The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship adopted a downsized budget and elected new leaders during its General Assembly in St. Louis June 24-26.
The 2025-26 budget — which takes effect when CBF’s fiscal year begins Aug. 1 — calls for expenditures of $16,084,521. That’s a reduction of $1,372,682 (7.86%) from the current budget.
Most of the budget reduction will be covered by the decisions of 13 field personnel — the CBF term for missionaries — to take early retirement, an offer funded by an estate gift. The total allocation for CBF Global Missions declined by about $1.1 million, from about $6.9 million to $5.8 million, or 16.2%.
CBF builds its budget on what it calls unrestricted and restricted revenue. Churches and individuals primarily provide unrestricted funding, which arrives without designation. Money from grants, funding agreements, directed contributions from churches and individuals, and the Offering for Global Missions comprise restricted revenue.
Some restricted revenue is spent in the year it arrives, and some may be spent in subsequent years, as directed by donors or the agreements under which the funds were received.
The 2025-26 budget forecasts no increase in restricted revenue “for the first time in more than five years,” according to a statement CBF provided with the budget proposal. “This is because we recognize the uncertainty of the current economic environment. Even as we are planning expanded development efforts this summer and into the next fiscal year, we do not think it is wise to expect increases in purely unrestricted funds.”
Four major cost centers comprise the CBF budget.
- Ministries includes congregational ministries; advocacy and partnerships, which also encompasses state and regional affiliated organizations; support for congregations and their leaders; and initiatives designed to facilitate growth. The 2025-26 Ministries allocation is $5,548,688, an increase of $8,818 (0.16%) over the current budget.
- Global Missions and Relief includes CBF’s comprehensive missions endeavor; chaplaincy; Together for Hope, the rural development coalition; and disaster relief. CBF anticipates spending $5,825,940 on Global Missions and Relief, a decrease of $1,130,867 (16.2%).
- Identity encompasses CBF’s advancement and communications functions, as well as producing the General Assembly. Identity expenses are slated to cost $1,891,484, a decrease of $58,087 (3%).
- Administration includes general office expenses, as well as information systems, governance boards and committees, collaboration with other groups, and administration personnel and support. Expenses for Administration are expected to total $2,818,409, a decline of $192,546 (6.4%).
Jason Callahan
In other business, the Fellowship elected Jason Callahan, a business consultant and former two-term member of the CBF Governing Board, as moderator-elect. Callahan will become moderator, CBF’s highest-elected position, this time next year.
Callahan has been a human resources officer for large corporations and a financial leader for a Fortune 400 company. He co-founded Empowerment Journey Consulting, which supports business transformation and growth, in 2024. A longtime lay leader of First Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., he recently relocated to Oklahoma City, where his wife, Emily, is president of Feed the Children.
In the coming year, Callahan will serve on the CBF Governing Board and work alongside the new moderator, Tanya Parks, co-pastor of University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La. Parks previously served as CBF field personnel in Slovakia with her husband, Jon, who ministers alongside her as co-pastor of their church.
Juan García, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista de Newport News, Va., presided as moderator at this year’s General Assembly.
During a business session, participants also elected 30 members of six CBF groups. They included:
Governing Board
- Carita Brown, a military chaplain and member of Sharon Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md.
- Jason Cogdill, an attorney and member of College Park Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Charles Hamilton, senior pastor of New Morning Light Baptist Church in Conley, Ga.
- Melissa Hatfield, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Mo.
- Megan Scott, a consultant and member of Spring Creek Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, who recently moved to Peoria, Ill.
Missions Council
- Kris Aaron, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Bristol, Va.
- Terri Byrd, mobilization pastor at Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga.
- Jo Kirkendall, a retired health care chaplain from Biloxi, Miss.
- Anna Parish, a ministerial intern at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C.
- Teruco Tynes, a marketing and technology professional and member of Kemp Road Ministries in Nassau, Bahamas
- Janie Wallace, a retired human resources professional and member of Ball Camp Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn.
Ministries Council
- Melissa Bryson Dowling, chaplain of William Jewell College and a member of Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo.
- James Dixon, senior pastor of Greater Faith Baptist Fellowship in Gainesville, Fla.
- Debby Haralson, college director of community engagement at Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.
- D. McDonald, pastor of Emmaus Fellowship in Johnson City, Tenn.
- John Parker, a retired financial adviser and member of First Baptist Church in Middlesboro, Ky.
- Justin Sizemore, associate pastor to youth and young adults at Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.
- Chris Thomas, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Wilson, N.C.
Nominating Committee
- Anyra Cano, director of programs and outreach for Fellowship Southwest and a member of Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo in Fort Worth, Texas
- Josh Hunt, associate coordinator of CBF of South Carolina from Anderson, S.C.
- Kristin McAtee, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Columbia, Mo.
- Natasha Nedrick Adzudzor, minister of discipleship at Central Baptist Church in St. Louis.
- Greg Smith, emeritus CBF field personnel from Carthage, Ark.
- Amy Starr Russell, associate pastor of children and families at First Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C.
- Kyle Tubbs, coordinator of CBF Oklahoma from Norman, Okla.
CBF Council on Endorsement
- Angel Lee, a clinical pastoral education certified educator at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Stephanie McLeskey, university chaplain at Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, N.C.
- Renato Santos, assistant vice president for pastoral services for Baptist Health South Florida in Miami.
CBF Foundation
- Sarah McGregor, director of Cherry Bekaert Advisory and a member of First Baptist Church in Greenville, S.C.
- Ben Winder, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Fla.