“CBF Fellows”
Missions Moment
The CBF Fellows program assists young Baptist clergy in their “first-call” to make a healthy transition from seminary to congregational ministry. CBF Fellows offers these young leaders essential resources to thrive as congregational ministers. A second and equally important goal is for CBF to support and engage each Fellow’s congregation during the cohort, encouraging them as they discern the best way to nurture the minister God has called to serve in their community.
CBF Fellows builds on the foundation laid during the training years of seminary and divinity school to help congregational ministers connect the academic to the practical work of the church. Each two-year cohort receives practical resources through continuing education opportunities which consist of six face-to-face gatherings, peer learning, and guidance between sessions, individual sessions with a trained coach, and learning experiences designed around on-going CBF events. To increase the program’s reach and effectiveness, congregations commit to providing a Minister Encouragement Team for their Fellow. This team provides regular encouragement and stability to the minister, which helps to sustain her or him as a young Congregational minister.