The CMBA Administrative Team, formerly known as the Visionary Leadership Community (VLC), met Tuesday, November 29, at Harmony Baptist Church to conduct business and share ministry updates. Pastor Dan Griffin appeared in CMBA’s Administrative Team Member Spotlight ahead of the meeting.
Of note during the meeting, Associational Missions Strategist (AMS) Jamie Rogers presented a new CMBA organizational concept that will engage Administrative Team members and their individual giftedness moving forward. Members will serve in one of three groups led by the following CMBA Mobilizers: Pastoral Encouragement Group, led by Andre Rogers; Church Health Group, led by David Waganer; and, the Acts 1:8 Missions Group, led by Robbie McAlister. Additionally, a Communications Group will operate at the associational level that will consist of the AMS, Virtual Assistant, and Communications Coordinator.
Rogers explained that the Administrative Team will meet six times in 2023 as a large group, leaving the remaining months during the calendar year open for the individual groups to meet at a time and place of their choosing to further collaborate on CMBA strategies and efforts within their scope. The goal for these groups is to encourage overall health for CMBA pastors and churches, and to actively promote an Acts 1:8 mission, which will also include organizing intentional opportunities for members of the association to partner together locally throughout the year. Group assignments will begin January 2023.
Administrative Team members heard updates to ongoing CMBA work with churches including news of the conclusion of the 18-month Denominee process and church leadership development, and reports on new church plants and missions partnerships working toward the CMBA goal of starting 30 new congregational expressions by 2030. Robbie McAlister reminded the Administrative Team that members of unreached and underreached areas of the world are living in the Midlands, and related opportunities to share the hope of the gospel with those individuals and people groups. The Administrative Team prayed for this need among the CMBA.
Rogers said the pastor’s appreciation luncheon, the first pastoral gathering since Covid, was a “special time.” He reported having met with 15 churches in last month, including with some exploring partnerships, conducting pastor search process training, and others marking important celebrations. Rogers shared about the ColaNetwork prayer initiative for Columbia Metro area highlighted in the November CMBA newsletter, and announced that plans are underway to prayerfully identify an international city that CMBA churches can partner together missionally.
Items of business included voting to affirm Doug Barnett as Treasurer starting January 2023, after current Treasurer Brenda Sheets’ term ends December 31. Members also voted to approve the following individuals to serve on the Administrative Team: Joanie Kirkland, member of Pineview Baptist; Chris Seay, member of North Trenholm Baptist; Phyllis Gutierrez, member of First Baptist Ridgeway; and, Ed Stewart, staff member at Shandon Baptist. Rogers announced individuals for one two-year term and one three-year term are still needed to complete the Administrative Team.
In her role as Treasurer, Sheets reported that CMBA continues to experience strong financial stability.
The team will reconvene on January 17.