As we think about how Southern Baptists financially support various missions and ministry endeavors on a state, national and international basis, our thoughts immediately go to the Cooperative Program. And rightly so. The Cooperative Program is the single biggest funding source in Baptist life, with many Baptist entities depending on it for at least a portion of its operating budget. In fact, receiving Coopertive Program support can be one of those things that helps defines an organization as being Southern Baptist. (LifeWay Christian Resources and Guidestone Financial Resources are, of couse, notable exceptions. There are others as well.)
Since 1925, the Cooperative Program has both helped unite Baptists around missions and ministry and at the same time has served to reflect contemporary Baptist giving priorities. These priorities can change from time to time though and we may be in one of those times now as Baptists across the Convention are soul searching about the best ways to fulfill Christ’s command to take His Gospel to every person on the planet.
To determine where we need to go though, it’s important to understand where we are now in terms of church giving to missions and ministries. Here in Kentucky, churches are financially supporting Baptist causes in a variety of ways. Based on the 2007-2008 fiscal year for the KBC (the latest available audited numbers), here’s how church giving through the Kentucky Baptist Convention shook out:
Total Giving to SBC and KBC causes — $33,176,633
Southern Baptist Convention causes — $15,916,346 (48%)
- Cooperative Program – $8,759,346
- Lottie Moon Offering – $4,435,032
- Annie Armstrong Offering – $1,970,430
- Other SBC-related designated giving – $474,930
- World Hunger Relief gifts – $276,608
Kentucky Baptist Convention causes – $17,260,287 (52%)
- Cooperative Program – $15,108,083
- Eliza Broadus State Missions Offering – $1,105,722
- Thanksgiving offering for Sunrise Children’s Services – $503,191
- Gifts designated for Kentucky only – $369,018
- Gifts designated for Kentucky Christian education – $122,463
- Other KBC-related gifts – $29,881
- Father’s Day offering for Oneida Baptist Institute – $12,829
- Mother’s Day gifts for Baptist Healthcare System – $9,100
(Ed. note: A visitor sent us an excellent question via email. We appreciate the response, and wanted to share the question and answer here. )
[Reader]: How do these numbers account for amounts not given through KBC?
Dear [reader],
I was asked to respond to your question about account for the amounts not given through the KBC.
All the amounts that are listed in the Great Commission Kentucky blog are monies that are given through the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Many of them, in fact all of them, except the Cooperative Program amounts are designated offerings, which KBC automatically forwards to the designated cause.
The KBC does not account for any monies given to KBC or SBC causes not channeled through our accounting offices. For example, many churches may give directly to Oneida Baptist Institute, Sunrise Children’s Services, the SBC Executive Committee, or any other SBC or KBC cause. The KBC has no way of knowing or tracking those monies. We only report those funds that pass through the KBC accounting offices.
So, Kentucky Baptists are really more generous, both to in-state and out-of-state causes, than what the blog figures show.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Steve Thompson
Associate Executive Director, Kentucky Baptist Convention
Thanks again to the reader who sent in the question and to Steve Thompson for responding while I was away for a few days of vacation. I want to encourage all readers to feel free to respond to the posts and to ask questions either here on the blog or by sending me an e-mail (robert.reeves@kybaptist.org). All viewpoints are welcome!