It formed in 1991 as a moderate Baptist fellowship for congregations and individuals who chose not to remain aligned with the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship was organized in Atlanta in 1991 during the controversy within the Southern Baptist Convention. It supports congregations, global missions personnel, and theological education while affirming Baptist freedoms including the priesthood of all believers and local church autonomy. It is a fellowship of churches and individuals rather than a convention exercising authority over congregations.
Sources
Primary
- Constitution and Bylaws of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Secondary
- Walter B. Shurden, The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms