Cooperative Program posts near-record total in 2000-01: $176.9 million

by   Art Toalston                                                                                                                                   Vol. XIV, No.10, Nov/Dec 2001

Giving through the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program reached the second-highest mark in history during the 2000-2001 fiscal year, falling short of the previous year's total by only 0.75 %, according to a news release from the treasurer of the SBC, Morris H. Chapman. Designated gifts to SBC causes, meanwhile, climbed 4.7 % during the period from Oct. 1, 2000, to Sept. 30, 2001, Chapman reported. Southern Baptists gave $176,962,402 to support national and international missions and ministries through CP Missions during the fiscal year and another $170,947,075 in designated gifts primarily through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.

"I know I speak for our missionaries around the world and students enrolled in our six seminaries when I say, 'Thank you,' to all Southern Baptists for their faithfulness in giving even in the midst of an economic slowdown nationally," Chapman told Baptist Press. "The recent attacks upon the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have jolted all Christians into a greater sense of urgency as we have been reminded that 'now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation' (2 Corinthians 6:2)," he continued. "This is not an hour for a ministry pullback. It is a time for doubling our efforts to spread the gospel here at home and around the world. This will only be possible to the degree we support these efforts with our tithes and offerings through the Cooperative Program."

Chapman reported that Southern Baptists' gifts to CP Missions "fell just short of reaching an all-time high for an eighth consecutive year. While CP gifts were slightly under last year's receipts, designated receipts increased 4.7 % over last year. In addition, CP receipts for the year were over budget by 5.34 %. Consequently, no SBC entity was forced to scale back ministries that were included in its 2000-2001 budget. [BP]

Comment on Finances: Two of the reasons CP gifts were down and designated gifts up are (1) because the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) – which is now under control of anti-SBC leaders, much like the situation in the BGAV – has greatly reduced the amount of money going to the SBC, and (2) because a growing number of Texas churches are sending funds directly to the SBC rather than channelling them through the CP. These facts are illustrated in the dollar figures for the last completed SBC fiscal year, 1 October 2000 to 30 September 2001. In the table below note the 46.34 % decrease between what the BGCT gave to the CP in the 1999-2000 and in 2000-2001 and the increase in designated giving. Also note the increase in both giving categories by the new, conservative Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC). In numbers of churches, the SBTC now has approximately 890 churches while the BGCT counts around 4,800.

Likewise, consider the giving here in Virginia by the BGAV and the conservative and pro-SBC Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV). Whereas the SBCV has 318 churches aligned with it (270 affiliated only with the SBCV, 48 dually with both the BGAV and the SBCV) only slightly more than one-fifth as many as are part of the BGAV, in the 2000-2001 fiscal year the SBCV gave 80% as much to the SBC CP as did the BGAV.