Updated Wednesday, April 02, 2008

First quarter CP trails budget, 2007gifts

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

Cooperative Program (CP) gifts from churches to ministries of the Baptist State Convention through the first quarter of 2008 are 7.88 percent, or $654,864 below the same period in 2007, and 14.9 percent below budget.

Although the last day of the March reporting period fell on a Monday, which means many final Sunday receipts probably were not yet in, the weekly March trend after a stellar first two months has been downward. The economic malaise in the United States is now being reflected in North Carolina.

"We are in the middle of a very challenging economic period in our country, and the effects are being felt at churches across the state," said Baptist State Convention Executive Director-treasurer Milton A. Hollifield Jr. "I appreciate the spirit of missions support that continues with N.C. Baptist churches when some are challenged to meet their own budget requirements."

At the same time, Cooperative Program giving nationally is reported by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee to be 2.4 percent ahead of the same period last year. Designated giving is up 9.6 percent nationally.

A national increase is possible while states are showing decreases because several state conventions, including North Carolina, have increased the percentage of Cooperative Program gifts they forward to the national convention.

Also, the 2007 SBC annual report shows 83 North Carolina Baptist churches sent $1.3 million directly to the SBC, bypassing the state convention, numbers second only to Texas. That number of churches has been consistent the past several years.

In North Carolina the only giving plan showing an increase is Plan D, up 6.4 percent. Only 49.5 percent of Plan D gifts support ministries of the Baptist State Convention, compared to 66.5 percent in Plan A and 67.5 percent in Plans B and C.

Plan D, the newest giving plan, is easily the second largest, as it has been since the year after it started in 1999. While Plan D provides less support for BSC ministries, it provides five percent to Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute and 11.5 percent to special missions, such as partnerships.

All other main plans are down, as are all special offerings.

Plan A, the largest, is $416,422 or 7.8 percent behind 2007.

Plan B is $8,230 or 1.3 percent behind 2007.

Plan C is $134,276 or 26.9 percent behind 2007. A Plan C decline is not unanticipated as John Butler, BSC executive leader for business services, said in the February Executive Committee meeting there is a "significant migration" of Plan C churches to the ministry of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBF-NC).

Larry Hovis, executive director of CBF-NC, reported undesignated giving has increased through the first 11 months of the group's fiscal year by 19.8 percent, to $883,828. Total gifts, including funds designated for national CBF and for North Carolina Baptist institutions, are up 47.3 percent, or $713,845 to $2.22 million.

Overall, available Cooperative Program funds to the Baptist State Convention through March are $654,864 or 7.9 percent behind 2007.

Gifts to date over the previous year is a more important indicator than a budget, but gifts are $1.3 million, or 14.9 percent behind the 2008 budget, which was increased by 3.3 percent over the 2007 budget.

"We addressed an anticipated income shortfall at the start of the year by encouraging our executive leaders to contain spending to levels consistent with CP giving rather than the budget, and we've done a good job of fulfilling that goal," Hollifield said.

Funds for the special offerings for state, national and international missions are down by 6.9, 15.7 and 12.1 percent respectively. The national and international missions offerings are coming off of record setting years.

Designated giving at the SBC is up 9.6 percent, or $11.25 million over last year.

"We will continue to exhibit healthy concern, but not fear as we move forward in this budget year," Hollifield said. "I am asking God to provide us with the resources we need to carry out His plan for BSCNC. I remain confident that God will supply what is needed. He is doing incredible things among North Carolina Baptists and our future is bright. We will continue to be good stewards of all He places in our hands."