NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program are up nearly 2.21 percent compared to the same time frame in 2003, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman.
As of Dec. 31, 2004, the year-to-date total of $46,271,985.66 for Cooperative Program (CP) Missions is $1,002,275.81 ahead of the $45,269,709.85 received at the same point in 2003. For the month, receipts of $14,281,730.64 were 5.13 percent, or $696,570.81, above the $13,585,159.83 received in December 2003.
Designated giving of $10,376,456.44 for the same year-to-date period is 15.97 percent, or $1,971,868.29, below gifts of $12,348,324.73 received at this point last year. The $4,125,884.19 in designated gifts received last month is $122,841.16 below the $4,248,725.35 of December 2003, a decrease of 2.89 percent.
For the SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, the year-to-date total of $46,271,985.66 is 101.03 percent of the $45,800,423.52 budgeted, or $471,562.14 above budget to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America.
At the close of their last fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004, Southern Baptists recorded a 3.64 percent increase in CP giving, for a record total of $189,865,254.85.
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 2004-05 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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