NASHVILLE – While 2023 national giving through the Cooperative Program is off to a slower start than in the past, the December total was the highest this fiscal year – possibly affirming signs of a strengthening of the American economy after a season of record inflation.
“During a season of financial challenges which many in our country are experiencing, all SBC entities have much to be thankful for because of the faithfulness of Southern Baptists,” SBC Executive Committee interim president Willie McLaurin said in a statement. “I am encouraged by the committed efforts of many faithful members of our churches to provide for Cooperative Program budget needs. The fact that more than 95% of our budget needs are being met reveals afresh the faithfulness of a God who provides.”
December National Cooperative Program giving:
- Monthly budgeted amount: $16,022,500.00
- December 2022 giving: $15,855,780.80
- Above/under budget: $166,719.20 (1.04 percent) under budget
Total National Cooperative Program giving:
- Year to date budgeted amount: $48,067,500.00
- Year to date giving: $45,714,999.59
- Above/under budget: $2,352,500.41 (4.89 percent) under budget
Designated giving:
- December giving: $4,175,731.87
- Year to date giving: $12,193,822.06
- Previous year total: $12,830,448.71
- Above/under previous year: $636,626.65 (4.96 percent) under previous year
The convention-adopted budget for 2022-2023 is $192,270,000 and includes an initial $200,000 special priority allocation for the SBC Vision 2025 initiative. Cooperative Program funds are then disbursed as follows:
- 50.41 percent to international missions through the International Mission Board
- 22.79 percent to North American missions through the North American Mission Board
- 22.16 percent to theological education through the six SBC seminaries and the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives
- 2.99 percent to the SBC operating budget
- 1.65 percent to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
If national CP gifts exceed the budget projection at the end of the fiscal year, the balance of the overage is distributed according to the percentages approved for budgetary distribution. The SBC Executive Committee distributes all CP and designated gifts it receives on a weekly basis to the SBC ministry entities.
CP allocation budget gifts received by the Executive Committee are reported monthly to the executives of the entities of the convention, to the state convention offices, to the state Baptist papers and are posted online at sbc.net/cp.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Jonathan Howe is vice president for communications at the SBC Executive Committee.)
