CBF makes plans to double support for BWA

ATLANTA — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s (CBF) contribution to the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) will increase from $20,000 to $40,000 next year if participants at the CBF general assembly adopt the $16 million budget approved by the CBF Coordinating Council Feb. 20.

The additional funds would make a slight dent in an anticipated funding gap for the BWA. Southern Baptist Convention messengers in June are expected to cut the final $300,000 in SBC funding for the worldwide fellowship of Baptists. The CBF’s election to membership in BWA last year is considered a primary reason for the SBC’s planned defunding and withdrawal from BWA.

The proposed 2004–2005 budget of $16,008,123 is equal to the Fellowship’s modified spending plan in place for 2003–04. The staff and CBF council reduced the current budget because of a shortfall in 2003. Finance committee member Nelson Rodriguez of Fort Worth, Texas, said revenues for the current year are expected to come in at $348,000 under the revised plan. He described the proposed 2004–2005 budget as “conservative.”