The Clear Winner
July 3, 2006 -
The Clear Winner
by Dr. David Tolliver - July 3, 2006
THE CLEAR WINNER at the recent Southern Baptist Convention was the COOPERATIVE PROGRAM for missions and ministry!
Even before the highly anticipated Presidential election, CP was the focus of attention during the Executive Committee report. Debate began when the Executive Committee recommended some changes to the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Cooperative Program. Earlier this year, the Ad Hoc committee had recommended that Southern Baptists should elect officers coming from Southern Baptist churches that gave at least 10% through the Cooperative Program. In February, the SBC Executive Committee adopted the Ad Hoc Committee report, recommending that it be passed on the convention for adoption. However, at the pre-convention meeting of the SBC Executive Committee, the committee reversed itself and removed the 10% figure. The new recommendation simply called for those who would lead Southern Baptists to come from churches that give “…sacrificially and proportionally a large percentage of their undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program”. The debate ensued.
There were those who argued that percentages are not the issue. There were others who argued passionately that under the principle “not equal gifts but equal sacrifice,” percentages are the most accurate measure of missions commitment. I must tell you that, personally, I can argue either way. Percentages are accurate gauges of missions commitment in my opinion. But you should know that I do not believe that CP percentages should ever become a litmus test for participation in Southern Baptist life. Besides, many of you give more than 10% and I don’t want you to reduce your giving to meet the standard? In my mind, whether the 10% measurement stayed in the recommendation was not the most important issue. The important thing is that Southern Baptists are once again, realizing the importance and talking about CP. The amendment to place the 10% standard back into the recommendation failed. But whenever Southern Baptists discuss missions and ministry through the CP, the world wins!
And, Dr. Frank Page, a CP champion was elected President of the SBC. Why? Was it because he is a conservative? No. Although Frank Page is a conservative, the other two candidates also are theological conservatives. Was it because Dr. Page is the pastor of a very large SBC church? No. Both of the other candidates also pastor very large SBC churches. The reason that Frank Page was elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention is that he is CP champion---he is a mission-minded pastor leading a mission-minded church to give significantly through the CP to reach the world for Christ! I am convinced that the current SBC President will lead all Southern Baptists to go further and do more cooperatively to fulfill the Great Commission!
The CLEAR WINNER at the 2006 SBC was the COOPERATIVE PROGRAM!
