Alabama Baptist messengers overwhelmingly approved a $43 million Cooperative Program (CP) base budget for 2012 during the state convention annual meeting in Mobile on Nov. 15. They also increased special offering goals, approved a new missions partnership strategy and honored several Alabama Baptist pastors and churches for outstanding efforts and giving.
The new budget reflects a shift to 43 percent of the budget going to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), up from 42.5 percent — a difference of $215,000.
The $215,000 difference came from reductions in funds allocated to Samford University, The Baptist Foundation of Alabama, the Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers and the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
Messengers also approved a $700,000 SBC causes/state causes budget and a $1 million challenge budget that, if reached, will be divided 50–50 between the state convention and the SBC.
“Every dollar (of the $1 million challenge budget) will be allocated on the 50–50 formula,” said Lawrence Phipps, chairman of the SBOM, as he presented the budget to messengers.
The 2012 budget is a reduction from recent years and reflects the state of the economy. It is a little more than the 2006 budget, a little less than the 2007 budget and is the same as the 2011 budget. But so far this year, Alabama Baptist giving is 6.7 percent below budget needs and is a little over 2 percent below giving at the same point a year ago.
The only concern over the 2012 budget voiced from the floor came from Ron Madison, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville.
“I am a strong Alabama Baptist supporter, pastor of a church giving significantly to the Cooperative Program and all special offerings,” he said. “I’m standing here as a matter of conscience, registering concern in light of what has been said.
“Alabama Baptists continue to lead (the SBC in CP giving), not from a position of wealth but from a position of conviction. … Now we are at a time when … our state has significant needs, we are moving into a different kind of relationship with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and where dollars that have been coming back here are going to go away and some of that impact is being felt already,” Madison said. “I register a concern that we do not … endanger the health and well-being of our missions work here by setting a pattern that we will obligate ourselves to in the future. I’m not speaking against the budget. I’m just registering a concern … (and) request our leadership to reveal this on a yearly basis [to] ensure we do not mortgage the missions and ministries only we are responsible for.”
Also approved by messengers were the special offering goals for 2012:
• Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) for International Missions — $11,600,000
• Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) for North American Missions — $6,100,000
• Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries Offering — $2,600,000
• World Hunger Offering — $800,000
• Disaster Relief Offering — $200,000
The Disaster Relief Offering also was approved to become a new annual emphasis for Alabama Baptists, similar to the LMCO and AAEO.
The other new item approved was a strategic partnership strategy called Alabama Acts 1:8 Connections to be developed for implementation in January 2013.
“This strategy will focus on connecting IMB (International Mission Board) and NAMB missionaries from Alabama with other Alabama Baptists,” according to the Book of Reports. This partnership will involve local churches and associations, as well as the SBOM. “It is a major part of the overall FutureFocus for Great Commission Ministries Task Force Report to be given at the 2012 state convention meeting in Montgomery.”
Awards and recognitions given were
Troy L. Morrison Awards for Leadership and Church Health
• New Church Work — Kevin Castleberry, pastor of Celebration Baptist Church, Semmes
• Bivocational Work — James “Jim” O’Neal, interim pastor of Chatom Baptist Church
• Established Work — Kevin Blackwell, pastor of Valley Creek Baptist Church, Hueytown
After presenting the awards, Morrison said, “I’d like to commend these men for being selected to receive these awards. Leadership requires responsibilities. Jesus said whosoever wishes to become great among you must become your servant. … Leadership is not something we pursue but something that is given by the Lord. … I commend these men for exercising the traits of humility, which leads to greatness.”
Top CP givers
• Most CP per resident member — First Baptist Church, Monroeville, with $389.14 per resident member. Micah Gandy is pastor.
• Highest CP percentage of undesignated giving — Evergreen Baptist Church, Clayton, with 36.62 percent. Wayne Williams is pastor.
• Most CP dollars given — Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, with $702,282. Danny Wood is pastor.
Missions Volunteer of the Year
• Ken Kelley, a member of Deerfoot Baptist Church, Trussville (see story, page 16)
Messengers also approved the audit of the SBOM, heard a report from the Inter-Baptist Fellowship Committee on challenging believers to live out their faith in Christ and watched a video report from Frank Page, CEO of the SBC Executive Committee.
“Thank you to Alabama Baptists for over $18,100,000 to reach this world for Christ,” he said. We know there is much still to be done. Not everyone has had the opportunity to hear. I challenge you to pray what more could you do. One percent more — would you do that? As we work together, there will be more good things happening for the Kingdom.”
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