Virginia Budget: Decisions

by    T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                  Vol. V, No. 7, December 1992

As background to this article, please read first the companion piece titled "Virginia Budget: Description" in this Banner.

Conservatives are deeply concerned about the Virginia budget. Much if not most of the funds spent within the state portion (Sections B, & C) pays for programs and personnel with which we have serious problems. But the most flagrant problems occur in Section D, World Missions. As the companion article describing the budget outlines, less and less money is flowing from Virginia to support the SBC Cooperative Program, and more and more is going to support the efforts and organizations of those who believe the Bible is full of mistakes. What can your church do?

The first point to remember is that your church CANNOT AVOID A DECISION. If in the last year your church has not made a specific decision and so instructed the state treasurer, your money has automatically been going to the "Virginia Plan" (now known as WM 2). And if that is the case and your church does not now make a specific decision and so instruct the state treasurer, your money will continue to go to the WM 2 budget track where it will help pay for such ultra liberal organizations as the Richmond seminary, the Baptist Joint Committee, the "Baptist Center for Ethics," and Ruschlikon Seminary. So the first point is that you WILL make a decision even if it is through inaction.

The second thing to keep in mind is the need for balancing action. For more than 25 years the Virginia budget sent just about 38% of total receipts to the SBC Cooperative Program, so let's take 38% as the standard. Beginning in 1990 that percentage has been reduced. In the 1993 budget those churches in WM 1 will send 35% to the SBC CP; those in WM 2 will send 17.5%; and those in WM 3 will send NOTHING to the SBC CP.

It is easy to see that if those churches loyal to the SBC do nothing to balance the actions of those who cut giving to the SBC, the Southern Baptist Convention missions programs will suffer. At a rough estimate the SBC is currently receiving only about 20% or 21% from Virginia rather than the previous 38%.

The third point is that each church has the right to design its own budget division and to tell the state treasurer how to distribute its donations. This does NOT require the church to change its annual budget. All a congregation needs to do is consider the amount it has already decided to send to Richmond and decide how it wants that money divided between the state and the SBC. All the dollar figures in the church's budget stay the same.

The conservative recommendation is that each church decide to have the state keep 15% of its gifts and have the state treasurer send 85% to the SBC Cooperative Program. That action will help balance the anti-SBC actions of those churches which participate in the WM 2 and WM 3 budget tracks. At the very minimum each church should be sure its money is not flowing to the WM 2 track by telling the state treasurer to distribute its donations through the WM 1 track. But keep in mind that WM 1 does nothing to help keep SBC receipts up to previous levels; WM 1 just keeps them from dropping further and leaves the initiative to the liberals.

Instructing the state treasurer is easy. A very brief letter will do. Address the letter to Mr. Nat Kellum; BGAV Treasurer; P.O. Box 8568; Richmond, VA 23226. All the letter need say is: "(Name of church) Baptist Church has voted that its Cooperative Program gifts should be divided as follows: 15% for Budget Sections A, B, &C, and 85% to be sent to the SBC Cooperative Program undesignated."

That's all there is to it. Of course, the church can decide upon any division it wishes: 10% BGAV, 90% SBC; 20% BGAV, 80% SBC; 30% BGAV, 70% SBC; 50/50; or any other combination.

If your church does not wish to support one or more line items in the state portion of the budget (Section B), you can add one more sentence to the letter: "The percentage for Sections A, B, & C is to support all line items except: ..." Then list the line items your church does not support. Line items many conservative churches do not support include: the University of Richmond, Averett College, Virginia Intermont College, The Religious Herald, the Division of Campus Ministries, and the School of Pastoral Care (the latter is at Lynchburg "Baptist" Hospital where abortions are performed).

Under the new rules, once your church has sent in its letter of instructions the state will follow that guidance until your church changes it. On the other hand, the clerical staff has to deal with over 1500 churches. We suggest that you make it easy for them: just make copies of your original letter and send in one with each check as a reminder.

The fourth point notes that your church may not be able to make this decision immediately. Remember the church can simply hold the funds normally sent in until the church decides. That way your money won't be going to causes to which you object before the church decides.

We know from the parable of the talents that everyone will answer to Christ for the use we have made of the resources He has entrusted to us. For your sake on that day, for the sake of the great missionary work of the SBC, and for the sake of bringing Virginia back to honoring God's Word as it should be honored, do not let your church just drift along without facing this issue and making a conscious decision.