An added focus on the Cooperative Program (CP) has been incorporated into the proposed Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) budget for the 2003–2004 fiscal year.
The SBC Executive Committee, during its Feb. 17–18 meeting in Nashville, approved a recommendation that $250,000 be utilized “to fund the enhancement of CP education at the six [SBC] seminaries” if the SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget exceeds its $182,323,110 goal.
The overall budget will be presented to messengers for approval during the June 2003 SBC annual meeting in Phoenix.
The budget, as recommended by the Executive Committee, will continue to allocate:
- 50 percent of receipts to the International Mission Board.
- 22.79 percent to the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
- 21.64 percent to the seminaries. Specifically, according to the seminary enrollment -formula, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, would receive 5.30 percent; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., 4.33 percent; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 4.25 percent; Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., 4.09 percent; Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif., 1.90 percent; and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., 1.54 percent.
- 1.49 percent to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
- 3.32 percent to the Executive Committee (EC), encompassing the work of the EC between SBC annual meetings as well as the costs for each annual meeting.
- .76 percent to the Annuity Board for its ministry to retired ministers whose annuities were underfunded during their careers.
- .24 percent for the SBC Historical Library and Archives.
John P. Harvill Jr., a member of First Baptist Church, North Mobile, in Saraland said he is proud of the continued emphasis on the CP.
“It is a good feeling that people will give [through] the Cooperative Program, especially with the current economy,” said Harvill, a member of the business and finance subcommittee and work group of the Executive Committee. Harvill was elected to serve on the Executive Committee in June 2002.
“My experience has been great,” Harvill said. “It is an eye-opening experience to see the actual workings and what all is involved with the Cooperative Program.”
Harvill also said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, “was enthusiastic in his presentation to the Executive Committee about Great Commission ministries in Alabama.
“It was great to see someone from our state convention (speaking to the Executive Committee),” Harvill noted.
- Robert E. Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, reported that NAMB was withdrawing its request to spin off the FamilyNet cable TV network as a for-profit entity. FamilyNet has received a top-50 tier channel on the EchoStar satellite network on a nonprofit basis, giving FamilyNet an added potential audience of 8 million viewers. Reccord said NAMB will be exploring opportunities with other SBC entities for new ways of representing Southern Baptists in homes across the country.
- A 2.3 percent increase was approved for the Executive Committee staff salary structure, effective Oct. 1.
- A resolution of appreciation was presented to O.W. “Dub” Efurd Jr., who retires March 31 after 14 years as executive director of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.
(BP)
Share with others: