Over one million set for SBC causes

EUSTIS (FBC)–Record giving by Florida Baptists resulted in the distribution of $2.2 million in Cooperative Program income overages during the State Board of Missions meeting Jan. 27 at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.

“The generosity of Florida Baptists has been absolutely overwhelming,” John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, told the Board. “We have received $2.2 million in Cooperative Program overages, $3 million in disaster relief, record gifts in special offerings and the highest state mission offering in history.”

In other action, the Board adopted a Maguire State Mission Offering goal for 2006 and recipient ministries, authorized additional funds to support the petition drive for the Marriage Protection Amendment, and approved a host of personnel and organizational changes (see related story) for the Florida Baptist Convention staff.

In disbursing the basic budget overages, the Board earmarked $1,016,139 for the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program, representing a 40 percent share as distributed by the State Convention’s 2005 basic budget. Another $100,000 was included to fulfill a commitment by the Board to retroactively provide a greater portion of the 2004 Cooperative Program income overage to the national convention.

Florida Baptist State Convention agencies were rewarded with $170,000 in CP overages which will be divided as follows: $125,000 to the Baptist College of Florida to assist in the renovation of the R. G. Lee Chapel; $25,000 to the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes for use in the agency’s Sanctity of Life program; and $20,000 to the Florida Baptist Witness.

Another $150,000 was earmarked for Associational Thrust Missions and Ministry Needs which will seek to underwrite mission and ministry needs in Florida’s 49 associations.

A sum of $49,799 will be divided evenly between the Haiti mission project and Cuba mission project to make up a shortfall in Maguire State Mission Offering budget receipts.

Urban impact ministries will receive $75,000 to underwrite the Florida Baptist Convention commitment to assist three South Florida associations in developing and executing their mission strategies.

Other allocations include $46,654 to assist in the expansion of the South Florida’s theological education center to another Miami church because of space limitations; and $300,000 for the Convention’s Reserve Fund.

The remaining disbursements are as follows: employee salary gift, $80,349; 150th Anniversary Celebration expenses, $198,110; Florida Baptist history book, $50,000; Cooperative Program contract workers, $25,000; website design, $52,318; ministers wives endowment, $25,000; legal expenses, $14,675; and state executive directors meeting expenses, $14,329.

The Board learned that gifts to the 2005 Maguire State Mission Offering, while short of the $1,358,000 goal, reached a record $1,178,303. In subsequent action, the board authorized $74,937 in associational shared receipts to be disbursed to 23 Baptist associations, the largest amount awarded in this incentive-based program.

The Board set the 2006 Maguire State Mission Offering goal at $1,439,000 and approved allocations for 26 ministries sponsored by Florida Baptist churches, associations and the state convention.

The allocations are outlined in nine categories: priority items including the William J. Guess Church Site Fund, $475,000; “Everyone Can” evangelism emphasis, $29,000; Haiti mission project, $120,000; Cuba mission project, $120,000; Brazil Evangelism/Amazon River Basin mission project, $80,000; partnership pastoral salary assistance, $130,000; mission outreach ministries $250,000; developing believers through camps, $185,000; and student evangelism outreach, $50,000.

After learning $2.7 million had been received by the state in disaster relief funds, the Board rescinded its September action to earmark $600,000 in Cooperative Program overages for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, authorizing that funds from disaster relief receipts be used instead.

Hearing the required number of signatures on the Marriage Protection Amendment may not be secured before the Feb. 1 deadline, the Board approved an additional $15,000 be sent to the Florida4Marriage coalition working in support of the proposed Constitutional amendment. The Board authorized an earlier expenditure of $25,000 to support the organization’s efforts.

In other action, the board:

• approved the revision of the Florida Baptist State Convention Bylaw 2 to set in place a procedure for notifying new congregations of expectations set forth in the Bylaw;

• heard that 14 congregations – five Anglo, three Hispanic, two African-American; three Haitian and one Korean – had withdrawn from cooperation from their local associations and would be contacted about requirements to receive church-at large status;

• authorized the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes to undertake a “low-key” fundraising campaign to underwrite the cost of constructing a Learning Center on the Miami campus;

The next Board meeting will be held May 18-19 at Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center.