This resolution was passed by the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX. June 12-13, 2007. You can view and search past resolutions from the Southern Baptist Convention at the Annual Meeting Website.
Southern Baptist Convention 2007 Annual Meeting – Resolution No. 2 – ON THE COOPERATIVE GIVING BY SOUTHERN BAPTISTS
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1845 for the purpose of “eliciting, combining and directory for the energies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort, for the propagation of the Gospel,” supporting missions through the Domestic Mission Board and Foreign Mission Board, predecessors of the North American Mission Board and International Mission Board, respectively; and
WHEREAS, The Woman’s Missionary Union, organized in 1888, established and has since promoted offerings that became the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for support of North American missionaries and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for support of international missionaries; and
WHEREAS, The Cooperative Program was launched in 1925 to enhance giving to missions at every level, along with balanced support to other denominational programs and entities at the state and national level; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have historically been characterized as a missions people, committed to the priority of fulfilling the Great Commission to extend an evangelistic witness throughout North America and to the ends of the earth; and
WHEREAS, 2006 represented a record year in giving to the Cooperative Program, exceeding $200 million in allocations to the Southern Baptist Convention for the first time in history; and
WHEREAS, The 2006 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering set a record of $58.5 million, exceeding the goal of $56 million and becoming the largest offering collected since the $53.8 million collected in 2004; and
WHEREAS, The 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering set a record of $150.1 million, exceeding the goal of $150 million and becoming the largest offering collected since the $137.9 million collected in 2005; and
WHEREAS, This record level of giving by Southern Baptists will enable more missionaries to be sent and supported to share Christ with a lost world; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists continue to place a high priority on missions, recognizing we can do more cooperatively than each church functioning independently; and
WHEREAS, There are billions of lost people throughout the world, many having no access to the Gospel and needing to know of God’s love and the salvation He has provided through Jesus Christ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express appreciation to Southern Baptists who have faithfully and generously supported the Cooperative Program, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we also express appreciation to the churches, associations, state conventions, Southern Baptist Convention entities, and Woman’s Missionary Union for their faithful partnership and diligent promotion of missions support among Southern Baptist churches; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we give thanks to God for allowing us to join Him on mission through praying, giving, and going to bring all peoples to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
