CPFI is supported by the prayer, membership contributions, and gifts of members and friends around the world. To date, the Fellowship has succeeded in establishing the first viable network of Christian pharmacists of most denominational persuasions. Members are representative of a broad range of Christian denominations including Baptist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Methodist, Pentecostal, Mennonite, and nondenominational churches. 

Conception

The beginnings of CPFI can be traced to informal gatherings at several national pharmacy meetings starting in the late 1970s. Founder Warren Weaver spearheaded a luncheon in 1978 at the Virginia Pharmaceutical Association. This was followed by a coffee in 1979 at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy meeting and a prayer group at the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists in 1981 in New Orleans. From the mailing list of attendees at these early meetings, a core group was formed.

Birth

The Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) was officially incorporated as a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation in the State of Virginia in 1984. Charter members of the first board meeting that was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1984 were Warren Hall, Roger Lapp, Joel Oliver, Kay Lasley, Harry Smith, Mark Wright, and Warren Weaver. In 1985, Robert Recobs was elected as the first president, Warren Weaver as executive director/treasurer, and Harry Smith as the author of the bylaws and procedures.

Growth

• The first annual meeting of the fellowship was in 1988 in Orlando, Florida and there has been an annual meeting every year.
• The CPFI newsletter, the Faith Script was started as a quarterly in 1984. Roger Lapp was the first editor, followed by James Thompson in 1990, Norma Robinson in 1999, and Mary Ferrill in 2004.
• CPFI founded the journal Christianity and Pharmacy in 1996 with Harvey Whitney as the editor. Norma Robinson took over editorial responsibility in 1998 and Mary Ferrill followed in 2004.
• Student chapters began early are now there are a large number of active student groups.
• Prayer breakfasts and related functions have been held at the annual meetings of many state associations including Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
• CPFI has met, often as prayer breakfasts or luncheons, in connection with national meetings of the APhA, AAPS, AACP, NARD, ASHP, and ACCP

We welcome the help of our members in identifying and recruiting members and others who are interested in our purposes. The Vice President of CPFI, as a By-law requirement, chairs the Committee on Membership. If you are available to assist in this activity, please contact us and offer your assistance.

The ByLaws that govern our operations are available for those interested in seeing them: CPFI Bylaws (revised 2014) .