Alabama Baptists adopted a reduced Cooperative Program (CP) budget for 2011 of $43 million, down from $46 million this year.
“We are praying and hoping to bring in at least $42 million of the $46 million budget for this year,” said Travis Coleman, chairman of the State Board of Missions (SBOM), noting Alabama Baptists are currently about $4 million behind budget for the year. “That’s why you will see a decrease in the budget [next] year.”
Messengers also approved designated giving budgets of $300,000 for state causes and $400,000 for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). No challenge budget goal was offered because of difficult economic times.
Special offering goals also were approved, totaling $20,955,000. They are Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions (LMCO) — $11.5 million; Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions (AAEO) — $6 million; Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries — $2,555,000; World Hunger Offering — $800,000; and Disaster Relief Offering — $100,000.
Of the $43 million proposed base budget, $18,278,739 will go to the SBC, $12,876,909 to the SBOM and $11,844,352 to state convention entities.
“One out of every 10 CP dollars that goes to the SBC comes from Alabama Baptists,” Coleman said. He also noted that Alabama is No. 1 among state conventions in AAEO giving and No. 2 in LMCO giving.
The distribution percentages of the Alabama Baptist CP budget are 57.5 percent to Alabama Baptist ministries and 42.5 percent to SBC ministries.
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