By Editor Bob Terry
Last week, we shared the Cooperative Program (CP) giving records of the presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) since 1979, the beginning of what is often called “the conservative resurgence.”
Some asked if the giving records of the presidents of the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC) during the same time period are much different.
The answer is “yes” and the chart published below documents that the presidents of the ABSC believe in the CP. Seven of the 14 men who served as state convention president since 1979 came from churches that gave 10 percent or more to missions through the CP.
Current president Henry Cox’s church has the highest CP giving record with 20.3 percent for 2004. The lowest CP giving percentage was 6.1 percent in 1998.
By comparison, the information published last week showed only five of the 14 SBC presidents served churches that gave 10 percent or more. The five are current president Frank Page, Bobby Welch, Jim Henry, Morris Chapman and Jimmy Draper.
The CP giving records for the churches of the other nine men show CP averages under 5 percent in the year prior to their initial election.
While averages can be misleading, it is still informative to know that the average CP giving of ABSC presidents’ churches since 1979 is 10.8 percent. The average CP giving record of SBC presidents’ churches is 6.4 percent.
Again the records show that Alabama’s state convention presidents believe in the CP. Their leadership reflects that Alabama Baptists believe in the CP, too.
Alabama Baptists’ contributions to missions causes outside the state through the SBC portion of the CP shows the ABSC believes in the CP.
The state convention forwards 42.3 percent of every undesignated dollar it receives through the CP for SBC causes. Among traditional state conventions, only the Georgia Baptist Convention gives a higher percentage and then only about 0.5 percent more.
Alabama is not a rich state. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Alabama ranked 41st in the nation in per capita income in 2005. Georgia ranked 35th, Tennessee 36th, Florida 23rd. In light of potential, Alabama is unsurpassed in its generosity to SBC missions causes through the CP.
The average percentage of CP receipts forwarded from state conventions to national SBC causes is 32 percent, according to information provided by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions’ Cooperative Program & stewardship development office.
Alabama’s percentage is a full 10 percentage points higher. That is more evidence that Alabama Baptists believe in the CP.
Earlier this year, SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman said the average amount of undesignated receipts given through the CP by cooperating churches was 6.66 percent for 2005.
As you might expect, the Alabama Baptist average was more than a full percentage point higher. In 2005, the average Alabama Baptist church contributed 8 percent of its undesignated receipts to missions causes through the CP.
Officials are concerned that the average is slipping. In 2000, the Alabama average was 9 percent. In 1989, the average was 10 percent. Still the CP giving record of Alabama Baptist churches has consistently been higher than the SBC average.
Both state and national officials are worried that Baptists are losing their commitment to working together in the state, the nation and the world. If that happens, then Baptists may have a few ministries that are well-funded and a lot of ministries that go begging because of lack of funds.
The CP provides a way for all that Baptists do together in the church, the state, the nation and the world to be funded from a common budget. That is why the CP has been called the financial backbone of our missions, educational and benevolent ministries.
Alabama Baptist churches still believe in the CP. In 2005, the churches contributed almost $42.5 million through the CP giving channel. The percentage may not be as high as years past, but it is significantly higher than the SBC average.
Alabama Baptists believe in the CP. It is reflected in the giving records of our presidents. It is shown in the percentage of receipts shared for SBC cooperative causes. It is demonstrated in the giving of our churches.
May God give all Baptists the spirit of cooperation that recognizes what can be done when Baptists work together.
May He grant a selfless spirit that seeks the common good rather than personal enhancement. May God cause us to act in ways that reflect personal integrity with each partner keeping its commitments.
May all the partners work together in ways that inspire trust in one another.
Alabama Baptists believe in the CP, and cooperation is kept alive by a selfless spirit, by personal integrity and by trust among the partners working together for the cause of Christ.
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