CBFGA Search/ImportantAnnouncement
Executive Coordinator Search Team Announcement/Press Release
A word from the Search Team Chair & Past-Moderator
The Executive Coordinator Search Team (Caitlin Brown, Ron McClung, Bill Neal, Wendy Peacock, Matt Sapp, and Sarah Timmerman) is thrilled to recommend Ruth Perkins Lee as our next Executive Coordinator at CBFGA. We are grateful to all the gifted candidates we interviewed over the last few months. Ruth consistently impressed us with her organizational knowledge, visionary thinking, and theological grounding. She understands the challenges and opportunities of our churches and will be an encouragement to our congregations. Ruth has spunk and it flows from her deep love of Jesus Christ! She loves church people and will enjoy getting to know you. Please join me in praying for and welcoming, Ruth, to CBFGA.
Chris George Pastor Smoke Rise Baptist Church
Ruth Perkins Lee is a gifted communicator who combines a deep love for the local church with a passionate commitment to foster connections and engage in meaningful shared life and ministry. She will serve as an able visionary leader for the CBFGA, helping to face the challenges ahead. She has both wisdom and wit, so be ready to smile and laugh.
About Ruth
Ruth Perkins Lee is a native Georgian who grew up in Columbus and attended First Baptist. Through the years she has worked in both congregational and denominational positions; ten years at FBC Auburn, AL, and nine at CBF Global. Most recently, Ruth has served as Project Director of the Ministry Collaboratory at Princeton Theological Seminary funded by the Lilly Endowment’s Young Adult Initiative. Ruth is a graduate of Columbus State University (B.A. in Psychology) and Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology (M.Div.). She and her family are active members at Smoke Rise Baptist Church where she teaches adult Sunday School and volunteers with the youth. Her husband, Scott, is a hospital chaplain and they have two daughters, Dora and Abby Kate. Together they enjoy storytelling and laughing!
Comments from Search Team Members
“I am looking forward to working with Ruth Perkins Lee as the next executive coordinator for CBFGA. Ruth brings great experience, vision and calling to this role that excite me about the future of our state’s CBF. Her love of our churches and thoughtful care for how we approach our communal calling was evident in every conversation.”
“Ruth Perkins Lee was raised in a Christian home and exhibited her strong faith commitment at an early age. Ruth is well educated in Baptist theology, has great experience in a variety of ministries, exhibits a personable presence, and shows a genuine love for others. She will be a strong leader and spokesperson for CBF of Georgia!”
“Ruth is a gifted leader who will be able to dream alongside us about what the future holds for CBF of Georgia. Her strategic thinking and pastoral heart will serve us well as we navigate the changing landscape of church life in the 21st century.”
“We had superb candidates to apply – Ruth offered a strategic plan to help us determine and enhance the engagement level of churches and individuals across our state as we move forward to a new chapter in CBFGA life. Her passion, energy, and preparation make her a logical choice to lead our organization at this time. I was impressed by her theological depth, her laity and clergy background, and her personal experience in some of our strongest CBF churches.”
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia Announces Ruth Perkins Lee as New Executive Coordinator
[Georgia, July 17, 2025] — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia (CBFGA) is proud to announce the unanimous confirmation of Ruth Perkins Lee as its next Executive Coordinator. After a thorough and prayerful search process, the Executive Coordinator Search Team — comprised of Caitlin Brown, Ron McClung, Bill Neal, Wendy Peacock, Matt Sapp, and Sarah Timmerman — recommended Ruth for this vital leadership role.
Ruth Perkins Lee brings to CBFGA a wealth of experience, spiritual depth, and visionary leadership. With a background that spans both congregational and denominational ministry, Ruth has consistently impressed with her theological grounding, strategic thinking, and unwavering love for the church. Her appointment marks a new chapter of encouragement, innovation, and hope for the churches and individuals across Georgia connected to the CBFGA network.
“Ruth understands the challenges and opportunities our churches face today and will be a great encouragement to our congregations,” the Search Team shared. “She brings both energy and wisdom, paired with a joyful spirit rooted in her deep love for Jesus Christ and the local church.”
Ruth is no stranger to the CBF community. She previously served for nine years at CBF Global and most recently held the role of Project Director of the Ministry Collaboratory at Princeton Theological Seminary, a Lilly Endowment-funded initiative focused on young adult ministry innovation. She also served for a decade at First Baptist Church of Auburn, Alabama. Ruth is a graduate of Columbus State University (B.A., Psychology) and Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology (M.Div.).
A Georgia native raised in Columbus and a long-time advocate for vibrant local church ministry, Ruth now lives in the Atlanta area with her husband, Scott, a hospital chaplain, and their two daughters, Dora and Abby Kate. They are active members of Smoke Rise Baptist Church, where Ruth teaches adult Sunday School and volunteers with the youth.
Please join us in welcoming Ruth Perkins Lee to her new role as Executive Coordinator of CBF of Georgia. We invite your prayers and support as we look forward to a hopeful and Spirit-led future together.