Is the Cooperative Program Dying? Part II
Last week's blog asking the question, Is the Cooperative Program Dying? elicited a strong response from a number of readers. Some of the responses are found in the comment section of last weeks post, others I received through direct emails. Most have agreed that the CP is in trouble. Others felt that this years CP downturn was just related to the US economy in general. It is for these folks that I write this blog. It appears true that many of our leadership are unaware of what is happening with CP.
Let me assert: The economy is not the most significant sign that the CP is in trouble. Certainly our national economy has had a downward causal effect on the CP the last couple of years. That concerns me, but I believe that our economy will get better and the pressures that comes with a bad economy will disappear. What really concerns me is the continual downward trend in CP percentage giving by the local Baptist Church.
The SBC facts: 1988-89 was the last church year that our SBC churches gave more than 10% of undesignated receipts to the CP. The CP has incrementally decreased since 1981. In 92-93, CP dropped to an average of under 9% of undesignated giving. 2000-01 the average CP giving dropped to under 8% and two years later it dropped to under 7%. Last year it hit 6.082%, and it appears that this year's CP giving will most likely dip (maybe by a large amount due to the economy) under 6%.
The KBC facts: The good news is that the KBC churches did not fall below 10% (1998) as early as the average SBC giving. The bad news is that once we started the downward trend, we have fallen faster. More bad news: The giving dropped below 8% in 2004 and last year we dropped below 7%. By the way, undesignated receipts in KBC churches have gone from $183,930,749 in 97 to $335,091,508 in 2008. Tat's nearly a 100% increase in money coming into our churches while CP giving percentage has fallen.
Now, if these statistics do not convince you that the CP is in dire straits--I probably can't convince you.
Next week, I will give you my opinion why I think this has happend and at some point I will suggest some ideas of what we can do.
As I close, I want to make one final point absolutely clear. I strongly believe in the Cooperative Program. I believe that it has been and is the greatest missionary resource that has ever been developed. I beleive that its inception was Holy Spirit led and that God has blessed the world through the giving and administration of Cooperative Program funds. If it can be saved, I want to be part of its' salvation. If it can't be saved and we need to scrap it and develop a new way of funding missions (Right now I can't envision another process that could replace CP effectiveness) then let's get on with it. But let's quit ignoring the problem, get our heads out of the sand and do something about the problem. This is the Great Commission issue.
34 Comments posted by: Larry Baker on June 10th, 2009
