We have the first announcement for President of the SBC. I first saw the announcement on Twitter. Dr. Johnny Hunt is one that I follow and he retweeted both the Florida Baptist Witness report and the Baptist Press reporting of the announcement. Does that mean that Dr. Hunt is endorsing Dr. Wright? I do not know, as it could merely mean that Dr. Hunt was just passing along information. The announcement can be found in the Florida Baptist Witness. What is interesting in the story is the following paragraph:
The church reported it gave $1,420,441 through the Cooperative Program, but actually half, $710,220.50, was given through the Georgia Baptist Convention CP and half was given directly to the International Mission Board, according to Joe Shadden, Johnson Ferry’s finance manager.
Here we find the first report of societal giving being acknowledged within a convention that expresses commitment to the Cooperative Program. Praise God that Johnson Ferry gave over $700k to the IMB. But, the way the above paragraph is worded is the very reason that the 1925 convention adopted the Cooperative Program.
Tim,
I find your highlighted paragraph troubling. However, I find this sentence even more troubling… “Shadden told the Witness during the 2009 budget year Johnson Ferry reduced CP and IMB gifts from 5 percent to 3.5 percent each as part of an overall budget reduction in response to the economic recession.”
The great thing about percentages is that they automatically adjust with total gifts, even in a recession!
Tim,
This announcement celebrates the so-called Great Commission Giving designation even before it has been formally approved. While the church gives 17% toward all missions causes, the Cooperative Program giving percentage as currently defined by the SBC is only 3.5%.
Personally, I believe a Southern Baptist Convention Presidential candidate whose church gives 17% toward all missions causes should set the example by giving 10% of those resources through traditional Cooperative Program channels while still allowing the additional 7% to be directly designated or used for short term mission trips and other endeavors, however the congregation wishes to designate the “above ten percent” amount.
Of course, they are autonomous, as is my vote. To put it simply, leaders should do what we want everyone else to do. Do we really want everyone else giving 3.5% through traditional CP channels?
Brother Joe,
You make an excellent point. Percentage giving is “recession proof” as it is based on funds coming into the general fund.
Brother Rick,
Your point is well taken. Our leaders are to set the example. But, let me also add that CP giving is not a mantra to prove how much of a Southern Baptist a church is. But, if we begin speaking about overall mission giving then I believe most churches will be in the 10-25% range. The church I pastor gives 12% of our undesignated funds as a total missions budget, That does not count Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong as we receive offerings above and beyond our tithes for those offerings. 6% of that missions budget goes to CP. As a Southern Baptist I lead our church to support Southern Baptist missions before we support other mission opportunities.
Blessings,
Tim
Tim,
Your point is also well taken, although I prefer the term “method” to “mantra” when it comes to describing Ten Percent Cooperative Program advocacy. The term “mantra” is just slightly pejorative to me, suggesting an almost brainwashed and mindless repetition. In contrast, my position is principled and clear thinking. Churches are free to do as they wish, and no church is disqualified as a “real” Southern Baptist Church if they fail to do it, but when our churches freely and autonomously gave closer to 10% through traditional CP channels, we did not have this missions funding crisis. What would happen if that Ten Percent CP Giving “method” resurged? We might be able to call it a Great Commission Resurgence.
I believe that Dr. Wright is one that I would enjoy being around. By his record, he would be a good speaker for our next evangelism conference. His ability to lead a handful of folks to several thousand deserves our respect and should be commended. The trouble I have is that I could say those things about several men who are not in the SBC.
I serve in Montana. I have challenged the church I serve to increase the Cooperative Program percentage it sends on. (We also have a growing budget that increases those percentages.) This year the church gave more to LM than the last five years combined. At a time I have challenged them to eventually move to 10% to Cooperative Program, some will question why our President dose not come close to that.
When I think of the President of the Convention, I think of someone who stands for all the things that make us distinctively Southern Baptist.
Steve in Montana
Brother Steve,
You make a great point. Leading a church in Montana to increase to 10% then supporting a president that led his church to cut their giving to 3.5% would hinder your leadership.
Blessings,
Tim
Tim, no offense, but I don’t think 6% to CP is that great, nor do I think it qualifies you to talk about someone else’s lack of giving. Again, this is not meant to be adversarial. I just assumed that you would be giving more to the CP given how you seem to rail against those that you deem as not giving enough.
Brother Adam,
No offense taken. Remember, I am not running for anything. Also, one should always take into account the situation each pastor finds themselves. I will celebrate one year with my current church at the end of this month. The church was recovering from a split and had to rearrange their budget. They did not have any pastoral leadership when they rearranged their budget and they cut the vital missions budget in order to find funds. Thus, they cut from 10% CP to 6%. I am in the process of bringing that % back to the 10% level, but you do not do something like that in the first year. You have to build up change before you make change.
As for me “railing” against others that I perceive are not giving enough. Could you give me an example of what you are referencing?
Blessings,
Tim