The most amazing thing about Southern Baptist life is how we seem to keep so many entities, programs, and initiatives slogging along for decades and scores of years in spite of great changes in society, church life, and giving patterns and amounts. Consider my use of the word "extinction" to be an example of blogging license. I don't think I will live to see any of these actually go extinct but there are legitimate questions about their value and relevance for now and the future. The Annual Church Profile It's that time, brethren. Actually, past that time to gather up your data … [Read more...] about SBC dinosaur sightings: Are these headed for extinction? (Part One)
Cooperative Program shows a 1.39% increase over last year
The Executive Committee reports that Cooperative Program receipts for the fiscal year just ended are 1.39% above last fiscal year. In dollars, this is $2,592,620.78 more than last year. CP surpasses budget projection for fiscal year, Baptist Press reported yesterday. My SBC friends, UP is UP and a little up is not down. How about at least an "Amen" for this? Hold the "Hallelujah" for something else. We are living in a time of extended decline for our flagship denominational giving plan, the 90-year-old Cooperative Program, so an increase is a very good thing. It doesn't make a lot … [Read more...] about Cooperative Program shows a 1.39% increase over last year
Pastor appreciation is a good thing, this month or whenever
Because Dave Miller has a conflict of interest and I don't ((I am retired, stress-free, and can shoot from the blogging hip), I'll help him out on Pastor Appreciation Month. On our authoritative denominational calendar October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Here are some resources, annotated: 10 Ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month. OK, so LifeWay sells stuff; however, if you get your pastor a customized T-shirt (#2 on LifeWay's idea list) and it doesn't have a few hundred dollar bills tucked inside, you will not be my friend any more. T-shirt only is tacky, tacky, tacky. Pastor … [Read more...] about Pastor appreciation is a good thing, this month or whenever
Almost 10% of SBC churches upped CP percentage by at least one point
The Executive Committee has promoted a "1% Cooperative Program Challenge" over the past few years in which churches were challenged to increase their CP contributions by a percentage point (percentage of undesignated church offerings). A recent Baptist Press article reported that about ten percent of SBC churches had done so over the past two years. The SBC reported 46,499 churches for the latest statistical year, 2014, and 4,422 churches had met or exceeded the challenge of raising their CP percentage by at least one point. The 4,422 make up 9.5% of all SBC churches. The 1% Challenge … [Read more...] about Almost 10% of SBC churches upped CP percentage by at least one point
Can state conventions slow the denominational death march?
Amuse yourself with over 28,000 articles on "death of denominations" and then do some sober thinking about the closest thing to a denomination to the average Southern Baptist pastor: his state convention. Our beloved International Mission Board might be the latest to implement severe cuts in employment levels. Their August bombshell declared that 600-800 personnel would have to leave for the organization to have a viable future, one where the bills could be paid. This is an 11-15 percent cut in staffing. That level of cutbacks looks pretty attractive to many state conventions. I'll just … [Read more...] about Can state conventions slow the denominational death march?
Funding and the IMB’s future
I was overseas in 2012 or so and happened to be present for a meeting of our missions personnel in one of the high-security countries. The discussion turned to tight funding and what the future looked like. The mission leader asked me, just an ordinary SBC pastor, what the thinking might be the states about such things. Not willing to speak for the several millions of active Southern Baptists, I made the observation that the Cooperative Program looked like it was flat or slightly declining but that I expected that Lottie Moon would show some increase. I offered that my average-sized church … [Read more...] about Funding and the IMB’s future
IMB retiring missionaries transition resources
Before Southern Baptists charge off in 47,000 different directions trying to help returning missionaries, here are a few resources ALREADY in place that ought to have priority: Our International Mission Board is closer, more attuned, and in the best position to help. The IMB has a transition team headed by Clyde Meador, IMB’s executive advisor to the president. “The team is definitely unified and has a great concern for missionaries,” said Meador. “They have many, many ideas of ways to minister to our returning personnel.” He added that most members of the team have significant field … [Read more...] about IMB retiring missionaries transition resources
Lottie Moon: records, deficits, projections and IMB personnel cutbacks
The chart below shows the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal, receipts, and projected income from the offering as used to prepare the IMB budget. Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions (in millions of dollars) Year Goal Received Budgeted Under Budget 2010 175 145.7 175 (29.3) 2011 175 146.8 175 (28.2) 2012 175 149.3 175 (25.7) 2013 175 154 175 (21) 2014 175 153 … [Read more...] about Lottie Moon: records, deficits, projections and IMB personnel cutbacks
IMB crisis…more thoughts and opinions
In my humble and plodding view, nothing in recent SBC history deserves as much attention, discussion, and prayer as does our International Mission Board's announcement that 600-800 missionary positions must be cut. So... 1. The IMB has moved from a high water mark of 5,600 missions personnel to the present 4,800 between 2006 and now, about ten years time. As presently outlined by the IMB, the long term plan for sustainability has the numbers reduced by the same number (or perhaps temporarily by 600 as a stopgap measure) by the end of the year. While I understand that this adequately … [Read more...] about IMB crisis…more thoughts and opinions
Thoughts on IMB’s new plan
Having read what's available on this and some of the discussion here are some things to ponder: To me, the IMB has been more open in laying out the facts and figures on this than they have in the past, perhaps because of the severity of the crisis I'd speculate. There are almost 100 trustees who will make the broad policy decisions and the way forward has a number of permutations and uncertainties. Are we to sit back and wait for some consensus or majority decisions before having all the facts and options available? I recognize the trustee role but it is not written that they must huddle in … [Read more...] about Thoughts on IMB’s new plan