VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 1/23/14)—Rev. Yvonne Carter has been unanimously called to serve as the new Executive Minister for the Cleveland Baptist Association (CBA) by the region’s board. Carter comes to the CBA from a role serving in the Missional Life and Leadership Division of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS). Most recently, Rev. Carter has served as a ministry partner with the ABHMS office of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministries with responsibilities for relationship building and networking.
“I am deeply grateful for the call to lead the ongoing ministry and mission of the Cleveland Baptist Association of American Baptist Churches,” said Carter. “I am excited about seeing the 39 cooperating congregations of the Association pursue the tremendous opportunity that exists for collaborative and cooperative ministry and missional outreach throughout the Greater Cleveland area, while coming together to strengthen the ministry of the local churches and deepen our relationships with Christ and with one other.”
Rev. Carter comes to this position following a long affiliation with the CBA, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Department of Christian Education. She also served as director of the Youth Empowerment Project, the region’s youth at risk intervention program, from 1997-2000.
“We are excited about having the opportunity to share the gifts and graces of Rev. Carter with the Cleveland Baptist Association. ABHMS will continue to benefit from her ministry as she performs vital mission assignments with us. Yvonne has the skills and servant spirit to perform both these roles extremely well,” said Dr. Aidsand Wright-Riggins III, executive director of ABHMS.
In 2001, Rev. Carter joined the ABC national staff to serve as a Partner in Discipleship Ministry with the former Educational Ministries. Carter has held several positions with ABHMS, including Managing Director of Event Development. In that capacity she was responsible for implementing the National Black Church Education Conferences in 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2009, as well as providing oversight and direction for the 2008 and 2012 National Gatherings of American Baptist Youth.
Before entering ministry, she spent years working in the corporate and non-profit sectors. Rev. Carter was licensed to ministry in 1995 by Grace Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary in 1998 with the Master of Arts degree in Christian Education and was ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1998 by the CBA. She is currently enrolled at Ashland in the D. Min program with a focus on Transformational Leadership.
“I am excited about the new opportunities for the CBA that this calling will bring,” said C. Jeff Woods, ABCUSA associate general secretary for Regional Ministries. “Rev. Carter is well respected in the ABC as well as the Cleveland area. Along with the search committee and region board, I am greatly celebrating this news.”
Rev. Carter will assume the role of Executive Minister of CBA on February 1, 2014.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.