1993 State Budget Finals

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                          Vol. VII, No. 1, January 1994

Nat Kellum, the BGAV Treasurer, has released figures for the complete state 1992-1993 fiscal year which ended 30 November. Against a Cooperative Program (CP) goal of $16,300,000 receipts totalled $15,119,852 ... 1.68% ($258,707) less than last year. Continuing shortfalls account for the $800,000 reduction in the total budget for the new fiscal year, bringing the 1993-94 CP budget down to $15,500,000.

The distribution of CP gifts between the BGAV and SBC is revealing. The 1993 Virginia CP goal was $9,833,200 but only $8,353,957 was received. That was 5.66% less than last year and just 84.96% of the goal. The dollar shortfall below the goal was $1,479,243.

On the other hand, SBC CP receipts were $4,193,340 which is $1,338,540 above the budget goal. In percentage terms, the SBC received 146.89% of the CP goal.

These figures make it clear that the increasingly anti-Southern Baptist budget changes taken by the BGAV are proving disastrous to Virginia Baptist life. Everyone should keep in mind that these budget changes are: (1) not a conservative initiative but indeed were energetically resisted by conservatives who pointed out back in 1990 that they would prove extremely disruptive; and (2) unnecessary: any church wishing to contribute to the CBF, the seminary in Richmond, Associated Baptist Press, or other similar causes is free to send its checks directly to those organizations. When an action is obviously going to be harmful and is also unnecessary, one cannot help questioning the intentions of the sponsors.

At first most conservative churches waited patiently to see how the situation would develop. But as the years have gone by and the state budget has become increasingly anti-SBC, they have gradually, even reluctantly, come to understand the anti-SBC nature of the BGAV budget. One by one loyal Southern Baptist churches are taking budgetary steps to keep our thousands of SBC overseas and home rnissionaries, and our six seminaries from being hurt by the diversion of funds through the BGAV to other, non-Southern Baptist Convention causes. Their desire is not to hurt the BGAV but to protect the SBC. Approximately 100 BGAV member churches are contributing through the WM-3 budget track. Not a penny of those funds goes to the SBC budget directly or indirectly. Of donations made through the WM-2 track in the just-completed fiscal year, only 17.5%was sent to the SBC CP.

Increasing numbers of churches have decided to demonstrate their loyalty to the SBC through their budget decisions. This decision does not change the local church budget; it only affects HOW funds being sent to Richmono will be used. The amount each church sends remains the same. Because the total dollars do not change, the church budget does not change, and it is easy to make a pro-SBC decision any time during the year.

Each church is entitled to decide how its CP donations are used. The church simply decides by vote and then sends a brief letterto the state treasurer conveying that decision. Different churches choose different plans, but probably the most common conservative plan is known as 17/83. That is, the church tells the BGAV to retain 17% of their donation for sections A, B, & C of the budget (all of which used to be part of the state budget) and send the other 83% to the SBC CP.

In addition, if a church does not wish to support one or more line items in the BGAV budget, it has that prerogative. And that is also simple to convey: Again it must be decided by church vote. Having done so, it is best to word the Ietter to the state treasurer like this: "(Name of your church) Baptist Church has voted that its Cooperative Program donations be used as follows: 17% (or whatever your church decides) to support sections A, B, and C of the budget. That 17% is to support all line items except (then list the items your church does not support, you can find the budget on pages 38-43 of the Book of Reports distributed at the state convention last November). 83% to be sent to the SBC Cooperative Program undesignated."