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Cooperative Program gifts .76% less due to BGCT giving changes


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Gifts to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program of $12,650,999.98 were 11.59 percent below the total for May 2000, according to a news release from the treasurer of the SBC, Morris H. Chapman.

For the fiscal year to date, October 2000 through May 2001, CP giving stands at .76 percent less than the same period a year ago, $117,580,589.31 compared to $118,479,606.61.

The year-to-date decline is attributed to a major drop in CP gifts from the Baptist General Convention of Texas, according to David Hankins, vice president for Cooperative Program.

“From February through May, the BGCT has forwarded approximately $3.5 million to be distributed as ‘designated,'” Hankins told Baptist Press. “Traditionally, those gifts would have been forwarded as Cooperative Program gifts.

“Had the $3.5 million been forwarded in the traditional manner, those gifts would be counted as Cooperative Program and the receipts year to date would be approximately $2.6 million or 2.1 percent ahead of last year’s giving,” Hankins noted.

May’s $12.65 million total was $1,658,091.82 below May 2000 gifts of $14,309,091.80 to support Southern Baptist CP missions and ministries globally and across North America.

In designated giving during May, the total of $14,980,447.66 was 5.64 percent above May 2000’s $14,179,998.17, an increase of 800,449.49. For the fiscal year to date, designated giving is 3.95 percent above last year’s pace, $131,750,114.60 as compared to $126,743,712.86, an increase of $5,006,401.74.

For the SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, the year-to-date receipts are $5,582,999.31 above the budgeted $97,997,891.25, or 104.98 percent of budget. The monthly receipts showed the $12,650,999.98 received as 90.37 percent of the budgeted amount of $13,999,698.75.

The SBC Cooperative Program total includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 2000-2001 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, Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund 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.
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  • Todd Starnes