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SBC Cooperative Program down for month; year up

by , posted Tuesday, March 02, 1999 (25 years ago)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program receipts for February were down slightly compared to a year ago while the year-to-date total remains ahead of the similar period a year ago, according to Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee.

For February 1999, CP receipts totaled $13,969,070 compared to February 1998 of $14,072,308, a decrease of .75 percent or $105,237.

For the SBC fiscal year, after five months, CP gifts totaled $70,200,855 compared to the previous year’s total of $66,606,966, an increase of 5.40 percent or $3,593,888.

Designated gifts for the month of February were $43,951,225 compared to the same month in 1998 of $48,179,231, a decrease of 8.78 percent or $4,228,005. For the year to date, designated gifts total $73,024,773 compared to the previous year of $77,299,241, a decrease of 5.53 percent or $4,274,468.

For the SBC’s Program Allocation Budget at the end of five months, the required budget amount of $66,585,717 was surpassed by $3,615,137, an increase of 5.43 percent. For the month of February, the required monthly budget figure of $12,917,143 was surpassed by $1,049,926, or an increase of 8.13 percent.

The SBC Cooperative Program total includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 1998-99 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.

The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists' method of supporting missions and ministry efforts of state and regional conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention. Designated contributions include the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions, world hunger and other special gifts.

State and regional conventions retain a percentage of Cooperative Program contributions they receive from the churches to support work in their areas and send the remaining funds to the Executive Committee for national and international ministries. The percentage of distribution is at the discretion of each state or regional convention.