The CBE community showed great courage and faithfulness in 2001! Despite the enormous challenges of a slowing economy, events of September 11 and an ambitious budget, every branch of the ministry grew. We attribute our massive success to God’s faithfulness, your partnership, a new strategic plan and the dedicated CBE staff. Let’s bask in our success of 2001 before asking, “Where shall we go from here?”
CBE’s 2001 strategic plan embraced four key goals: market CBE’s message, popularize the message, promote egalitarian scholarship, and build a financially solid organization. We are thrilled to report significant progress in each.
Market CBE’s Message
CBE has been interviewed by the Associated Press, the Dallas Morning News and Christianity Today, thanks in part to the development of a press kit. Through this greater exposure, as well as ads placed in Christian journals, we saw record numbers attend our 2001 Dallas conference. We’ve also reached new audiences through our redesigned website. Marketing efforts even reach the global community, through CBE materials translated into foreign languages and made available online.
By creating intentional networks, CBE had a presence at the Global Celebration for Women and the Conference for Women in Ministry, where we stocked our table with inspiring books and information. CBE was represented at booths on college and seminary campuses and many other conferences with members and chapters providing additional vision and energy.
Popularize the Message
By providing personal accounts of CBE’s life changing message at our conference, on the Web and in our publications, people learn not only the biblical moorings of CBE, but also how this truth empowers them in daily life. People long to know how their lives will improve as a result of our message. CBE has given our members a chance to demonstrate this.
Promote Egalitarian Scholarship
We continue to forward scholarly efforts. CBE members are completing 35 chapters in a book entitled, “Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy”(IVP 2003). CBE scholars also had a strong presence at academic conferences, such as the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), The American Academy of Religion and the Society for Biblical Literature. One publisher dared to suggest that egalitarians are becoming a silent majority in the evangelical scholarly realm.
Build a Financially Sound Organization
Your dedication to CBE meant that book sales, conference registrations, membership and contributions exceeded budget. And, thanks to you, CBE’s matching funds drive was not matched, but quadrupled! This meant our staff and programs moved forward, we rebuilt our computers and Web site, and strengthened our administrative infrastructures. In 2001 you also donated thousands of dollars of in-kind gifts and hundreds of hours of volunteer time. CBE members were a mighty force, saving us thousands of dollars. What an amazing community we serve!
The Future
Thanks to our faithful God, members and friends like you, and a careful strategic plan, we have the courage to dream boldly in 2002! Through your partnership, prayer and support, we will advance egalitarian scholarship, build a fiscally sound organization and find new ways of marketing and popularizing the message.
Our shared success last year means we’ve already launched 2002 by placing ads in future issues of Christianity Today. Together we will build networks within the evangelical community. Our next marriage conference will be in Portland in September 2002. Our 2003 international conference will be in Orlando, based on the theme “Celebrating the Priesthood of All Believers: Serving Christ as a Global Community.” We invite you to send us your thoughts, concerns and vision for 2002. Our journey together is our great joy.
