2010 budget passes
By Melissa Lilley
GREENSBORO (BSCNC Communications) - Messengers to the 179th annual session of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC) voted to approve a 2010 budget that is $5 million less than the 2009 budget and is the first budget since 1990 with a single plan. Steve Hardy, chairman of the Budget Committee (Committee), brought the budget report and explained that the Committee, as directed by the BSCNC Executive Committee, prepared a budget within 2009 anticipated income levels. The 2010 budget is $34,808,250, on track with the 2009 BSCNC internal budget of about $35 million.
Although the Convention in 2007 approved a 2009 budget of more than $39 million, the BSCNC worked throughout the year on this internal budget in an effort to keep the Convention operating in the black. The internal budget included several major components, such as freezing salaries for program staff; reducing staff travel budgets and committee expenses by utilizing technology and careful planning; negotiating lower renewal rates for property and casualty insurance; and shifting more premium costs for medical care to participants.
The Convention also cut program dollars for all BSCNC ministry groups and reorganized its internal structure to “improve efficiency and reflect priorities,” Hardy said. Hardy noted that because of restructuring among ministry groups, it is impossible to compare the budget for some line items from this year to last year. For example, Administration and Convention Relations reduced expenses by $238,000, but then assumed responsibility for the Creative Team and Public Relations Office. The Business Services budget increased by $94,000 due to the addition of the NC Baptist Scholarship Program and administration of the NC Hunger Fund.
Hardy shared with the Convention that the Committee kept in mind several priorities as they prepared a budget to present to the Convention. As in the previous five years, the BSCNC increased its giving to the Southern Baptist Convention by one half percent. In 2010, 34.5 percent of the Cooperative Program missions budget will be sent on to the Southern Baptist Convention and 65.5 percent will remain for North Carolina ministries. Also a priority for the Committee was increasing funding for church planting. Church planting funds have increased by 71 percent since 2007 and next year, church planting will have $44,000 more ministry dollars than it did in 2008. “We want you to be very aware that it is the intention of our executive staff to continue increasing this type of funding,” Hardy said. Campus ministry is another area benefiting from an increase in funds next year. The Evangelization Group budget increases by $13,000 to help with operating costs of campus ministry.
The Committee also continued to follow the reduction plan approved by the Convention for direct funding of affiliated educational institutions. The new relationship with the affiliated educational institutions was established with the agreement that the BSCNC would reduce unrestricted direct funding by 25 percent each year beginning in 2009. Therefore, by 2012 the BSCNC will no longer provide direct funding, including funds formerly identified as the “enrollment formula” to these schools.
Questions related to the Convention administrated scholarship program were raised as individuals desired clarification regarding the funds available for this program. The 2010 budget decreases the amount allocated for scholarships by $350,000 due to the fact that fewer students applied for the scholarships in 2009 than in 2008. The 2010 allocation reflects the number and amount of the scholarships awarded in 2009. The amount awarded each scholarship in 2008 and 2009 has been the same: $1,500. The former Council on Christian Higher Education, now known as the Committee on Christian Higher Education, establishes the amount of the annual scholarship once the Convention approves its annual budget. This committee will address this issue at its January 2010 meeting.
Tommy Tripp, a messenger from Bethany Baptist Church in Colerain, asked how much money was awarded through the NC Baptist Scholarship Program. It appeared that $350,000 was not distributed from the line item in 2009. While he was not recognized to address this question, Brian Davis, Executive Leader for Administration and Convention Relations (who works with the Committee on Christian Higher Education), explained that due to the overall budget shortfall there are no remaining scholarship funds. “The only way we could have any monies remaining in this line item is to meet budget, which we realize we will not do in 2009.” Davis was asked, “What would the committee’s recommendation be if there were ever a budget surplus for scholarships?” Davis replied, “When this scenario was discussed during the planning stages for the new scholarship program, the sentiment at that time was to move any surpluses into an endowment for the perpetuation of scholarships. However, the Convention has not enjoyed a surplus where such a fund could be established.”
In next year’s budget, the Baptist Children’s Homes will receive a $75,000 increase and the Developmentally Disabled Ministry a $35,000 increase. Biblical Recorder funds decrease by six percent. Although Ministry to Aging Adults decreases by $150,000, this reduction comes because Michael Blackwell, who is giving leadership to this ministry as he serves as president of the Children’s Homes, shared with the Committee that the ministry could accomplish its purposes with less funds than initially allocated. Another cost savings comes with regards to the Convention and Board Groups. The BSCNC will reduce Convention and Board operations by $750,000 as it significantly reduces meeting costs, annual session costs through negotiated contracts, and insurance and benefits expenditures.
Due to the single giving plan, two ministry areas that received special designations within the alternate giving plans are now included in the 2010 general allocations. The Church Planting and Missions Development Group includes $370,000 for Partnership Missions. Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute will receive $225,000. These two amounts are similar to those formerly included in the special designations for each ministry within the former multiple giving plans.
Congregational Services took the largest cut of the BSCNC ministry groups. The 2010 budget reduces the budget for this group by $500,000.
Messengers did not entertain much discussion about the proposed budget before voting. Those who did step to the microphones did so only to ask questions for clarification. Reese Linnell, a messenger from Centre Point Baptist Church in Oakboro, asked how one could obtain information about funds in the BSCNC reserves (copies of the annual audit are available upon request from Business Services). In 2010, the Special Reserves line items will be reduced to reflect existing reserve balances available to meet anticipated 2009 expenses.
North Carolina Missions Offering
Messengers also adopted allocations for the proposed 2010 North Carolina Missions Offering. No discussion was needed before voting. The goal for 2010 remains the same as 2009: $2,100,000. Allocations include: NC Baptist Men, $856,720; church planting, $596,000; mission work camps, $313,080; missions education and promotion, $124,200; and associational projects, $210,000
