Addressing the distribution of Cooperative Program (CP) funds from Alabama Baptists came up three times during the Nov. 16–17 annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC); once in the form of a special committee appointment and twice in the form of motions.
Just minutes after the opening gavel, ABSC President Jimmy Jackson announced the appointment of the new committee.
“As we begin a new decade — The Decade to Make a Difference (as Alabama Baptists are calling 2011–2020) — we want to have thoughtful and deliberate planning, to help Alabama Baptists focus our resources and conduct Great Commission ministries through the coming decade,” Jackson said.
Noting the economic pressure a new committee would put on the convention budget, Jackson said he decided to appoint the existing State Board of Missions executive committee as the committee.
“It is made up of ministers and laymen from every district of Alabama who have a close proximity to grass-roots Alabama Baptists,” he said. “It is the most efficient choice in time management and conserving CP dollars.”
It will be “charged to study ways to better focus our resources 2011 through 2020. This committee will serve for at least two years and will bring a preliminary report to the 2011 convention and any appropriate recommendations to the 2012 convention.”
During miscellaneous business, two motions related to CP funding were introduced, but both were later ruled out of order.
The motion by Shawn Merithew, senior pastor of Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, stated: “In light of the Great Commission Resurgence report … I hereby move that the president elected at the 2010 … convention name an independent committee of no less than 10 Alabama pastors to evaluate the current allocation of CP dollars … and to bring recommendation(s) to … the 2011 (convention) composing a vision for a more efficient and missional use of CP dollars.”
The motion also noted goals to include moving to a 50–50 percentage split of CP dollars between state and national causes and tabulating those percentages without using special offering amounts, ensuring that all entities and ministries receiving CP dollars are aligned doctrinally and missionally with the ABSC and Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and affirming the CP as the main channel for missions giving.
Merithew’s motion was ruled out of order because the convention bylaws say the Budget Committee is responsible for this. “Plus the point is moot,” because Jackson has already appointed a committee to evaluate the allocation of CP dollars, said Charles T. Carter, chairman of the Order of Business Committee.
The motion introduced by John Thweatt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pell City, stated: “That the [state convention], beginning with the 2012–13 budget, make percentage adjustments in the allocation of the CP funds for SBC causes until it reaches 50 percent by the 2020–21 budget. This percentage would be determined using the current accounting procedures.”
It was ruled out of order because it would bind future conventions.
Jackson told messengers that he would make sure the new committee considers the ideas presented in the motions.
Merithew said, “My intention is very supportive of the CP. … I would love to be able to give input.”
Thweatt agreed but also noted that “the majority of people in our churches want to see Alabama give 50 percent to [SBC causes]. … If we are not moving that way next year, then we will resubmit another motion.”
“I think Alabama can do better,” he said.
Editor's Note (added 10/18/12) — The study committee in this story was originally called the Great Commission Study Committee. It then became known as the Great Commission Task Force and finally the Great Commission Ministries Future Focus Task Force. We wanted to list all the names to prevent potential confusion.
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