The following is a message sent out to pastors from our Indiana Executive Director, Dr. Cecil Seagle. He has given me permission to repost it here. Dr. Seagle’s words are timely and needed — thankful for his clearing of the dust and his affirmation of the heart of our leaders during this heart-wrenching and difficult situation. He also provides a path forward. I am thankful for his leadership and guidance here.
SBC’s International Mission Board (IMB) is currently working through some very sticky financial issues.
I have waited to see what Dr. Platt would SAY & DO in the wake of a one year $21 million dollar – $ 210 million multiple year overspend.
While I am not privy to any IMB trustee/administrative conversations I have observed –
(1). A clear, broken-hearted acknowledgement of the current crisis that must be faced;
(2). The compelling urgency to live within budgetary means;
(3). And, the steps Dr. Platt has led trustees & administration to take to rectify the situation.
Would I do it differently?
Of course, but that’s not the issue – I am me & David Platt is the best David Platt in the world.
Are there essential steps that must be taken?
Yes, without a doubt –
(1). Balance the IMB budget.
(2). SBC, must teach, preach and demonstrate Biblical stewardship.
(3). Out of the increased tithes and offerings, let’s increase Cooperative Program giving through each SBC congregation & increase the CP amount going to the Executive Committee from State Conventions.
(4). Let’s stop talking IMB as an organization & speak of IMB MISSIONARIES AS REAL PEOPLE, CALLED OF GOD, SENT FROM OUR SBC CHURCHES & DEPLOYED by IMB.
(5). Let’s go back to Biblical reality – if Jesus did not die for the whole world & if our missionary calling is not an Acts 1:8 calling – to all places simultaneously – then we will never fix this.
Indiana Baptists have raised the percentage giving every year to national/international causes. I will visit with our Executive Board to find a way to increase this again in February 2016.
“Yammering” does not get it done. Brokenness, repentance, humility and prayer will bring us to obedience and a fresh call to make Jesus known. We are not at the end of the way. We can retool, rethink, surrender at a deeper level to His calling AND Go!!!
I AM IN – AND SO ARE YOU!
(this comment is in response to another that has since been deleted) I hear what you are saying, but none of those things are true in Indiana. Having served now for 17 years in this state, I can report that our leadership are excellent stewards of our CP dollars. There’s no “bloated bureaucracy” here — only a heart to win lost people and support churches and pastors in doing so. Long before it was trendy to move toward 50/50, We began increasing our CP percentage and have done so nearly every year for the past dozen years. Even in other… Read more »
I love my SBC family, lumps (warts?) and all, also. Your state executive director calls for increased giving, CP giving, and a greater cut of CP giving going to SBC for allocation, mainly to seminaries and mission boards. Here are some things to look at in the light of being “all in” in this manner: – The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana is nowhere near a 50/50 split. Their 2016 budget keeps about 63% of each CP dollar in-state. That is average. – Your ED’s call for additional CP giving in his state means that a church would have… Read more »
Just a couple of quick notes:
(1) Though still a small (“pioneer”) state, we desire to move toward 50:50 and have increased our % to CP nearly every year for the past 12 years — all while our total income has declined.
(2) Fees are indeed camp fees for the various things we host at the camp — also, we recently sold our convention office and are moving all operations to the camp property.
Todd I am still working this in my head since Platt’s announcement. I applaud Ind. for making a steady increase in CP giving. My guess however; it is perhaps 1% a year. My state is doing the same thing. Add to to this office buildings, camps, cars for state staff in some situations etc. the situation becomes somewhat fuzzy. I have been the recipient and beneficiary of some of these things. I am not saying by my statement do away with some of the perks. I will leave that to another discussion. I do feel however we are at a… Read more »
Every state will be different and “radical” is relative to the situation. As an insider and one who has served on our executive board for the past 5 years, I’ve seen it a little more up close here. While already a small state, we have streamlined our operations to maximize effectiveness. We have cut our operating expense dramatically, cut our staff by 60+%, moved to a regional model for strategists, sold our state office building and are combining operations to one property, etc. All of this began well ahead of GCR under our previous ED and continued under our current… Read more »
I appreciate that you value your state convention. My rank conjecture is that most pastors have difficulty in assigning value to their state convention as it relates to them individually and to their church. That said, as an outsider, I recognize that SCBI has made considerable changes and are to be commended for such. The only thing that got my attention to your OP was the use of the IMB’s crisis as a platform for promotion the Cooperative Program. The relevant quote from your ED is: “Out of the increased tithes and offerings, let’s increase Cooperative Program giving through each… Read more »
I can understand that critique from an outsider’s perspective, but I believe SCBI has grounds to call for an increase to CP based on its ministry alone. Dr. Seagle’s is not, in my opinion, a typical ED seeing an opportunity in the IMB crisis to promote CP. As I’ve observed him, he is an impassioned leader with a deep love for the gospel and a contagious commitment to seeking God’s glory through cooperative work and total dependence on the Lord. Yes, I’m an admirer, but that admiration is based on real substance and experience with a man who has poured… Read more »
I made no judgment about motivations and presume the best. It is merely our system to promote CP on this basis. The result of that, among pastors who know the percentages and allocations, is that the CP is diminished, not enhanced. I see this promotional emphasis constantly in my state.
Todd
I know Cecil, he is a good man and an EXCELLENT preacher. He did a good job in Florida especially in Evangelism. I do feel however, that it could be beneficial for state conventions to forward all increase dollar for dollar to the EC or wherever. This would allow for 100% of the increase to go to the needed areas. This could be done for 2 maybe 3 years then reevaluate without real harm to the state budget. This would be “radical”
Todd My comment was generic and not directed to Ind. In fact my state needs some work in the area of the “split”. A “reply” to your comment was an easy place to put it. My observation re. Fl. is also from a close up perspective, having been there as a pastor and other relevant factors. While what they are doing is painful to those employed, it is my personal opinion that the churches will not suffer at all because of the drastic cuts. ‘Nuff said about that. I agree that “radical” is relative as long as it is not… Read more »
The easiest way to increase imb funding is not pushing for more cp dollars. We should challenge churches to do more in cp missions giving but cp dollars come from budgets. Most churches already have very tight budgets. On the other hand, the Lottie Moon offering is not a church offering but an individual offering. Just putting a lottie moon envelope in the hand of every southern baptist in every church on any given sunday morning and asking them put something in it and place it in the offering plate would yield an offering that would easily meet the 35… Read more »
I don’t know that it would generate $35+ million but it wouldn’t hurt. I believe the trend is for churches to budget some or all of the LMCO, though I never did that.
Well …. the string continues uninterrupted. I have yet to see an article which acknowledges that A) God is our source of supply; B) God pays for what He wants done, or; C) Something must therefore be amiss with the system, evidenced by the fact that God is not paying what we think He should.
And I maintain the failure is pretty much SBC-wide: the failure to make disciples.
I don’t disagree…but could it be, Bob, that discussions, evaluations, and critiques such as are common here presume each of your A, B, and C points?
Sorry, Bob, but I do disagree. I’ve seen a lot of our missionaries at work and I think they are making disciples. I’m not sure what your definition of “making disciples” is, nor on what authority you condemn every single SBC missionary and the entire SBC as “not making disciples.” That seems an over-broad and unfair accusation. Can we do better at disciple-making? Absolutely. I can. My church can. But the idea that we aren’t making disciples convention-wide is an unfair generalization and, frankly, degrading to a lot of good missionaries, some pretty good pastors, a not a few faithful… Read more »
Not referring to the IMB’s missionaries, Daave. I am referring to the SBC and its churches here. And the dismal attendance of their membership.
I think Bob makes an interesting point. “God is paying for what he wants done.” When God supplies we have an obligation to use what he supplies in furtherance of his causes – but we also have an obligation to not spend more than he supplies. I don’t know – is it possible that the IMB and many of our churches have fallen into the trap of “if we spend it he will supply it.” Rather then a more responsible and biblical approach of “we will faithfully spend what he supplies”. Like I said – I don’t know – but… Read more »
Tarheel
Yeah, an interesting dilemma.
There are no churches doing anything in the SBC to make disciples?
Ahould have sold the camp and kept the property on High School Road IMO
Yes, the state of Indiana has been “bloated” for many yrs that I am aware; however, I have been gone 3 now.
Never understood the “camp” thing, but then again I am in a minority on a lot of issues. Churches would do well the institute activity within the “local church atmosphere” rather than “camping”. Again JMO and yes, I know that I have committed sacrilidge
Grace and peace
Romans 5:1