This past weekend [February 21–22], I experienced a reality that I never anticipated. Someone decided to make a post about our church, First Baptist Church of Albemarle, and very specifically about me. The author of the post clearly stated his disagreement with our church’s belief that women can serve as pastors and preach. To make…
Last October, a group of 13 clergy had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in a spiritual pilgrimage to the sacred Isle of Iona, situated off the western coast of Scotland. The pilgrimage allowed clergy to immerse themselves in the holiness of the “Cradle of Christianity” in the United Kingdom. Each day was filled with meaningful…
Mending the Fracturing Church Invites Congregations to Face Conflict with Courage and Hope Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale’s Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities Releases February 5, 2026 Across the life of the church, many congregations are feeling the pressure of a changing world. Differences across generations, decline…
When Shared Learning Meets Timely Need: Reflections from CBFNC’s Helping Churches Thrive Creative Workshop Retreat In November, more than 120 congregational leaders and clergy from across North Carolina and Virginia gathered for CBFNC’s Helping Churches Thrive Creative Workshop Retreat—two days designed to do one essential thing well: equip churches for the real challenges they are…
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina is one of five partner organizations collaborating with Campbell University in a $10 million grant-funded “Cultivating Cultures of Calling” initiative from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant will support Campbell University Divinity School’s (CUDS) efforts to prepare and support pastoral leaders now and in the future, renewing the communal…
“CBFNC has provided ministries to the Latino community for over two decades and to the broader refugee community for over a decade. We have ‘embraced our neighbors through missions’ in a variety of ways. Now, through the enhanced ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) presence in our state, our brothers and sisters are under threat. They…
Christmas for the Mountains – 2025 Gift Bags for Teens The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina is on a mission to share the love of Christ with teenagers across western North Carolina this Christmas! Join us in filling gift backpacks with supplies and gift cards to bring a little extra joy to their…
Dear CBF North Carolina friends, In the last week, we’ve heard more and more about the ending of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The state of North Carolina is said to have nearly 1.4 million people who depend on SNAP benefits to make nutrition needs meet every month. Of that, roughly 580,000 are children…
Sustainable Care for Hybrid and Shared Ministry Roles As congregations across North Carolina and beyond adopt creative staffing models—ranging from co-vocational pastors to ministers who serve multiple churches or lead in multiple ministry areas—one pressing concern emerges: how do we care for the ministers who carry more? The Church Sustainability Initiative (CSI) has challenged congregations…
New Models of Staff: Rethinking Ministry Roles for a Sustainable Future For many congregations today, one of the most pressing and tender questions is also one of the most personal: What do we do when we can no longer afford a full-time minister? This question surfaces alongside feelings of grief, uncertainty, and even guilt. For…