Cooperative Program - absolutely essential to future of SBC

February 2009

Recently, I was wondering what the Southern Baptist Convention would look like in a post Cooperative Program world. The thought was scary. I could imagine two or three of our seminaries going out of business. I could imagine the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board combining to make the best use of severely decreased resources.

What would a Southern Baptist Convention without the Cooperative Program be? One thing is for sure. It would be much weaker. Some might ask, “How do you know?” I know because that is what the Convention was like before the Cooperative Program. All of our agencies struggled. Churches were constantly harassed by agents seeking funds. All in all, it just did not work well.

There are days when I believe that we are heading toward the end of the Cooperative Program. I hope it doesn’t happen, but I know that the trends show a continuing decrease of support by churches. It may not happen while I am still active in ministry, but those who are just beginning their ministries may have to face that reality.

One thing is for sure though, Kansas-Nebraska Baptists will not let Cooperative Program go without a fight. Ken James, KNCSB Stewardship Director, recently shared with me the results of a survey done among our churches related to Cooperative Program and stewardship. The survey was done in late 2007 and early 2008.

This survey showed that 89% of pastors and 98% of laymen were generally satisfied with the Cooperative Program. Most pastors and laymen either strongly agreed or agreed that the Cooperative Program supported local, national and international mission efforts that the churches of KNCSB found to be valuable.

Most of our churches still support the Cooperative Program by giving a percentage of their undesignated receipts. The median percent given by KNCSB churches using that method of giving is 7%. A few churches have adopted a “flat line” or fixed amount for missions.

Eighty-nine percent of KNCSB pastors and laymen still agree that the Cooperative Program is the most effective way to support the spread of the gospel worldwide. If you have been reading this column since I became the editor of the Digest, you will know that I believe that the Cooperative Program is absolutely essential to the future of the Southern Baptist Convention. I grew up in a denomination that did not emphasize missions and had lost its evangelistic zeal. I don’t want that to happen to Southern Baptists.

Whatever your position of leadership in your church, encourage others around you to support the Cooperative Program!

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