By 1996, the fellowship had 1,400 churches and was still affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.[6] In 1998, it began ordaining chaplains.[7]
In 2002, it officially left the Southern Baptist Convention and became a member of the Baptist World Alliance.[8] By 2018, the Kentucky Baptist Convention within the Southern Baptist Convention proceeded with the excommunication of churches having a dual affiliation with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, due to a relaxation allowing hiring of non-executive LGBT staff.[9]
Map of 18/19 of the Regional and State organizations affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
There are CBF-affiliated churches in 43 out of the 50 states.[12] Alongside the national CBF, there are 19 state and regional organizations that are affiliated with CBF and help provide churches with local resources.[13][14] As of 2015, it has 1 affiliated theological institute, the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.[15]
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, like the Southern Baptist Convention from which it split, does not enforce particular beliefs upon congregations, as is congruent with traditional Baptist theology. The fellowship's "understanding of Baptist faith and practice is expressed by [their] emphasis on freedom in biblical interpretation and congregational governance, the participation of women and men in all aspects of church leadership and Christian ministry, and religious liberty for all people."[16] The CBF also ascribes to the "Four Fragile Freedoms" as developed in The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms by Walter Shurden. CBF interprets these freedoms as: soul freedom, Bible freedom, church freedom, and religious freedom.[16]
Affirmation of women in ministry was one of the founding principles of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.[17] Most CBF members agree that both men and women may be ordained as ministers or deacons and serve as pastors of churches.[18]
On social issues, the CBF does not issue position statements. CBF members agree that as it is a fellowship of autonomous churches, issuing statements would be beyond its purpose. It does have an organizational policy on homosexual behavior.[19] However, CBF policies are not binding on individual congregations which make their own decisions regarding any issue; neither can a congregation be excluded from the CBF for disagreeing with core values or policies. In 2016, the CBF co-sponsored a conference on sexuality and initiated the "'Illumination Project' approved by the Governing Board (formerly the Coordinating Council) to develop models for the Fellowship community to air differences not only about the hiring ban but also other hot-button issues dividing churches, denominations and society". In 2018, the Affirming Network for full LGBTQ inclusion and affirmation was founded. [20]
^"Cooperative Baptist Fellowship – NBCA". Retrieved 2023-04-30. This partnership affords NBCA to engage in multi- racial experiences of worship, fellowship, disaster relief, educational advancement and healthy dialogue that brings about oneness in the body of Christ. Local member NBCA and CBF churches develop stronger ties for the work they embark upon together to the Glory of God.
