NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program were 2.37 percent above the previous fiscal year, topping the $200-million mark for the first time, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman.
As of Sept. 30, 2006, the final total for the SBC Cooperative Program’s 2005-06 fiscal year stood at $200,601,536.29 -– $4,653,113.74 above the $195,948,422.55 received during the 2004-05 fiscal year, for a gain of 2.37 percent. For the month, receipts of $17,477,916.14 were 5.90 percent, or $973,043.70, above the $16,504,872.44 received in September 2005.
Designated giving of $191,428,618.05 for the fiscal year was 0.90 percent, or $1,698,784.18, above gifts of $189,729,833.87 received last year. The $3,876,404.00 in designated gifts received last month were $2,562,201.38 below the $6,438,605.38 received in September 2005, a decrease of 39.79 percent.
For the SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, fiscal year total of $200,601,536.29 was 105.65 percent of the $189,865,254.85 budgeted to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America.
The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ method of supporting missions and ministry efforts of state and regional conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Cooperative Program total includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 2005-06 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.
Designated contributions include the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund and other special gifts.
State and regional conventions retain a portion of church contributions to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program to support work in their respective areas and forward a percentage to Southern Baptist national and international causes. The percentage of distribution is at the discretion of each state or regional convention.
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