‘Dismal’ CP support should invalidate Floyd for SBC president

Editor's note: This commentary will appear in the May 18 print edition and was posted early because of potential interest in the subject matter.

 

Hearing the news that Ronnie Floyd will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention in Greensboro next month first brought acceptance and pleasure – that is, until I read of his dismal record of cooperation through the Cooperative Program.

Just as a pastor grows weary of a wealthy church member bringing token offerings to the storehouse of the local church while giving generously to various parachurch ministries, I am troubled by the nomination of Floyd, a man who has led the First Baptist Springdale for more than 20 years. My distress with his nomination is not found in his leadership, but in his lack of cooperation. Do others share my concern with Floyd’s nomination?

First Baptist Springdale had nearly $12 million in undesignated receipts in 2005 and yet gave only $32,000 – a mere .27 percent – through the Cooperative Program. I do not see that as faithfulness and cooperation. Baptist Press reported that Floyd’s church gave an additional $189,000 to “SBC causes distributed through the SBC allocation budget.” This is a bypass of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and its vital ministries. It does not speak of cooperation on the state convention level. Even so, the $189,000 is only 1.6 percent of their undesignated receipts. Combining both figures only produces a meager 1.8 percent.

I celebrate the fact that Floyd’s congregation has planted many churches in America and overseas, but this should be expected for such a large church. Remember what Jesus said: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more” (Luke 12:48).

Moreover, how could Southern Baptists have sat back idly while he “served on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention for 10 years, serving for two of those years as its chairman” (according to BP) with such a poor record of cooperation? But that is not the issue since we cannot change the past.

The future, however, can be met with informed decision-making. Though I have never met Brother Floyd, I like him. I have several of his books. I have enjoyed his television broadcasts. He is a strong conservative who faithfully preaches the Bible.

Nevertheless, I do not believe we need to go to Greensboro and elect a president who does not demonstrate faithfulness to the convention he is being nominated to lead.

Ironically, at the same meeting where Floyd’s nomination will be considered, the SBC Executive Committee will present a report encouraging tithing by church members, Cooperative Program support and “that we encourage the election of state and national convention officers whose churches give at least 10 percent of their undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program.”

Defending this recommendation, Anthony Jordan, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and chairman of the Ad Hoc Cooperative Program Committee, said: “Our point is simply this: We believe that those who make decisions and those who are involved in the process of leading the work of Southern Baptists ought to be those who are committed to the very things that we’re about. And that is evidenced by their commitment through the Cooperative Program.... [T]hey are the kind of people we want to stand up and lead us and encourage us.”

I believe every Southern Baptist should read the full report of the Ad Hoc CP Committee, of which our own John Sullivan is a member. The report is available online at here.

Southern Baptists are at a perilous juncture in the cooperative life of our convention. Many local church leaders who have faithfully loved and supported the causes of the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program are passing from the landscape. These leaders are being replaced by people who do not have a strong commitment to tithe nor to faithfully support the ministry of our convention through the Cooperative Program.

Therefore, it is vitally important that we select leaders who not only demonstrate cooperation by their leadership in their local churches, but also will lead our convention in a deeper understanding and commitment to cooperative support, while maintaining our firm theological convictions outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message.

I am 44 years old and have served as a pastor of Southern Baptist churches for over 20 years. The church I pastor today gives 12 percent through the CP. Prior to moving to Florida seven years ago, the church I served in Georgia gave 18 percent through the CP. My education was aided by the CP gifts supporting a Georgia Baptist Convention college and my seminary education was at CP-supported New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

I believe in, encourage and celebrate the CP. And I’m not alone. There are many who have a heritage with the CP, who gladly support the CP and who would willingly lead the SBC.

I believe CP support is an investment in the Great Commission. Advancing the cause of the Kingdom cannot afford for the Great Commission to become the great omission. As Southern Baptists our strength is found in our cooperation, not independence. Many may say, “But we do missions on our own.” Indeed, we do, as well, nationally and internationally, but not at the expense of cooperating.

As I write, our congregation is gathering home school literature to send to non-SBC missionaries in Asia so they can educate their four children next year. Our SBC missionary who serves near this family shared with me the need. I rejoice that because of our heritage of cooperation we do not have International Mission Board missionaries desperate for literature, supplies and essentials needed to function on the field. Moreover, I do not ever wish to see this among our missionaries. And it won’t happen if we continue to faithfully support the Cooperative Program.

Southern Baptists need to elect a president who will lead by example and by experience. In spite of the many wonderful ministries of First Baptist Springdale under Ronnie Floyd’s leadership, we do not see a substantial example of cooperation through the CP. Certainly between now and June we can find and nominate a conservative leader who has a proven record of cooperative leadership and CP support.

Michael Petty is pastor of First Baptist Church in Marianna.