Proposed budget for 2015 less than current year

For the sixth consecutive year the 2015 annual budget of the Alabama Baptist State Convention will be lower than the previous year. That was the result of action taken by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) on Aug. 15 when they adopted a $40.5 million budget for the coming year. The budget proposal now goes to the Nov. 11–12 annual meeting of the convention for final action.

Bobby DuBois, SBOM associate executive director, explained that in 2008 the annual budget was $46 million. The following year Alabama Baptists kept the same budget goal. But beginning in 2010 the budget goal has been reduced each year.

The 2015 proposed budget is $500,000 below this year’s budget.

DuBois explained that will mean the SBOM will operate on $150,000 less than the current year. The impact of the falling funds is that all program budgets have been reduced, he said. Also no salary adjustments for convention employees will be provided.

DuBois said since 2008 convention employees have had only two salary adjustments, each a 2 percent increase.

The SBOM also has reduced the number of employees from a high of 119 down to 78 and more reductions are anticipated.

‘Mission critical’

The proposed budget does provide support for 10 missionaries serving in Alabama formerly supported, in part, by the North American Mission Board (NAMB). SBOM Executive Director Rick Lance explained these are 10 “mission critical” missionaries serving as church planters, language missionaries, community missionaries and other assignments. Before NAMB refocused its efforts primarily toward underserved parts of the United States, it provided 48 percent of the support for these positions.

Lance shared reports from the SBC Executive Committee indicating that Alabama Baptists provide almost 10 percent of the total amount given to Southern Baptist ministries through the Cooperative Program.

“We are not the largest state nor are we the wealthiest state but Alabama Baptists continued to show their support for Cooperative Program giving,” he said.

(TAB)