CARY, N.C. — The Executive Committee of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s board of directors endorsed a $31 million Cooperative Program (CP) budget proposal for 2025 that was presented by the board’s Budget Special Committee for consideration on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The $31 million proposal reflects the same overall total as the current 2024 budget, and it also keeps CP receipts allocated equally between N.C. Baptists and global ministry partners after reaching a 50/50 split last year.
Members of the Executive Committee unanimously approved the proposal as presented during a regularly scheduled meeting held via video conference call.
The proposal will now be presented to the full N.C. Baptist board of directors for consideration during the board’s upcoming meeting in September. Following action by the board, the budget proposal will be presented to messengers attending this November’s N.C. Baptist annual meeting in Greensboro for final consideration and approval.
While Cooperative Program giving in 2024 is expected to slightly exceed last year’s total of about $29.3 million, gifts are not expected to meet this year’s budget of $31 million, according to current projections. Based on those factors, members of the Budget Special Committee recommended keeping the 2025 budget at the same level as 2024 in the proposal.
“We really feel like the best thing that we can do is keep this number at $31 million,” said Budget Special Committee Chairman Aaron Wallace in his presentation to the Executive Committee. Wallace serves as lead pastor of Hepzibah Baptist Church in Wendell.
Officials said inflationary costs have necessitated budget increases in some areas, resulting in decreased allocations to the state’s institutions and agencies. Collectively, proposed reductions to institutions and agencies total $270,000.
In a separate measure, the Executive Committee unanimously endorsed a special challenge budget for 2025 in which CP receipts that exceed the budget would be allocated equally between global ministry partners and the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina.
Additionally, the Executive Committee unanimously endorsed a $2.6 million goal for the 2025 North Carolina Missions Offering (NCMO). The NCMO supports church planting, disaster response and the various ministries of N.C. Baptists on Mission, associational projects and more. The offering goal and allocations remain unchanged from 2024.
Miller to join NC Baptist staff
In other business, officials announced that Jason Miller, pastor of Dutch Cove Baptist Church in Canton and current state convention president, is joining the N.C. Baptist staff as a mission catalyst. Miller begins his new role Sept. 3 and will serve in regions 9 and 10, which represent a large portion of western North Carolina.
Following the announcement, Miller thanked the congregation of Dutch Cove Baptist, where he’s pastored for more than 11 years. Miller told the Executive Committee he was thankful for the opportunity to serve N.C. Baptists as a board member and as a state convention officer, adding that he is looking forward to his new role.
“The work is before us, and together we are seeing God do so many things,” Miller said. “I’m glad to be part of this movement of churches on mission together, and I’m glad to join this team in a different capacity.”
Miller’s move means he must vacate his position as state convention president effective immediately because N.C. Baptist policies do not allow employees to serve as officers or on the board of directors.
In accordance with state convention bylaws, first vice president Allen Murray, pastor of Centerville Baptist Church in Kelly, will now fill the office of president and serve out the remainder of Miller’s term.
Additionally, second vice president Steven Wade, lead pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Youngsville, will now fill the office of first vice president and serve out the remainder of Murray’s term.
Financial update
During the meeting, N.C. Baptist officials reported that through July 31, Cooperative Program receipts have totaled a little more than $16.1 million, which is nearly 2.2% below year-over-year giving and about 10.8% behind budget.
Officials also shared updates on giving to special offerings. Through July 31, gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions totaled nearly $9.8 million, gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions totaled nearly $6.2 million and gifts to the North Carolina Missions Offering totaled nearly $628,000.
The NCMO emphasis month begins in September. Promotional materials and other resources for churches are available online at ncmissionsoffering.org.
Other business
N.C. Baptist leaders also announced that board member Brooke Medina has begun serving as chair of the Articles and Bylaws Special Committee. Medina is a member of the Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham. Medina stepped into the role after former Articles and Bylaws Special Committee Chair Luke Lunceford resigned from the board after accepting a position with the N.C. Baptist staff as a regional mission catalyst in July.
The Articles and Bylaws Special Committee is planning to present some proposed changes to the state convention’s bylaws to the board of directors this fall. The proposed changes are primarily related to the executive director-treasurer search process. Any article or bylaw changes approved by the board would be presented to messengers at November’s annual meeting for consideration and final approval.
Next meeting
The Executive Committee will meet in conjunction with the next regular meeting of the N.C. Baptist board of directors, which is scheduled for Sept. 23-24 at Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro.
