Fears that the SBC may be returning to a societal method of mission support are unfounded if one looks at dollars given by the churches. While it is impossible to compile and categorize all mission giving by the 47,232 SBC churches, the data that is available seems sufficient to conclude that in spite of all the handwringing over the demise of the Cooperative Program, most church support for SBC causes is still through our venerable and wonderful Cooperative Program. Here are a few factoids: The total CP for 2015-2016 was $475.2 million. The total for the designated major offerings … [Read more...] about Most SBC mission support is still Cooperative Program, not societal
Cooperative Program
Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion
Is it okay for a candidate for president of the SBC to campaign for office? If so, what is allowed and what is not? Let's agree to something from the outset. We are Baptists, so autonomy is going to make it impossible to set universal rules. Each candidate, each entity, each entity head is going to have to set boundaries according to the dictates of conscience. But autonomy does not preclude us from attempting to establish some parameters and coming to some kind of agreement as to what is acceptable and what is not. There was a time, during the CR, when entity leaders of the SBC got … [Read more...] about Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion
What is this “neo-societal method of giving” that Ken Hemphill writes about?
Churches have reduced their level of giving, and, many have moved to a method of giving that is neo-societal: They give a small percentage through the traditional Cooperative Program option and then give the remainder of their mission dollars through designated giving, some to Southern Baptist entities and some through other mission agencies. – Ken Hemphill, in an article on his Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted campaign website. Money is an issue in SBC life, particularly the systems of giving and allocation of SBC churches denominational gifts. I don't object to anyone raising … [Read more...] about What is this “neo-societal method of giving” that Ken Hemphill writes about?
More Inappropriate LBC Campaigning – Calling Up Disaster Relief Workers for Hemphill “Rallies”
Friends, Today, I was forwarded, by a number of people, an email that apparently went to all SBC ‘Blue Hats’ in Louisiana. I’ve actually served as a Blue Hat as well as a White Hat during Katrina (this is all Disaster Relief speak for those of you who wouldn’t know) but I didn’t personally receive this email from the LBC building. I’m not sure how to even process what I’m seeing. I think that someone at the Baptist Building in Alexandria either actually thinks we are all stupid or truly doesn't care what we think at all. Coming off the heels of the story about the inappropriateness of … [Read more...] about More Inappropriate LBC Campaigning – Calling Up Disaster Relief Workers for Hemphill “Rallies”
Dr. A. B. Vines to Be Nominated for SBC First Vice President
Baptist Press just reported that Dr. Johnny Hunt will nominate Dr. A. B. Vines for SBC First Vice President this summer at the Annual Meeting in Dallas. Vines is pastor of New Seasons Church in San Diego, President of the California Southern Baptist Convention, and is a recent past president of the National African American Fellowship of the SBC. You'll see all those details and more in the BP article. The announcement notes the extensive missions work of New Seasons Church, Cooperative Program and Great Commission Giving, "community clothing and feeding ministries, at least two church … [Read more...] about Dr. A. B. Vines to Be Nominated for SBC First Vice President
Let’s take a look at “The 10-3-10-50 Plan for Southern Baptist Cooperation”
This article is an evaluation of and reaction to a suggested giving plan for Southern Baptist individuals, churches, state conventions, and Executive Committee made by Rick Patrick on his site. He calls it "The 10-3-10-50 Plan for Southern Baptist Cooperation" a rather unwieldy but descriptive title. Here...but pay no attention to the other nonsense there.) The numbers are percentages: 10%, an individual's tithe to their local church; 3%, the percentage of the local church's undesignated giving to their local association; 10%, the percentage of the local church's undesignated … [Read more...] about Let’s take a look at “The 10-3-10-50 Plan for Southern Baptist Cooperation”
IMB – Too Valuable to Lose (Anonymous Emeritus IMB Missionary)
For reasons that seemed valid, this missionary emeritus asked to publish this anonymously. The Baptist Press article about David Platt’s intention to resign as IMB president included a critical piece of information and an uncritical piece of misinformation. The critical information was that we now have 3500 missionaries, and (is anybody awake?) that is shocking. Just 30 months ago we were told our IMB had to make dramatic cuts in personnel from 4900 to a fall-back position of 4200 missionaries and that we would hold there. That was painful enough considering that this new position was … [Read more...] about IMB – Too Valuable to Lose (Anonymous Emeritus IMB Missionary)
BP Reports Prestonwood to Continue CP Giving
This afternoon Baptist Press reported that Prestonwood Baptist Church would resume their Cooperative Program giving. The article specifies their giving will be without designation, meaning there will be no redirection of funds away from any specific entities. This is a welcome resolution to an issue that had gone mostly quiet since Russell Moore and ERLC trustees released their 'Seeking Unity' statement more than a month ago. "After a time of prayerful evaluation, Prestonwood is renewing our commitment to Southern Baptist missions by giving to the Cooperative Program without designation," … [Read more...] about BP Reports Prestonwood to Continue CP Giving
About Those Red Cups (or: A Lottie Moon Giving Challenge)
We’ve all probably seen the Facebook links, read the news, and rolled our eyes. Some guy somewhere with a YouTube account is claiming Starbucks’ plain red and green Christmas cups are a war against the Christian faith. Yawn, and bah-humbug to him. When Jesus prayed, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14), he wasn’t talking Starbucks cups or cheery Happy Holidays! from retail employees. And that isn’t what this post is about anyway. Our brothers and sisters in other countries, especially … [Read more...] about About Those Red Cups (or: A Lottie Moon Giving Challenge)
Our New Missions Partnership in Lithuania: Co-laboring with the IMB
We recently took our first trip in a new missions partnership with our IMB missionaries in Lithuania. In early October, we flew out of Norfolk International to JFK, then to Helsinki, Finland, and on to Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. We spent an incredible week in Lithuania that I’ll be reflecting on in this series of posts. Why Lithuania? This was my first trip to Europe. I’ve always wanted to visit the continent, but never envisioned Finland as my entry point nor one of the Baltic states as the place I’d spend my time there. Earlier this year, the SBC of Virginia hosted Milton … [Read more...] about Our New Missions Partnership in Lithuania: Co-laboring with the IMB