A recap of the Mid-Atlantic CBF’s November Council Meeting
The Coordinating Council for the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (MACBF) met on Saturday, November 16, at Montgomery Hills Baptist Church. The primary goal of the meeting was to begin envisioning what MACBF can become as we embrace our God-given potential in an ever-changing world.
The Council reviewed the Mission Statement and Description outlined in the by-laws, reflecting on whether updates might better communicate our identity and calling. Discussions also focused on three key statements defining our work: Care for Clergy, Connect Congregations, and Engage in Mission. There was a strong consensus that these statements effectively capture MACBF's purpose and focus.
Building on goals and priorities discussed in previous meetings, Moderator Doug Shenton and Executive Coordinator Sean Roberds facilitated a visioning exercise. Council members were invited to imagine and articulate what MACBF could look like in five years. They then shared over three dozen statements, which were displayed on the walls for review.
Common themes emerged, including a desire for stronger connections across MACBF, support for local missions, care for the marginalized, clergy well-being, community engagement, and innovation in ministry. Executive Coordinator Sean Roberds noted the positive energy and abundance of creative ideas for moving forward.
The Council agreed on the importance of identifying a set of Aspirations, somewhat like core values, to guide MACBF over the next few years. Simultaneously, they emphasized strengthening existing teams by ensuring adequate participation and encouraging each team to set clear goals for the coming year.
If you are interested in serving on one of MACBF's teams, please email Sean Roberds at macbf1994@gmail.com.
MACBF Teams
Clergy Care Team
The Clergy Care Team helps the Executive Coordinator plan and run the annual Clergy/Chaplains retreat. The team also works to provide clergy educational events such as our clergy lunches, and peer learning groups. The team strives to make and maintain pastoral connections throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Congregational Connection Team
The Congregational Connection Team works to provide connections between churches in the Mid-Atlantic so we can live into our motto, “We are Better Together.” The team oversees the MACBF Scholarship, plans lay leader training events and works to provide avenues where churches can learn and grow from each other.
Mission Engagement Team
The Mission Engagement Team works to support our CBF mission partners and engage congregations with local mission work. The team oversees the Bill George/Patricia Bolinger Mission Fund and plans Mid-Atlantic mission events such as the 2025 US border trip.
Administration Team
The Administration Team is responsible for all the administrative tasks in the organization such as preparing the budget, recommendations for personnel policies and our MACBF By-Laws. The team serves as the nomination committee for the coordinating council.
Annual Meeting Planning Team
Each year we form a team to help plan our Annual Meeting, held in early spring.