The CMBA Visionary Leadership Community (VLC) met at Spring Valley Baptist to conduct business and share ministry updates on Tuesday, October 19.
VLC members heard Team Huddle reports from its subgroups regarding ongoing work with CMBA churches through Our One Priority to “start and strengthen congregations to serve as vital and vibrant missional communities.” These targeted ministry areas included engaging leading-edge missional churches, an update on the church planting cohort, CMBA’s participation in the Denominee Journey, the opening of Alice Drive Baptist’s new campus and celebrating the 26 CMBA churches that have submitted their data for the Annual Church Profile.
Moderator James “J” Thompson, pastor of Cedar Creek Baptist, presented the VLC with a motion to establish a bylaws revision team comprised of five members and two alternates to review CMBA’s current constitution, turning it into a bylaws document that is in keeping with the South Carolina Non-Profit Act. The recommendation further states that Robert Grant, a CMBA independent contractor well-versed in Baptist bylaws creation and procedures, would serve with the team. The moderator, as dictated by the current constitution, will appoint the team which will be representative of the CMBA Family of Churches.
The VLC was reminded that the constitution has not had significant updating in more than 20 years. The CMBA officers have expressed a desire that the newly-proposed bylaws say what should be “essential for the appropriate operation of CMBA, but not be so detailed that the agile functioning of CMBA is hindered.” VLC adopted the recommendation, which includes a January 2022 anticipated start date for this team to begin work.
In other news, the following 2022 officers elected during the Annual Meeting were presented: Craig Bailey, moderator; Freddy Johnson, vice moderator; Cookie Adams, clerk; and, Brenda Sheets, treasurer. Ryan Dupree is serving as the new chair of the Executive Director Search Committee, which anticipates issuing a call for recommendations in the coming weeks.
VLC members voted to approve recommendations for new members to the 2022 VLC and will continue working to identify three additional individuals to complete the group.
Treasurer Brenda Sheets reported on CMBA’s continued financial stability during the meeting.
VLC will reconvene November 16.