CP exceeds budget for 5th year in a row, screameth the headline fromt he executive committee following the year-end report of the Cooperative Program year for 2018/2019. Budgets were conservative; thus, the point that CP revenues exceed budegary reuqirements. I like prudence in budgeting.
Actual dollars from the churches through the state conventions to the executive committee for distribution to the entities are less than they were last fiscal year.
While the budget total was exceeded, year-over-year gifts remained relatively flat with a slight decrease
of $313,124.70, or 0.16 percent below last year’s total of $197,044,828.14.
Southern Baptists gave less to the Cooperative Program than they did last year. The result is inescapable: the missions boards, seminaries, amd the ERLC had slightly less CP revenues to spend. Reasons for this are the usual suspects: churches giving slightly less, states keeping slightly more.
One could say that the tiny decrease shows a flat line for revenues for the venerable CP.
I’m sure Ronnie has a plan. We will get to see it one day. As for now, one can choose their labels: we are consistent, level, flat, in the doldrums; strong but not getting any stronger; slightly declining but still quite robust; you pick your decsription.
While this isn’t the most important item for this week. It is important every month.
