ATLANTA (ABP) — Carolyn Anderson, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida since 2003, has announced her plans to retire Jan. 1.
Anderson's announcement came at the June 22 CBF of Florida meeting during the Fellowship's annual general assembly in Atlanta. Candace McKibben, the Florida group's moderator, will appoint a search committee.
Anderson, whose age was not immediately available, was elected to the position three years ago to succeed her husband, who took a position with the national CBF.
In her retirement speech, Anderson recounted the goals she made in the early 1990s for CBF of Florida, which is based in Lakeland. Each goal — from creating youth networks, surviving budget cuts and reactivating disaster-response teams — has been met or nearly met, she said.
Anderson later told Associated Baptist Press that working at CBF Florida brought her “much joy and fulfillment,” although she set the goals “knowing that there would come a day when I would pass the leadership role on to another.”
“The board and I have worked hard over the last three-plus years, and we have achieved almost every goal, so I truly feel good about the CBF Florida in every way. I feel that this is a good time for me to retire,” she said. She also told the Atlanta audience that the Florida organization was healthy and “ready for new ventures.”
“I feel good about CBF in Florida and look forward with you to what lies ahead,” she said. “CBF Florida is no longer a child. We are maturing.”
After her retirement, Anderson plans to spend more time with her husband and family.
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