Lead Pastor Jay Thomas opened the meeting with prayer and reminded the congregation of the church’s core mission: to equip our church as a community to reach the Triangle and beyond with the message of Jesus.

Pastor Jay highlighted several key praise reports from the past year:

• Growth in Young Adult Ministries: The year-end college and young adult barbecue saw over 50 attendees, doubling the attendance from the previous year.
• Intentional Discipleship: At least 193 members have been engaged in active, one-on-one mentorship relationships over the past year.
• Baptisms: CHBC celebrated 26 baptisms over the last 12 months, beautifully reflecting the diversity of the Kingdom of God across all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Members also shared personal table testimonies, including highlights from a recent mission trip to Uganda, the ongoing work of the Unity Initiative (bridging the English and Español congregations), and the successful inaugural semester of the Kids' Ministry worship.

Led by Elder Kyle McManamy, the church family took time to pray for and send off transitioning members—including Emma Wrenn (moving to Montreal for a PhD program), Eli and Renee Mayfield (moving to Winston-Salem for graduate school), Nathan Barrier (moving to Raleigh), and the Ruff family (relocating to Michigan for J.W. to step into a Family Pastor role). The church also honored the memory of former CHBC elder David Duddles, who passed away this past year.

The congregation warmly welcomed several new members who have joined the CHBC family since February, representing the Downs & Raleigh, Ephesus Church & Weaver Dairy, Woodcroft & Southpoint, South Chapel Hill & North Chatham, and North Durham & Duke & Hillsborough parishes.

The church extended its deepest gratitude to the officers rolling off their formal leadership roles:

• Michael Carnahan, who served faithfully as Elder Board Secretary for the past six years.
• Meg Howes and Eric North, for their dedicated service as Parish Deacons.

Following the presentation of nominees by Elder Vice Chair Aaron Kirtley, members cast their ballots. The following leadership changes were affirmed:

• Elders: Jay Baas was reaffirmed for a second term, and Silas Martinez and Bruce Rexrode were newly affirmed as Elders.
• Deacons: Barry Beggs, Matt Crook, Betsy Jenswold, TJ Jenswold, and Jill Klemm were elected as Parish Deacons, and Charles Watson was elected as a Resource Deacon.

More about those roles and the men and women currently serving in them can be found here.

Church Treasurer Emily Williams presented the proposed operating budget for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. She thanked the business office for their excellent stewardship, noting that CHBC achieved another clean financial audit and successfully maintained its Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) certification.

Motion Carried: Following a motion by Elder Chair Jay Baas and brief discussion, the membership voted and unanimously adopted the proposed 2026–27 fiscal year budget of $3,130,000.

The full 2026/27 operating budget document and financial primer remain available on the church website for those interested in further details.

The evening concluded with a time of reflection on the calls of our Covenant of Fellowship which every member affirms, focused prayer around our tables for the church’s upcoming ministry goals, and a formal commissioning of all newly appointed and continuing elders and deacons.

Special thanks as always to our ever-capable Events Coordinator, Aprille Aguilar, and the slew of servants who joyfully made the event happen by preparing food, serving food, setting up, cleaning up, preparing materials, and all the other quiet, but potent prayers and tasks fulfilled to make the evening happen, to the glory of God. May He continue to confirm the work of so many hands and hearts in the year to come.

Save the Date: The next CHBC Membership Gathering will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.