By Aaron Weaver
ST. LOUIS—Cultivating belonging was the theme of the Thursday morning business session of the CBF General Assembly in St. Louis as Cooperative Baptists conducted business, heard reports and recognized, honored and blessed retiring field personnel, scholarship and grant recipients and celebrated congregations for mission excellence.
Dream for the Fellowship
In her first remarks as CBF Moderator, Rev. Tanya Parks, shared how her journey–from seminary to field personnel service in Slovakia to pastoring University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La.— has been marked by deep relationships and a growing conviction that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship must continue becoming a space where all people are welcomed and known.
“We are on a beautiful trajectory of diversity and boldness, and I’m so proud to be a part of the leadership in this time,” she said. “The diversity that I witnessed at the Assembly last year in Greensboro was a beautiful stepping stone toward being the kind of fellowship that I believe is possible.”
Parks said the defining work of the Fellowship must be cultivating a sense of true belonging–”not just the ones we like, or the ones that are like us,” she emphasized. She recalled the Roma people in Slovakia who taught her what genuine welcome looks like. “They knew me…they loved me, and my family had a place among them.”
“There are many in our churches, in our Fellowship, and especially in our world that don’t have a place to be known and to be loved,” Parks said. “They don’t feel like they belong. This is our opportunity to create a space for them. To carve out space for them to use their unique gifts and backgrounds to serve and to be served; to love and be loved–to belong.”
“My dream for the Fellowship is that we can be a place that is open to all–not just the ones that we like, or the ones that are like us…Will you join us? May we become a place where all are welcome and all have the opportunity to belong. This is my dream for the Fellowship–that all may know that they are loved by our Creator and that all may know that they belong here. May we use the beautiful gifts we have been given to continue the work that God has given us to do.”
Read and watch a video of the powerful remarks of outgoing CBF Moderator Juan Garcia here.
Honoring Retiring CBF Field Personnel
CBF Global Missions Coordinator Laura Ayala led a moving tribute to 13 retiring CBF Global Missions field personnel, honoring decades of faithful service around the world. “These remarkable individuals have dedicated decades of their lives to answering God’s call, serving with tireless devotion across the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East,” Ayala said. “Their work has been a vessel for something far greater: the love of God revealed through Jesus Christ.”
“Though they are retiring from formal work with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, their ministries are far from over,” Ayala said. “Some have even been lovingly referred to as ‘R.I.N.O.s’—Retired In Name Only—because their passion for God’s mission cannot be contained by titles or roles.”
The following retiring CBF field personnel were recognized: Anna Anderson, Maha Boulos, Chaouki Boulos, Steve Clark, Mary, Lynn Hutchinson, Jenny Jenkins, Karen Morrow, Mary Van Rheenen, Cindy Ruble, Greg Smith, Sue Smith and Marc Wyatt.
Ayala also recognized several field personnel who had previously retired in recent years including Macarena Aldape, LaCount Anderson, Keith Holmes, Mike Hutchinson and Nell Green.
“Each name represents a story of courage, perseverance and faithfulness,” Ayala said. “Each name represents countless prayers, countless hours of service, and countless lives touched by the love of Christ.”
She praised their embodiment of CBF’s mission distinctives—bearing witness to Jesus Christ, cultivating Beloved Community, and seeking transformational development. “Their lives reflect a holistic approach to ministry that aligns with our core values, reminding us of the impact that faithful service can have in the world,” she said.
Following the reading of their names, each retiring field personnel was honored with a stole, presented to them by T and Kathie Thomas, CBF’s first commissioned field personnel. A prayer of gratitude and blessing was offered for their continued journey. “You have shown us what it means to live a life of service to God, and we are forever grateful,” Ayala said. “May God bless you richly in this next chapter of your journey.”
These 13 retiring field personnel are being honored in the upcoming Summer 2025 issue of fellowship! magazine.
2025 Vestal Scholars
Two students were recognized as 2025 Vestal Scholars during the Thursday morning business session. Emily Maples, coordinator of youth and children’s music ministries at Fort Worth’s Broadway Baptist Church and student at Brite Divinity School, and Miguel Ashley Urbaneja, founder of The Re-Church Project and student at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, were honored with CBF’s premier scholarship, established in 2011 in honor of former CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal and his wife, Earlene.
Learn more about the 2025 Vestal Scholars here.
Excellence in Chaplaincy
The 2025 Carl Hart Award for Excellence in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministry was presented to the Reverend Dr. Cecelia Ann Walker. The award is given annually to a CBF-endorsed chaplain or pastoral counselor who exemplifies excellence in ministry in a specialized setting.
Walker serves as Executive Director of Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education at Brookwood Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Ala. She discerned her call to chaplaincy after the death of her husband and the care she received from a hospital chaplain. “Using my experience with disorienting life events is a way that I make what I have been through useful,” she reflected in a video tribute. “I feel honored that God has called me to journey with patients and students in such meaningful and significant ways.”
Chris Towles of the CBF Council of Endorsement joined Renee Owen, CBF’s Director of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling, in honoring Walker.
“Cecelia, you have shown compassionate and skilled spiritual care for patients, families and hospital staff,” Towles said. “Through your calling, you have trained, mentored and coached chaplaincy students for future generations of specialized ministry and provided impactful leadership in the field of professional chaplaincy.”
Watch the video below to learn more about 2025 Carl Hart award recipient Cecelia Walker.
Mission Excellence Awards
CBF Missions Council Chair Isaac Mwase announced the selection of the 2025 recipients of the Mission Excellence Award, given to congregations that have shown outstanding service, creativity, deep partnerships and commitment to CBF.
First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Mo., was recognized for its long-standing commitment to missions both locally and globally. After a fire in 1987, the congregation chose to remain downtown and deepen its presence among neighbors. Their partnerships include a two-decade relationship with a church in Kenya and covenant-based local work supporting unhoused individuals and affordable housing. Following a mission assessment with CBF Global Missions, they focused their energy by forming three-year partnerships with housing organizations in their city and providing $50,000 in financial support.
Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., was honored for its deep engagement with refugees and immigrants through Welcome House Raleigh, as well as its partnership with Together for Hope in McCreary County, Ky. Trinity provides transportation, housing support, meals and invitations into church life for families newly arrived in the U.S., while also traveling multiple times each year to offer children’s programs, home repairs and a Thanksgiving feast in rural Kentucky.
Woodland Church in San Antonio, Texas, centers its mission efforts on advocacy and accompaniment. They offer English as a Second Language classes, immigration legal support and education trips to the U.S.–Mexico border. They also work with CBF field personnel in Macedonia and advocate for environmental stewardship, recognizing the links between climate change, migration and poverty.
First Baptist Church in Asheville, N.C., was celebrated for its extraordinary response to Hurricane Helene. In 2024, the church became a community resource hub, serving over 6,500 people with emergency supplies, food, showers and gasoline. Their relief fund awarded $72,000 in disaster recovery and continues to support volunteer efforts.
These congregations embody mission excellence through faithful innovation and radical compassion. Watch the video below to learn more about the 2025 Mission Excellence Award recipients.
Ministries Council Grants
CBF Ministries Council Chair Kan’Dace Brock announced the 2025 recipients of the Ministries Council grants. The council awarded $20,000 in grants to five congregations with ministries that cultivate belonging.
Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo., will use their grant to fund a program for individuals with intellectual disabilities, offering socialization days with arts and crafts, field trips, life skills classes, physical fitness and spiritual formation. A leadership team will allow participants to shape ideas for activities that appeal to them.
Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., will expand their community food pantry and clothes closet by providing translation devices to better facilitate belonging and relationships. These tools will allow for mutual care and true conversation rather than transactional exchanges.
College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C., will grow their ministries for youth, children and families with a focus on mental health and spirituality. Their Parent Circles program brings together overwhelmed mental health professionals and families seeking care, offering space for unchurched parents to reconnect with faith.
First Baptist Church of Celada in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, will expand their ministries to older adults through physical activities, self-care workshops, technology and financial education and assistance navigating government aid.
Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Ky., will begin a new ministry called the Lemonade Brigade, visiting parks and shelters to serve lemonade and play with children and launching a Wandering Book Club for elementary students to read, serve and play together outside of church.
Student Serve
Dane Jackson, CBF’s Manager for Mission Service, recognized and offered a prayer of blessing for this year’s Student Serve participants–young adults serving through summer and semester-long internships in the United States and around the world. These students are engaged in ministry areas such as student ministry, community engagement, communications and social media, pastoral ministry, development and operations, missions and translation.
“These young adults serve as co-laborers with the Holy Spirit in God’s mission, striving to be Christ-like, innovative, authentic, globally focused, committed to hearing and respective diverse perspectives and to pursuing excellence,” Jackson said.
Thirteen individuals were selected for 2025 and six were represented at General Assembly.
Celebrating Engagement Partners
CBF Global Missions Coordinator Laura Ayala also led a time of celebration recognizing four remarkable CBF Global Missions Engagement Partners that reached significant milestones in ministry. 
“From the very beginning, CBF has encouraged the establishment of 501(c)3 entities by our Global Mission Field Personnel,” Ayala said. “These organizations were envisioned as a way to enhance strategic capacity and open doors to places where traditional mission approaches might face challenges.”
“These ministries are not just organizations—they are the embodiment of God’s love in action,” she added. “They are the result of faithful servants responding to God’s call, often in challenging circumstances and trusting Him to multiply their efforts.”
The first ministry celebrated was Touching Miami with Love, a CBF Legacy Partner marking 30 years of transformative work. “TML was founded by former field personnel Nell and Butch Green and further developed by Global Missions leaders like Jason and Angel Pitman, and Steven Porter,” Ayala said. Under CEO Trina Harris, TML continues to serve Miami’s most vulnerable communities.
LUCHA Ministries, founded by Sue and Greg Smith, was honored for 21 years of service to the Latino community in Fredericksburg, Va., and surrounding areas. “Thousands of Latinos and Latinas have been blessed as volunteers have become the hands and feet of Christ and walk alongside them,” Ayala said.
The Eastern North Carolina Poverty Network, founded by field personnel Anna and LaCount Anderson, was recognized for 12 years of addressing systemic poverty and offering tangible support to those in need.
Grace and Main Urban Farm, celebrating 10 years, was recognized for its work addressing food insecurity through low-cost farming methods and community empowerment in Danville, Va. Ayala praised the ministry for “empowering Danville neighbors—those directly impacted by hunger—to take the lead in shaping decisions that benefit the entire community.”
CBF Foundation Report
CBF Foundation President Shauw Chin Capps shared a report highlighting bold steps taken to support the financial well-being of congregations. Reflecting on the impact of CBF Foundation since eliminating management fees for church accounts in 2022, she shared, “Since the launch of the no-fee model on June 1, 2022, 57 new accounts have been added with $14.3 million in new assets and an additional $7.2 million was added to existing accounts.” Capps added that “$206,251 is going right back into the pockets of our churches each year to make a Gospel impact.”
As of June 2025, the Foundation has welcomed 13 new church partners and created 12 new irrevocable funds totaling $12.3 million in commitments. Capps emphasized that while this model may mean slower organizational growth, “we chose to let our mission lead us.”
A centerpiece of the CBF Foundation’s work has been the Cultivating Generous Congregations (CGC) Cohort, a program launched in partnership with the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving.
“Close to 100 churches have participated in the CGC Cohort since its launch in 2022,” Capps said. The program equips churches to change their culture of giving and stewardship using best practices and data-informed strategies.
Participating churches learn to foster generosity not just as a financial practice, but as an expression of discipleship. “One of the greatest joys of the work of CBF Foundation is supporting our churches to navigate the changing landscape of religious giving,” Capps said. The CGC program is helping churches across the Fellowship develop intentional, sustainable practices for long-term financial health.
“The good news is we do not walk alone,” Capps told attendees. “CBF Foundation is committed to walking alongside you and your churches… Together, we can resource God’s mission with faithfulness and imagination.”
Watch the video below to learn more about the ministry of the CBF Foundation.
Church Benefits Board Report
Church Benefits Board President Rob Fox shared an encouraging report to the General Assembly, highlighting growth, generational shifts, and expanded opportunities for ministers and churches.
“Your benefits are our ministry,” Fox said, describing CBB’s mission to serve ministers, lay employees, churches and non-profits through retirement and insurance benefits.
Fox shared that CBB is “growing stronger and younger,” with the majority of new churches enrolling after recommendations from early-career ministers. “They’re asking insightful questions, building their financial plans and taking advantage of the many incentives and offerings supported by the Financial Wellness Initiative,” he said.
He celebrated courageous congregations making intentional shifts: “Last year alone, we had almost $9 million in assets under management rollover from other church plans to CBB.” With over $150 million in total assets, Fox said that ministers and churches are realizing they have “a better option for their retirement and insurance benefits—and that option is Church Benefits Board.”
CBB is also focused on preparing ministers for retirement with purpose. “Our retired participants remind us that purpose doesn’t expire with a paycheck—it deepens,” Fox said. He emphasized that those who “finish well and continue faithfully light the path ahead with hope.”
Learn more about Church Benefits Board here and watch a video presentation below.
Greetings from Baptist World Alliance
Cooperative Baptists received a video greeting from Dr. Elijah Brown, General Secretary and CEO of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). Speaking from Australia, where the upcoming Baptist World Congress is being hosted, Brown expressed gratitude for CBF’s witness on the global stage.
“CBF, I wanted to take just a moment. I wanted to say thank you,” Brown began. “Earlier this year, Dr. Baxley and I had the opportunity to attend the funeral service for President Jimmy Carter. And it was so good to hear again, at the national level, a Baptist voice pressing for peace and the wellbeing of every community.”
He praised CBF’s advocacy work, noting, “A few weeks ago, it was a joy to travel together with Reverend Kasey Jones to the United Nations, where we advocated together on behalf of racial justice. And in this year, CBF, you have been at the forefront of working on behalf of religious freedom for all in the United States, for the care of refugees and for gospel justice in our country. Thank you.”
Watch the video greeting below.
Business
Cooperative Baptists closed its Thursday morning business session voting to approve the proposed 2025-2026 ministry and missions budget as well as nominees to serve on CBF’s governance bodies, including selecting lay leader and former Governing Board member Jason Callahan to serve as Moderator-Elect in 2025-2026.
Learn more about Callahan and find the list of newly-elected governance members here.
Watch a video below to learn more about the 2025-2026 budget.
Watch the 2025 business session below.