Giving slightly down, but spending restraint keeps convention ahead

CORPUS CHRISTI?Although Cooperative Program receipts were $707,614 short of the budgeted pace for 2010 through the end of October, under-spending of nearly $1.2 million, year-to-date, helped produce a net operating income of $1,104,971 through October, SBTC Chief Financial Officer Joe Davis said.

Addressing the SBTC Executive Board during its fall meeting Nov. 17 in Corpus Christi, Davis added, "Most of your churches are feeling the economy. We are feeling it as well."

The convention continues to have approximately eight months of operating reserve?$8,195.670?based on the 2010 in-state budget, Davis said.

Giving through the SBTC to mission offerings also is slightly down from last year. Through 10 months of the Annie Armstrong Offering year (Jan.-Dec.), giving through the SBTC of $2,113,02 was down $116,103 from last year. Lottie Moon giving, through five months of the offering year (June-May), of $590,539 was down $458,378 from the same period last year. The Reach Texas Offering, through two months of the giving year (Sept.-Aug.), tallied $287,442, off $35,425 from the same period last year.

Board chairman John Meador, pastor of First Baptist Church of Euless, implored board members to pray for local churches and for the convention and "to be champions for the causes they represent."

"Churches are showing some real nerve, some real courage" in the economic downturn by faithfully giving to gospel work through the SBTC, Meador said.

The board reelected as officers, unopposed, Meador as chairman; Hal Kinkeade of Spring, as vice chairman, and Barbara Smith of Lindale, as secretary.

The board also approved $902,200 in surplus funds for a variety of budgeted and special allocation ministries, including: $15,000 for Cooperative Program promotion; $30,000 to supplement the budget for the SBTC Hispanic Initiative and Ethnic Ministries area; $116,200 for a seminary extension at Darrington Prison near Houston run by Southwestern Seminary's Houston campus; and a $300,000 grant to the SBTC Foundation, which is still in its early growth.

The board also renewed an affiliation agreement with Criswell College.