Every Friday, Baptist Women in Ministry introduces an amazing minister, and today we are pleased to introduce Phyllis Boozer.
Tell us about your current ministry role?
I serve as the coordinator for the Baptist Fellowship Northeast (BFN), one of the eighteen states and regions for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. BFN covers nine states from Pennsylvania to Maine. I have served in this role now for three years, accepting the position when the previous coordinators retired. I have no official job description, but I feel my most important role is to communicate with the churches and individuals in the Northeast to keep everyone in the loop as to what is happening in CBF and in the Northeast and to support the churches and individuals through prayer, visits, phone calls, and email communications. Another of my tasks is planning our fall retreat and spring general assembly. One aspect that has been very rewarding this year is supporting two new church starts that we have here in the Northeast.
Tell us some about your journey to your current place of leadership of Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast?
My journey as a servant leader began about thirty years ago when I was first elected as a deacon in my church. In those days, it was a bit controversial to have a female deacon, and being a deacon was not something that I had sought or even thought about. But one of the church staff members told me that he thought is was time for us to have a female deacon, and he thought it was a perfect role for me. As I prayed about this, it became clear that God was leading me in that direction, and I felt affirmed in this role. I have served as a deacon since that time, and as the chair for a number of terms. When the opportunity was presented to me to serve as BFN coordinator, my first response was, “but I am not seminary trained,” which did not seem to be a concern for those who asked me to serve. I accepted, and the rest is history!
Who have been sources of inspiration for you along the way?
Both of my parents were leaders in our church and role models of service for me. When I was elected as a deacon, I received notes from several of the individuals from the church where I grew up, affirming my selection. There have been pastors and staff in my current church who have encouraged me to step out and assume leadership roles. And of course, many of my CBF family have shown me what it means to be the presence of Christ in the world. I treasure these relationships.
What have been some of the best moments, the highlights, of your leadership of BFN?
The relationships I have made with the people in our region, both pastors, staff, and lay leaders, give me hope and inspiration. I feel like so many in the CBF leadership are like family to me, and I look forward to times we have to be together. A highlight for me was the opportunity to attend the Baptist World Alliance in South Africa this past summer. I have also been a part of a group who represents CBF, in partner with BWA, at the United Nations. The idea of forming together has become a clear focus for me as I journey together with CBF and our partners.