Alabama CBF adopts ‘guiding statements’

The atmosphere at this year’s Cooperative Baptist Fellow­ship (CBF) meeting was one of anticipation as members gathered at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church Nov. 18.

The cause of interest was the presentation of the proposed guiding statements, made during the afternoon business session. The guiding statements were developed — along with a new mission statement — by the Alabama CBF coordinating council during a September operational planning session.

Mart Gray, executive director of Alabama CBF, said, “This is an exciting time in the life of Alabama CBF.” Referring to the organization’s long-range plans he said, “These statements are a big step in focusing our goals.

“We are on the verge of doing lots of things to change the life of Alabama CBF,” he said, noting the starting of churches and the encouragement of bivocational pastors.

The guiding statements included vision and value statements, major initiatives and strategic priorities for the coming year. They were presented by moderator Mike Oliver of Jacksonville’s First Baptist Church, Williams, who, after sharing a brief history of the Alabama CBF’s origins, told members, “We’ve come a long way in five years.”

Reciting the new mission statement Oliver said, “The mission of Alabama CBF is, ‘helping Alabama Christians and churches work together in missions and ministry.’”

Oliver told the audience of almost 300 people that the proposed guiding statements were the result of a cumulative effort following a prayerful weekend retreat attended by planning committee members.

He outlined each of the areas beginning with the vision declaration that stated: “We will become or be a help to churches as they achieve a balanced strategy for missions engagement in local and global contexts; a peer learning and mentoring network for ministerial staff and laity; a catalyst to start and support eight missional churches related to CBF by 2008; a national model for faith-based action in the area of rural poverty through Sowing Seeds of Hope; a growing community and fellowship among our partners and friends through 12 Alabama CBF ambassadors; a leadership development and missions engagement facilitator for students and young adults; and a recognized force for transformation in Alabama.”

The value statements outlined were: “We value the works and words of Jesus Christ; the discernment of the local church in discovering and fulfilling its God-given mission; the cooperative pursuit of Kingdom goals with CBF partners and friends; the promotion and celebration of the relevance of historic Baptist freedoms in the 21st century; the creative diversity among ­churches and individuals; the integrity of our Baptist witness in Alabama; the perspectives, insights and commitment of each generation; and the opportunity to live and share the good news of Jesus Christ alongside other Kingdom-minded groups and individuals.”

Oliver noted that the major initiatives for Alabama CBF were: partnership missions, leadership development and support, communication and connection and faith formation.

He said the strategic priorities targeted for the coming year are:

• The communication of identity and strategies;

• Structuring, delegating, planning and implementing a strategic plan;

• The involvement of leadership and youth development;

• Church starts;

• Partnership missions such as the Sowing Seeds of Hope project.

Oliver said the implementation of the operational planning will last through the spring of 2003.

The theme for this year’s meeting was The Road Less Traveled and the meeting’s focus was on congregational ministry with students and young adults.

The meeting began with a presentation by Bill O’Brien, adjunct professor in Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School and co-director of BellMitra Associates. O’Brien presented a world view of Christianity and the domino effect that missions can have on a global basis.

The evening session focused on the importance of guiding and ministering to college and young adults.

Testimonies were given by Samford students — Lauren Jones, a member of Southside Baptist Church, Birmingham, and John Anderson, a member of Baptist Church of the Covenant, Birmingham — who described their conversion experiences, future missions and ministry goals.