By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
CLEVELAND — On April 7 messengers to the Spring Celebration of Bradley Baptist Association voted to change its name to CrossNet Baptist Network. The meeting was the biannual meeting of the association. About 150 messengers and visitors were in attendance.
“We are excited that the messengers approved the recommendation of the new name,” reported Phil Taylor, director of missions, in an e-mail.
The recommendation of the new name was presented by an ad-hoc team which studied the issue for about a year. The team was led by Eric Atkins, pastor, New Friendship Baptist Church, Cleveland.
The team reported that the association which is currently made up of 58 churches, had a name that defined it by the county borders referring to Bradley County but some of its churches were not located in the county and that number was growing.
“For many years we have served churches outside of Bradley County, and the requests by other churches outside our geographic boundaries to join us in our missions work has been increasing,” reported Taylor in writing.
The association as well as its name was developed 60 years ago. The new name dispels that geographic limitation.
The new name also was developed with input from young pastors and millennials, reported Atkins.
“We believe we are living in an era where it is easier and faster to deliver items, communicate with, and serve our partnering churches and that can be done faster,” explained Taylor.
“We also recognize that, unlike traditional scenarios, we are doing ministry in a day where churches want to partner where they see value and partner with many different networks.”
