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Do We Need Each Other?

Ever wonder why your church is part of an Association? While we may question the enduring value of that denominational structure there is a superb reason Associations came into being back in the 1600s. Local churches needed encouragement and relationship with other local churches even while retaining their "local church autonomy."

20th Century Baptists became more focused on "efficiency" than on "relationship" and the understanding of Associations altered. It became easier (more efficient) to relate to bureaucracy than cultivate relationships.

Fellowship Baptists are about the 21st Century. A strategic opportunity is to rediscover the best of our past. Churches relating to churches. Pastors relating to pastors. Laity learning from laity in other churches.

  • The explosive growth of CBF-endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors has stirred a desire to network within this region.
  • A peer learning group for children’s ministers is being considered. Thanks to the CBF’s Initiative for Ministerial Excellence these networks are encouraged.
  • Pastor peer learning groups throughout Missouri — led by Steve Graham (Second-Liberty), Doyle Sager (First-Jefferson City), and Dean Stewart (Webster Groves-St. Louis) — include more than 30 pastors, meeting monthly to encourage, learn, and pray for one another. They retreat together at Windermere in September.
  • Recently a peer learning group for women in ministry started in the Kansas City area.
  • emerge has brought together 7 young leaders for four in-depth leadership development sessions at Windermere. How can this be replicated?

Fellowship Baptists are re-capturing that earlier Baptist strength of relationship with others. We are creating networks of relationships among peers rather than a top-down denominational pyramid.

CBF of Missouri Advisory Group: Soon you will receive an invitation to spend the day with Daniel Vestal on Friday, October 5. We will have plenty of time to dialogue with him about what is happening throughout the Fellowship. You will find encouragement for our shared understanding of the Christian faith by being with others on October 5. Kevin Payne, pastor of Salem Avenue in Rolla, is leading this event. One crucial goal of the Advisory Group — to strengthen the relationships of Baptists.

Finally: I hope to see you at the General Assembly! Each facet of that weekend offers something of value. Bring a friend with you.

  

 

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Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri
5 East Kansas Street     Liberty, Missouri 64068
Phone: 816.415.0009     Fax: 816.736.0122     Email:info@cbfmo.org

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