Naomi's Notes - 07/08/07
Report from CBF:
Last week, through Immanuel's generosity, I was able to attend the annual gathering of CBF (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) in Washington, D.C. Several important events took place at this year's gathering.
The meeting itself was historic. For one thing, it was presided over by Dr. Emmanuel McCall, Atlanta pastor and the first African-American CBF moderator. [I was in seminary with his daughter, Edie, also a music student, and once hitched a ride from Louisville with their family to visit my folks in Atlanta.]
The CBF gathering also coincided with the annual meeting of American Baptists, USA. On Friday evening, a combined worship service was held, and the first jointly appointed missionaries were commissioned. We celebrated our common Baptist principles of autonomy and freedom in our nation's capital.
During the gathering, CBF leaders formally endorsed the New Baptist Covenant, a broad-based initiative launched by Jimmy Carter and others to improve the image of Baptists in North America, to spread the gospel message and to address social ills.
Over 100 breakout sessions covered many different subjects; several that I attended were inspirational and informative. In the KBF state meeting I learned that only half of the new missionary candidates who completed CBF's extensive application and screening process will actually be appointed, due to lack of funding. That is so disappointing--to be prepared and eager to serve a needy world, only to have your dreams dashed simply because of money. CBF's upcoming budget will be 3.3 percent smaller than before.
The resource fair at CBF is always wonderful, a vast array of institutional booths, books and educational materials on display. I purchased several books on worship and music ministry, as well as one or two to feed my soul. CBF missionaries always set up missions booths where they sell beautiful items created by the indigenous people they serve. [I've found that these make interesting Christmas gifts.] They also set up a gallery of indigenous art - elaborate paintings, tapestries, carvings, pottery - for silent auction. All the proceeds are returned to their people group.
Two events made this assembly unique for me: A grassroots effort has resulted in the formation of the Fellowship of Baptist Pastoral Musicians, a group of music ministers with a mission statement "linking and nurturing church musicians who share a passion for sacred choral and instrumental music, hymnody and the arts." This quickly growing group now has a steering committee, a logo, a data base and an inaugural conference planned for this spring. Our first get-together was a dessert fellowship after Thursday evening's missionary commissioning service.
Our group was also invited by Susan Deal, music minister in Orlando and this year's conference music coordinator, to sing a couple of selections for Friday afternoon's session. One selection was a rather elaborate production as we combined with Mercer University's Children's Choir, a Dallas youth choir, soloist, band and liturgical dancers to present Living Water, a new choral piece.
Every year, I return from CBF with renewed energy - once I recover from excitement and exhaustion - for doing music and worship ministry at Immanuel. The conference is always inspiring and meaningful, and I enjoy renewing friendships with former students and colleagues.
Thank you so much, Immanuel, for allowing me to participate every year.
See you in worship this Sunday -
Naomi