Unified giving plan proposed

By Steve DeVane

BR Managing Editor

ROCKY MOUNT - A conservative N.C. pastor is proposing a new giving plan for the Baptist State Convention (BSC) that would eliminate the four existing plans.

The plan proposed by Bruce Martin would be similar to the BSC's existing Plan A that sends 32 percent to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and keeps 68 percent for BSC causes. The plan would also allow churches a "positive designation" of up to five percent for any cause approved by messengers to the BSC annual meeting.

Martin, pastor of Village Baptist Church in Fayetteville, presented the plan at the first of six "listening sessions" on the BSC's giving plans. The gatherings were an effort by BSC officials to get feedback on the plans used to distribute funds for missions and education.

Martin said he was making the proposal in an effort to get the BSC back to one plan. Messengers would have to approve his proposal for it to take effect.

BSC Executive Director-treasurer Jim Royston said he had spoken with Martin about the proposal, which has been sent to the BSC's budget committee.

Under Martin's plan, if a church used all of the five percent positive designation allowed, the SBC would get 32 percent of the remaining money, or 30.4 percent of the total. The BSC would keep 68 percent of the remaining funds, or 64.6 percent of the total.

"Instead of the state convention designing a plan to make everyone happy, the church would have the option to design its own plan," he said.

Most participating BSC churches use Plan A.

Plans B and C are similar with both keeping 68 percent for BSC causes and sending about 10.9 percent to theological education in N.C. Baptist schools, 10.6 percent to special mission projects and .5 percent to help retired N.C. ministers in the SBC's adopt-an-annuitant program. The remaining 10 percent is sent to the SBC in Plan B and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Plan C.

Plan D sends 32 percent to the SBC and keeps 50 percent for BSC causes. Five percent is sent to Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, 12.5 percent is used for special missions and .5 percent goes to the adopt-an-annuitant program.

Randy White, a member of the budget committee and former vice president of the BSC General Board, called Plan D "a more conservative plan." It was adopted, he said, because some churches were unhappy with plans B and C.

White, the director of missions for the New South River Association in Fayetteville, said he considers plans B and C "cooperative giving plans, not Cooperative Program plans."

"North Carolina doesn't even use the phraseology 'Cooperative Program,'" he said.

Royston said he realized some people did not like referring to money that goes to non-SBC causes as Cooperative Program funds.

When asked about the possible financial impact of his proposal, Martin said it could mean more money for the BSC because money to BSC causes would increase from 50 percent to 64.6 percent from churches that now use Plan D.

"Of course there could be churches that leave," he said.

White said he thinks most churches that now give to Plan D wouldn't have a problem with Martin's proposal.

Martin's proposal keeps in place the ability for churches to have up to three "negative designations." These allow for churches to decide not to send any of their money for programs, agencies or institutions they choose.

In an interview after the meeting, Martin said he realizes some churches might want to do away with the negative designation options.

He said he thinks the list of programs allowed for the 5 percent positive designations should include all BSC causes and others approved by BSC messengers. When asked if the groups that currently get money under the BSC's existing plans might be "grandfathered in," he said the budget committee would have to decide if it wanted to make that recommendation.