Pastoral Transition Planning Update

After learning of Mark’s retirement, the Deacons and other church leaders have been in prayer and conversations about next steps in preparing for this transition. These groups are actively putting together plans for what is ahead.  We encourage your prayers as we walk together into these important days in the life of our church.

A Prayer for Healing, Restorative Grace

I am convinced that an invitation to God’s loving embrace and beloved community is first an invitation to love yourself just as you are, imperfections and all. In that sense, the prayer below can be read as a genuine plea on my own behalf for a peace that I am still searching and longing for. It would be much simpler if it were a one-time fix that never changed, but it seems, in my experience at least, to be more of an ebb and flow. There are seasons of deep love, joy, laughter, and comfort riddled with times of deep sorrow, dejection, hopelessness and depression. For that reason, I decided to start the prayer with thankfulness for the beautiful gift of community.

Happy Women’s History Month!

Welcome to Women’s History Month. The month of March is meant to celebrate the successes and struggles of women, (not to be the only time we do so). We’re given this month to dedicate time to highlight the plight of women for gaining our rights, political representation, education, voting, church life, and science. In summation: everywhere.

Christmas Boxes Update

The Women on Mission and Central Baptist recently delivered 125 boxes to the Appalachian Christmas Boxes distribution headquarters at at First Baptist Church in Corbin.

From the CBC Archives – Happy 70th Anniversary, CBC!

Central Baptist Church was organized in November 1953.  Plans for starting a mission originated in 1951 when Central Baptist Hospital was being constructed on South Limestone. Interest flagged then was renewed and on Sunday, November 8, 1953 at 3:00 PM at Trinity Methodist Church on South Limestone, 33 people representing five churches met to make plans for organizing a Baptist Church.

Food Insecurity and How We Can Help

By addressing the root causes of hunger, we will make greater strides to not only nourishing bodies, but also nourishing souls and restoring dignity. No matter your capability or where you find the most joy, there is always a way to help.

Helen Barrett Montgomery: Baptist Leader, Activist, and Academic

Helen Barrett Montgomery (1861–1934) was the first woman to translate the New Testament from Greek into English and have it professionally published as The New Testament in Modern English by the American Baptist Publication Society. In 1899 she was the first woman elected to the Rochester (NY) School Board, twenty years before women secured the right to vote. In 1921 she was elected the first female president of the Northern Baptist Convention (today American Baptist Churches, USA), which also made her the first woman president of any American religious denomination.

Dear Kentucky, Love Our Trans Kids

Last week I found myself in the parking garage of our state capitol waiting on an elevator.  I was carrying a sign I made earlier that morning with a fading kingsize sharpie and pastel crayons.  It read "Love our trans kids," and had a heart with stripes of blue and pink to represent the trans flag.  It had taken a long time to come up with a few simple words.  All the words that initially came to mind weren't appropriate for political discourse.

Seeking Clarity on Amendment 2

The following statement concerning Amendment 2 was written by the ministerial staff of Central Baptist Church and has been endorsed by our deacon body.  We honor our Baptist commitment to the separation of church and state and respect each person's right to vote their conscience.  This statement seeks to clarify the intention and implications of this amendment.

Jim Abernathy to Serve as Interim Choral Director

We are happy to report that Rev. Dr. Jim Abernathy, who has served this fall as our Interim Choral Director, has agreed to extend his Interim work with us through the month of April, 2023.  We are so pleased for his leadership and the wonderful presentations we have enjoyed in worship under his direction with the choir and our accompanist Mark DeAlba.  Don’t forget, the traditional "Lessons and Carols" service will be the Fourth Sunday of Advent on December 18th with special poetry additions from “Remembering That It Happened Once,” edited by Dennis Johnson.  It will be a special time to recognize the choir’s hard work and our continued support of this important ministry of our church.  Thank you Jim (and Cindy) for this added time allowing all of us to continue our working together.