NAMB’s 2012 budget begins phase out of some funds, will impact state

North American Mission Board (NAMB) trustees approved a $115 million budget for 2012 during their Oct. 17–19 meeting in Philadelphia.

The budget is a 5.4 percent decrease from this year’s $121.5 million budget. NAMB Chief Financial Officer Carlos Ferrer said the budget decrease resulted in part from the transfer of the World Changers/Power Plant missions programs — and associated revenues — from NAMB to LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville. The decrease also reflects a general belt-tightening trend at the entity, which is funded almost entirely by offerings given in Southern Baptist churches.

In his third-quarter financial report to NAMB trustees, Ferrer announced year-to-date total revenues of $101 million, down about 2 percent. But Annie Armstrong Easter Offering revenues are 3.5 percent higher over the same period last year, Ferrer said.

In line with reducing expense, NAMB trustees, following a lengthy discussion, adopted a motion whereby NAMB would phase out — over five years — the entity’s traditional provision of benefits to some missionary personnel who receive less than half their salary from NAMB. Over the years, NAMB has jointly funded many missionaries with state conventions and local associations and covered the cost of health insurance for some.

This will impact 11 missionary personnel in Alabama. Seven have regional and/or statewide assignments and four are in associational missions positions. (BP, TAB contributed)