Updated Tuesday, July 01, 2008

CP still trails 2007

From staff reports

Six months into 2008 Cooperative Program gifts from North Carolina Baptist churches continue below 2007 levels and are 12.3 percent below budget.

While the percentage of deficit is improved over the first quarter, funds available for missions and Baptist State Convention (BSC) ministries are $900,782 below the same period last year, or 5.2 percent.

After the first quarter giving was 14.9 percent behind budget and 7.9 percent below the same period a year earlier.

"The budget of the Baptist State Convention reflects the budgets of many North Carolina Baptist churches," said Douglas Baker, public relations director for the BSC. "During these economically challenging times many churches are having difficulty meeting their own budgets. Our receipts reflect that reality."

Through four giving plans, each with a different distribution of funds, North Carolina Baptist churches gave $16.44 million through June 30. During the same six months in 2007, they gave $17.34 million.

Giving plans B and D show increases but Plan A, the first and largest plan, is down 4.5 percent or $493,683.

Plan D, which allocates a smaller percentage for work of the Baptist State Convention, is up 6 percent, or $164,971. Plan B is up 1.5 percent or $20,459.

The fast shrinking Plan C, which allocates 10.9 percent for the national Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) and none for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), dropped 15.9 percent or $151,563, to $803,368.

Money received in the BSC office but designated all for the SBC fell 13.6 percent to $124,728. Money received and designated for national CBF fell 35.3 percent to $178,658.

The three major special offerings also are suffering, with the Lottie Moon Offering for international missions down 10.9 percent and the Annie Armstrong offering for North American missions down 4.8 percent. The North Carolina Missions Offering is off 3.9 percent.

Baker said the BSC is operating "well within expenditure guidelines" and that "direct ministry is not suffering."

"Of course we will be watchful and remain good stewards of all that is entrusted to our hands," Baker said.

For a graphic illustration on the giving plans: http://www.ncbaptist.org/index.php?id=278