Cooperative Program giving down nearly 12.7% nationally in June compared to June 2021

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NASHVILLE (BP) – For the second time in three months, Cooperative Program giving failed to meet budgeted expectations in June.

Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee interim President Willie McLaurin blamed the economy for the lower-than-expected receipts, making no mention of  an assortment of divisive issues that stirred debate at the SBC annual meeting in June.

 “Families are feeling the daily economic pressures as they visit the grocery store and fuel pump, yet they have been steadfast in giving tithes and offering through their local churches,” McLaurin said in a statement on Wednesday. “Although we saw a slight decline in June Cooperative Program receipts, I am confident that our great God will provide for families and our fellowship of churches like never before.”

Despite the dip in giving, Cooperative Program receipts remain more than $10.6 million ahead for the fiscal year with three months remaining.

“It is my prayer that we will finish the next three months of the Cooperative Program fiscal year strong so that we can continue to advance the Great Commission together,” McLaurin said.

The amount given through the Cooperative Program in June 2022 was down 12.68% from June 2021 and 3.85% less than the monthly budgeted amount.

The Cooperative Program is the financial fuel to fund the SBC mission and vision of reaching every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state and every nation. Begun in 1925, local churches contribute to the ministries of its state convention and the missions and ministries of the SBC through a unified giving plan to support both sets of ministries. Monies include receipts from individuals, churches and state conventions for distribution according to the 2021-2022 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.

State and regional conventions retain a portion of church contributions to Southern Baptists’ Cooperative Program to support work in their respective areas and forward a percentage to SBC national and international causes. The percentage of distribution is at the discretion of each state or regional convention.

Month-to-month swings reflect a number of factors, including the timing of when the cooperating state Baptist conventions forward the national portion of Cooperative Program contributions to the Executive Committee, the day of the month churches forward their program contributions to their state conventions, the number of Sundays in a given month and the percentage of contributions forwarded to the SBC by the state conventions after shared ministry expenses are deducted.

Designated contributions include the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, Southern Baptist Global Hunger Relief, Disaster Relief and other special gifts. This total includes only those gifts received and distributed by the Executive Committee and does not reflect designated gifts contributed directly to SBC entities.

Cooperative program, Giving, Missions