about the breadth of CBF—including its churches, ministries, partnerships and challenges?
My previous service on the Governing Board coincided with several significant transitions in the life of CBF. Those experiences taught me that while our churches and leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and traditions, we are united by a shared belief in a living, grace-filled God who calls us to work together for the common good.
I also gained a deeper appreciation for the breadth of CBF’s ministries and partnerships. From local congregations to global missions and advocacy efforts, I saw firsthand the impact of our collective ministry. Most importantly, I learned that CBF is resilient. We have faced challenges, embraced change and continued to move forward faithfully because of our commitment to Christ and one another.
As you begin this role, what would you like churches and friends across CBF to know about your heart for the Fellowship, and how can they pray for you?
I have a deep desire to serve CBF and help our churches and ministries fulfill their calling. My heart is especially drawn to supporting congregations and ministries that seek to love, serve and advocate for those who are often overlooked or underrepresented.
I would appreciate prayers for wisdom, humility and discernment as I step into this role. Pray that I will listen well, lead faithfully and help strengthen the relationships that make our Fellowship such a unique and effective expression of God’s work in the world.
What gives you hope about CBF’s future, and what brings you joy in this season of life?
What gives me hope is the opportunity for transformation, growth and impact. CBF occupies an important space in the Christian landscape, offering a model of ministry that combines faithfulness, collaboration and a commitment to serving others. Through local and global missions, advocacy, leadership development and church engagement, CBF is helping people experience the love of Christ in meaningful ways.
I am excited about the opportunity to expand our impact, strengthen existing ministries, develop both clergy and lay leaders and invite new individuals and congregations into the Fellowship. Seeing lives transformed and communities strengthened through the work of God’s people brings me tremendous joy and optimism for the future of CBF.
Explore all the videos, blogs and resources from the 2026 General Assembly here.
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Led by the love of Christ, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship invites churches and individuals to partner in transforming God’s world, working together as a global community to spread good news, justice and hope through impactful ministries, missions and resources.