CBF Ministry Networks are a great place for you to connect.
Are you looking to connect around your passion or practice? Do you want to become better at what you "do"? Do you wish you could find a community of support and encouragement? Do you need a place to turn with your questions on ministry?
CBF Ministry Networks exist to provide support, encouragement, resources and conversation around similar passions and practices. Networks vary in size, commitment, gathering times and obligations. See more information about each network below.
Don't see a network that you feel called to join? Contact CBF Communications if you have suggestions for new networks or want to help facilitate a network.
CBF YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORK
Purpose
The CBF Youth Ministry Network exists to support, encourage, and challenge those serving God and youth among the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We are a group of professional ministers and others who are called to work with youth and who relate to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We are serving God from coast to coast within the United States, and we advocate for young people - both in our communities and around the world. The CBF Youth Ministry Initiatives include:
- Networking Youth Workers across the Fellowship
- Membership for Individuals, Congregations, and Partnering Organizations
- Youth Ministry Resource Management and Development
- Youth Worker Advocacy
Leadership and Contact Information
Chris Cherry, President
CBF CHILDREN'S MINISTRY NETWORK
Purpose
The CBF Children's MInistry Network exists to connect individuals who offer ministry to preschoolers, children and their families. The network currently has an active presence in a closed group on Facebook. It also meets annually at ChurchWorks! Conference.
Connect to the network on Facebook
Learn more on the Children's Ministry Network website.
Leadership and Contact Information
Robin Priddy, CBFCMN Co-President
Brittany McDonald Null, CBFCMN Co-President
cbfcmnetwork@gmail.com
COLLEGIATE MINISTRY NETWORK
Purpose
This network exists to connect college ministers within CBF life and to help them form community and resource one another. The network connects at state and regional meetings of CBF.
Connect with the network on Facebook
Leadership and Contact Information
Devita Parnell, CBF Young Baptist Ecosystem Director
828-293-5138
PEER LEARNING GROUP CONVENER NETWORK
Purpose
This network exists to connect individuals who serve as conveners of peer learning groups across the Fellowship. Conveners play a crucial role in the ongoing development and sustainability of a peer learning group. As a result, this network provides support and encouragement, offers a regular e-newsletter, and training and fellowship at retreats and the General Assembly.
Leadership and Contact Information
Brian Foreman, Coordinator of Congregational Ministries
704-965-8328
Regional Directors
LA, MS, TX (Region 1) — Fran Patterson, Regional Director
AR, KS, KY, MO, OK, TN, West (Region 2) — Steve Graham, Regional Director
AL, FL, GA, SC (Region 3) — Julie Long, Regional Director
NC, VA, Mid-Atlantic (Region 4) — Layne Smith, Regional Director
AFFIRMING NETWORK
Purpose
The Affirming Network is both historic and profound. It officially acknowledges the place of LGBTQ individuals and their allies within the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s broad community in a capacity never recognized before. This is historic because LGBTQ CBF members and leaders have not been acknowledged officially by CBF within a network and have also not been allowed to speak, lead, or advocate on their behalf at the CBF General Assembly in the past. The Affirming Network will create a foundation from which LGBTQ church members and leaders can speak to their own unique experiences and advocate for full inclusion at CBF’s national level but more importantly, at the church level. This is where true heart-changing occurs because within churches, folk develop relationships with each other that erodes the “us and them” mentality of hetero-exclusivism.
The mission of the Affirming Network is multi-faceted. Primarily, it will serve as an official group and communal space of affirming CBF churches/leaders including LGBTQ folk and allies. Second, the network will create and sustain an authentic voice and presence of LGBTQ congregants and leaders within the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship who can advocate for and further inclusive policies and denominational goals. Third, the Affirming Network will provide a safe space for new and emerging LGBTQ church leaders who seek mentoring and advice from seasoned pastors who are fully open and affirming.
Connect with the network on Facebook
Leadership and Contact Information
Derek Henson
CBF ADVOCACY NETWORK
Purpose
A core commitment of CBF Advocacy is to connect advocates in CBF life to one another for the benefit of shared information and strategy as well as mutual support. CBF Advocacy is seeking to formalize the CBF Advocacy Network through the recognition of the Ministries Council.
The CBF Advocacy Network will:
• Host a gathering at ChurchWorks
• Host a breakfast at General Assembly
• Create and utilize a new database of active advocates in CBF life for sharing information
• Create a network on social media that connects CBF advocates with one another
• Share advocacy opportunities through the work of CBF partners
Growing the CBF Advocacy Network will be a primary focus of CBF Advocacy. If you might know of potential advocates within the Fellowship’s midst, please share their names with us. Stay tuned to the CBFblog and CBF social media for periodic updates from the CBF Advocacy Network.
Learn more on the Advocacy page
Leadership and Contact Information
Stephen Reeves
770-220-1606
CBF MISSION LEADERS NETWORK
Purpose
CBF Mission Leaders Network is an interactive community of individuals, organizations and global churches united by the passion of creating beloved community, bearing witness to Jesus Christ, and seeking transformational development through: creating community around best mission practices, fostering cultures of mission engagement in congregations, coordinating endeavors and resources when possible, and birthing specific networks around topics and field teams.
This network connects Minister of Missions, Lay Church Leaders, State and Regional Associate Coordinators, Missions Council, Women’s Mission Groups, and Mission Animators from around the country.
Connect with the network on Facebook
Leadership and Contact Information
Ellen Sechrest
770-220-1611
CBF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP NETWORK
Purpose
The CBF Environmental Stewardship Network Initiatives include:
- Provide a resource hub for the CBF constituency to share information ideas and resources pertaining to creation care and environmental sustainability
- Membership for Individuals, Congregations, and Partnering Organizations
- Establish and implement a set of ‘best practices’ that will guide CBF office and event activities
- Establish a forum for advocacy on matters pertaining to creation care and environmental sustainability
Leadership and Contact Information
Katherine Smith
POLYPHONY
Polyphony aims to nurture church musicians in their ministry and in their well-being so they thrive wherever God calls them. Polyphony was born from a meeting of church musicians in Atlanta in 2007 who were looking for a place to call home musically, liturgically and spiritually.
Leadership and Contact Information
Doug Haney