Updated Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008

Relationships can stay strong if we will it

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

Space for special offerings is a precious commodity on a church's calendar. For North Carolina Baptist organizations gaining that space is like an intravenous drip. Special offerings sustain life.

In 2006 N.C. Baptists recognized six special offerings: those for Baptist Retirement Homes (BRH), Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children's Homes, North Carolina Missions, North American missions (Annie Armstrong) and international missions (Lottie Moon). Additionally four other groups vied for calendar space with "emphasis" days during which a special offering was not expected, but was appreciated: those for Biblical Recorder, colleges, associations and Cooperative Program.

This year, the landscape has changed and churches in February face their first decision whether or not to receive a special offering for two organizations whose relationship to the Baptist State Convention has changed since last year.

In 2007 while a study committee wrestled with issues regarding Baptist Retirement Homes, the BRH offering was not officially recognized, although BRH sent out materials and many churches received an offering. Messengers in November excluded BRH from the 2008 budget following the lead of BRH study committee chair Joan Mitchell who said Baptist Retirement Homes "will no longer be a ministry of the Convention because the Convention will no longer have a voice in choosing the leadership."

Messengers also excluded Woman's Missionary Union of North Carolina (WMU-NC) from the budget - including the North Carolina Missions Offering - in reaction to WMU-NC's move from Baptist State Convention (BSC) offices in Cary to assert both its autonomy and independence.

Now, both organizations are asking North Carolina Baptist churches to continue to support them by receiving a special offering in February.

Since the moment it became apparent that WMU-NC's issues with the BSC would result in this situation the potential has been ripe for conflict in churches between members or between membership and staff over whether the church should receive a special offering for WMU. The same is true for BRH. These organizations do not enjoy the same relationship to the Convention they did just weeks ago. Remember; although their relationship to the Convention has changed their ministries have not.

It would be tragic if a church decision either to receive an offering or not to receive an offering for either one of these fine organizations caused a moment's conflict in your church.

If you believed four months ago it was important to provide benevolent care for senior adults living in a Baptist Retirement Homes facility, you could logically assume that ministry is still important. Baptist Retirement Homes still provides such care to a rapidly aging population.

If you believed four months ago the ministry of Woman's Missionary Union was worth the $1.2 million it took to operate the staff, programs and camp of WMU when WMU's offices were in the Baptist State Convention staff building in Cary, you could logically believe it still merits your similar investment.

The point is that nothing in the ministry of these two organizations has changed. They are doing what they did before they were excluded from the Baptist State Convention's budget.

The Retirement Homes said last year they gladly relinquish their BSC budget allocation. Their fund-raising efforts, and gifts from churches who didn't agree that BRH funds should be escrowed while issues were worked out more than made up for the short fall.

But the Retirement Homes cherishes its special offering because it raises awareness of their ministry; it gives spokesmen a chance to be in BSC churches; it raises money; it keeps the flag raised for BRH as North Carolina Baptists' ministry to senior adults.

Results of the Heck-Jones Offering for WMU, on the other hand, will determine the organization's future viability. Executive Director Ruby Fulbright has no idea how many churches will support this first offering in 30 years that is exclusively to support WMU-NC operations.

The portion of the North Carolina Missions Offering that went for WMU-NC support was always presented as a positive element of the NCMO.

Now, because of simmering issues since April 2006 that came to a head in November 2007, differences of opinion within congregations about whether to receive an offering for one of these organizations could lead to conflict. And that is a shame.

The greatest potential for conflict is if staff leadership feels one way and several influential members are adamant in the opposite direction. Everyone involved in such a scenario should ask, "Is our church flexible enough to receive an offering for these valid ministries and love and honor those who wish not to contribute?" That's probably the stance you've had for years.

Are you also flexible enough if you are not receiving an offering to honor the wishes of those who want to contribute by gladly receiving and forwarding their gift to continue these ministries? Can you even accommodate an enthusiastic member's organizing a drive within the church among supporters? There are probably lots of those special interest fund drives for other things that are near the heart of your members.

Hearts would break in both organizations if an offering for their support caused one minute of dissension in any church. This is a first go round. It would do everyone good to stay flexible, be prayerful and give as you are led.