A Book Review on A Unity of Purpose: 100 Years of the SBC Cooperative Program
A Needed Source Book for a Rich Heritage About a Wounded Mission Funding Vehicle. (To be followed the first week of June by my life testimony about the Cooperative Program.)
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[Also see When He Talked About Giving Through the Cooperative Program, I Knew . . . HERE.]
A Needed Source Book for A Rich Heritage About a Wounded Missional Funding Vehicle
My copy arrived on the day the book was published, and I immediately started going through it. I commend Tony Wolfe and Madison Grace for undertaking this project and securing a broad base of official Southern Baptist leaders to contribute to it. On the 100th anniversary of this historic missional funding channel supporting the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment, it is wonderful to have this volume available.
I hope every SBC leader, pastor, denominational and church staff member, and key lay leaders will familiarize themselves with the funding history of the SBC. Additionally, I hope that everyone preparing to be ministers and missionaries within the SBC will have the chance to read this book.
Having attended SBC congregations for 75 years, served as an SBC denominational worker for five decades, and been an ordained SBC minister for 52 years, I did not learn many new things. However, I would be considered an outlier compared to the average reader.
Missing Perspectives
As someone dedicated to understanding and sharing Southern Baptist history, I believe there are significant elements that could have been included to strengthen it.
First, it's important to have a frank and open dialogue about the fact that the Cooperative Program (CP) is a wounded funding stream in SBC life. The typical congregation gives a percentage of its undesignated tithes and offerings through CP, which is half of what they contributed a generation or two ago.
Although the total amount distributed through CP has increased over the years, the percentage of contributions from congregations has declined. This means the buying power of financial gifts through CP has decreased. As a result, competition has intensified among state and regional conventions and national agencies for CP funds. Annual giving reports rarely acknowledge this reality.
Second, the book is not consistently clear on how congregations give through CP. It asked writers to reflect on the involvement and impact of CP in their lives but did not ask them to address specifically and clearly the challenge of giving sacrificially through CP. The responsibility of congregations to increase their percentage giving rather than decrease it was not presented clearly enough.
Third, the book is largely silent regarding two entities—associations and WMU. SBC members often feel confused about how their local association is funded. Some believe it comes from CP receipts, while others disagree. Those who are informed understand that financial gifts to local associations (of which there are about 1,100) are not included in CP gifts. This should have been clearer. Regular mentions of the role of Baptist associations in the overall missional support focus of the SBC would be a significant enhancement, as associations are frequently called upon to help promote CP giving.
Very little was said about the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). While WMU does not receive CP funds, its ministry of prayer, education, and various other forms of missional support plays a significant role in the aura, mystique, and strong missions support within SBC life. A section written by national WMU leaders would have been a valuable addition.
Fourth, I do not clearly recall the book addressing the impact of the closing of the Stewardship Commission of SBC in 1997 and how this affected the shift of CP promotion to the SBC Executive Committee, along with various denominational agencies and institutions. My observation is that without a separate entity promoting CP and other stewardship issues, this has further weakened CP. Promotion of CP by SBC entities can drift towards being self-serving rather than serving the kingdom. The altruism associated with CP may have been lost in this process.
Finally, the book presents the viewpoint of SBC officials—both elected and employed—on CP, while failing to incorporate a grassroots perspective on the vital role played by congregations and everyday individuals in nearly 50,000 congregations.
Once again, this is an essential book. However, one or two additional books should be written to offer a more comprehensive perspective.
Look for my personal life testimony on the Cooperative Program next week.
Let me hear from you if you want to talk about this.
Email comment received from SGH: Thank you, George, for your candid review. Thanks for celebrating what should be while also enumerating needed perspectives for an even stronger, clearer look at CP. As a debtor to CP through all three of my degrees (BA, MDiv, DMin), I will always promote CP as the best tool I know to fund missions and participate in missions, especially through the local church. Godspeed as you continue serving the LORD and his kingdom!
I haven't read the book. I may pick up a copy at the SBC Annual meeting in Dallas. I've been an SBC pastor since 1981, always leading the church I serve to give at least 10% to the Coop Program AND an additional 1-3% to the association. No matter how often I describe the way CP works I'm left with glassy eyed audiences - INCLUDING SBC SEMINARY TRAINED PASTORS! I recently asked a couple of professors of an SBC Seminary how much they teach about associations. The answer: 45 minutes or so. Ever since the 'Great Commission Resurgence' that 'redefines' missional giving I have observed more and more churches reducing their support to the CP (and thus the State Conventions) and eliminating support for associations. When I have asked denominational officials about associations I'm told how important they are...but in reality -at least in the Pacific Northwest - associations have died or are dying. No one seems to remember that associations predate denominations! Since NAMB no longer actively supports associational ministries here in the west and other places as well, I don't see much of a future for the SBC. Connectionalism is not effective at a national or even regional level. The unraveling of the CP is also damaging regional groups such as the Northwest Baptist Convention. I don't see much change coming.