Updated Monday, May 19, 2008

Leader churches supporting CP

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

For years churches that took issue with the direction/budget/personalities of the Baptist State Convention have been directing some or all of their cooperative mission gifts around the BSC and sending them directly to the Southern Baptist Convention. At various times this list included the churches of the president and vice president of the board of directors, chairman of the budget committee and chairman of the nominating committee and various board members.

The current list is found on page 137 of the 2007 SBC annual report. The list includes gifts sent to Nashville for fiscal 2005-06, so it can be as much as two years behind. Several listed churches are now sending their mission funds directly through the BSC.

Your church has the right and responsibility to direct its mission funds as it sees fit. It was always disconcerting that persons in very visible BSC leadership positions directed funds around the organization they were elected to lead.

Thankfully, some had positive reasons and not just negative reactions for making such decisions. I'm even more grateful that current leaders are recommitting themselves and their churches to the ministry of the Baptist State Convention.

Ironically, at least one church bypassed the BSC because it wanted to "better support the Cooperative Program." Remember, your mission funds count as CP only if they come through the Baptist State Convention.

Your best, most efficient avenue for global missions support, is still the Cooperative Program.