By Jeff Huett
DECATUR, Ga. — The Board of Trustees of CBF Church Benefits has selected the former head of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia as its president-elect.
Rob Fox, who currently serves as the vice president of advancement for the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, will begin working alongside retiring Church Benefits President Gary Skeen as president-elect on April 1. Fox will assume the role as president on July 1.
Fox earned a Master of Divinity from BTSR and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mary Washington. He served as pastor of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church from 2003 to 2014 and was endorsed as a CBF Chaplain in June 2014.
Skeen, who announced in January 2017 his plans to retire this summer, is the founding president of CBF’s financial ministry that offers Fortune 500-quality benefits to thousands of ministry professionals.
Skeen has led Church Benefits for the past 17 years and has a long history with CBF spanning three decades. In January, the CBF Church Benefits Board of Trustees, led by Jim Hunter, entered into a succession planning process and a national search to choose Skeen’s successor.
The board expressed its excitement and confidence in the new president-elect.
“We’re so excited to welcome Rob Fox as president-elect of CBF Church Benefits. A familiar face to the CBF family, Rob brings years of experience in developing and nurturing relationships within our Fellowship,” the trustees said. “Also a visionary thinker, Rob brings his own style of creative leadership to CBF Church Benefits as we work to build on the secure foundation set by our founding president, Gary Skeen.”
Fox said he looks forward to growing the ministry impact of CBF Church Benefits.
“As a devoted CBF Church Benefits client and pastoral leader, I have a deep love and appreciation for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and its people. Being entrusted to lead our benefits ministry is a great gift and honor,” Fox said. “I look forward to working closely with our talented CBF Church Benefits board and staff. Together we will grow this ministry to serve a new generation of congregations and partner organizations. CBF Church Benefits will build on our exceptional service that invests in the health and financial wellness of our ministry leaders. “
CBF Church Benefits manages the retirement plans and other benefits for CBF staff, field personnel and churches nationwide, providing a complete set of employee benefit services for ministers and church staff at the local level — from retirement planning services and investment choices, to life and disability coverage, as well as access to experts in health and medical coverage with whom churches may consult.
Assets under management have surpassed the $70-million mark in investments. In consultation with Retirement Wealth Management, CBF Church Benefit’s investment advisor, Church Benefits is able to deliver best in class institutional investments and investment service levels equal to or better than many larger plans.
For more information on CBF Church Benefits, contact Victoria Whatley at [email protected] or 770-220-1638.
Jeff Huett is associate coordinator of communications and advancement for the CBF.
CBF is a Christian Network that helps people put their faith to practice through ministry efforts, global missions and a broad community of support. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.