Campbell trio lead Cooperative Baptist Fellowship council

Alice Clarke, Todd Blake and Laura Davis now share more than their alma mater. All three assumed or will assume the role of moderator for the Coordinating Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia (CBFVA). As of Sept. 8, the roles of moderator, moderator-elect, and immediate past moderator are held by Campbell graduates.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia celebrates 25 years of connecting free and faithful Baptists in Virginia as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.

The CBFVA Coordinating Council moderator has the responsibility to lead Coordinating Council meetings, provide leadership during the General Assembly, guide staff evaluations and work closely with the CBFVA staff. This role is a three-year commitment: one year as moderator-elect, one year as moderator, and one year as immediate past moderator.

Todd Blake (’15 D.Min.) assumed the helm of the Coordinating Council for the 2017-18 year taking over for Alice Clarke (’02) who served in that role during the current term. Laura Davis (’04 MDiv) will assume the role of moderator-elect.

The Coordinating Council is charged with guiding the work of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Virginia between General Assemblies. Primarily, Council members work with the CBFVA staff to discern priorities and direction for the ministry and serve as a board of directors.

“CBFVA is blessed to have three serving on our Advisory Council this year with Campbell connections,” said Terry Maples, CBFVA field coordinator.

“Each of these brings great gifts to the work of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Virginia as we seek to form together and partner to renew God’s world. We celebrate the investment of graduates from all CBF partner schools in the life and ministry of CBFVA!”

About our alumni:

Dr. Todd Blake received a B.A. (2001), M.Div (2005), and D.Min (2015) from Campbell University. Blake is married to Kimberly Huggins Blake (2004), and together they have two daughters. His family enjoys cheering on the Fighting Camels when they visit central Virginia. He has served as pastor to Madison Heights Baptist Church since 2010 and loves the congregation’s commitment to ministry in the Olde Town neighborhood of Madison Heights, Virginia. Blake appreciates the adaptability and agility of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia and the connection to the broader ministry and mission of CBF-National.

Rev. Alice Cates Clarke serves as the Minister to Youth at Chester Baptist Church in Chester, VA (just south of Richmond, VA). She earned her Master of Divinity degree from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond in 2010, her Master’s in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2008, her undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts from Campbell University in 2002. She was ordained to Christian Ministry at Biltmore Baptist Church in Glen Allen, VA in 2009. Clarke loves reading, board games, and spending time with her husband, Daniel, and daughter, Adderley (born in December 2016).

Laura Davis received an M.Div from Campbell University Divinity School in 2004 along with her husband, Kenny. She is excited that she gets to help people find ways to utilize their passions in service for God through her work as Director of Missions Involvement with Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia. Davis has three children and two dogs, keeping her life full of adventure. She looks forward to furthering the missions footprint of CBFVA!