Twenty-one years after fellowship organizers broke away from the Southern Baptist Convention, moderator Colleen Burroughs praised a refusal to "sign on the dotted line" as she offered her final report as moderator. "The neighborhood of networks and partners escape conventional definition," resisting a traditional model of what it means to be a Baptist, she said.

"You refuse to paint your lips red with creeds or wear skinny jean theology that flatters no one and just makes you unable to breathe," Burroughs added, urging young leaders who have no memory of "the holy war" to remember their first name by demonstrating a picture of cooperation.

Described as a network of partner churches and individual Christians, communications director Lance Wallace said the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is not a denomination, has no doctrine and does not make statements of beliefs or take official stances on social issues, according to an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

By the closing night registration had grown to 1,625 fellowship Baptists as Vestal spoke on the meeting theme of "Infinitely More" drawn from Ephesians 3:20-21. He encouraged listeners to "go into the future boldly" as new leadership emerges in "new wineskins." At the close of the final session, participants took communion by intinction in observance of the Lord's Supper.

Earlier in the week, Quaker folk singer Carrie Newcomer offered a concert where Vestal was honored in anticipation of his retirement. Wallace noted, "She helped us grieve Daniel's moving on while giving us hope for the future at the same time."

Of the more than 1,800 partnering congregations, 1,500 are dually affiliated with another Baptist organization and 171 were identified by coordinator search committee chairman George Mason as the "most deeply engaged in CBF" according to affinity markers that include attending general assemblies, endorsing chaplains, giving certain amounts of money, supporting CBF missionaries and sending students to the 15 partnering schools of theology.

A relatively flat $12.4 million operating budget was approved for the fiscal year 2012-2013.

In addition to conversing with pastors of those "engaged" churches about the person to replace Vestal as coordinator, the search committee met with ministry partners, prompting Mason, the pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, to conclude, "We are finding confidence that we will be able to take this next step together."

Officers for the 64-member Coordinating Council include Herron as moderator; Bill McConnell, a partner with Rogers and Morgan, Inc., and member of Central Baptist Church of Bearden in Knoxville, Tenn., as moderator-elect; and Renee Bennett, a marriage and family therapist and member of Highland Hills Baptist in Macon, Ga., continuing as recorder.

CBF commissioned five new field personnel to serve in Haiti, Danville, Va., and Merritt Island. Three new church starters were assigned to Clayton, N.C., Houston and Charlotte, N.C.

"Throughout our history, we have started around 150 new churches," said David King, associate for church planting. "We also partnered with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Baptist General Association of Virginia in an Hispanic initiative to engage over 200 mostly house congregations." The number of field personnel serving in other countries amounts to 132, with five area coordinators located stateside.

In place of the current CBF Coordinating Council, the adopted strategic report provides a governing board, a missions council and a ministries council to develop resources needed by congregations.

Cooperative agreements will be developed between national CBF and state/regional organizations. The plan also calls on the fellowship community to become "increasingly committed to generosity without strings," allowing leaders the freedom to allocate funds necessary to fulfill CBF's mission.

"There's no missing the point we're living in the wrinkle of time between the past and the future, between leaders, between structures, living in the interim, seeking, praying, working and trusting," Herron said, calling the period a preparation to "realign our sights and refocus our energies and rearrange our priorities."

Workshops and partner meetings filled out the schedule over the course of three days. One of the best-attended workshops showcased the products of CBF partner schools as six young preachers, two women and four men, provided the crowd of about 60 people with samples of their style.

Nearby Broadway Baptist Church provided an introduction to Taize, a contemplative style of worship, and Vespers, a reflective service utilizing dimmed lights and candles, silence and ancient prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. Continued...