CP in October: 3.3% below last year
October contributions through the SBC Cooperative Program were 3.32 percent below CP gifts received in October 2005. As of Oct. 31, 2006, Cooperative Program gifts of $15,358,955 were $527,686 below the $15,886,642 received last October. Meanwhile, designated giving of $2,888,870 during October was 18.67 percent, or $663,377, below gifts of $3,552,248 received last October. For the SBC Cooperative Program allocation budget, the October total of $15,358,955 is 94.06 percent of the $16,329,035 budgeted to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. During the convention’s last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, Cooperative Program gifts topped the $200-million mark for the first time.
Wal-Mart: Gay-friendly and proud of it
On its official walmartstores.com website, Wal-Mart promotes its alliances with homosexual groups, along with other minority groups, on a web page devoted to diversity. Under the heading, “Relationships with Minority and Women Constituent Groups,” Wal-Mart says its diversity relations division “establishes and maintains productive, trust-based partnerships with women and minority stakeholder groups, community leaders and suppliers to continually improve Wal-Mart’s reputation as a socially responsible enterprise.” Among a list of minority groups, including African-Americans, Asians, women and Hispanics, is a subheading called “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender.” The groups listed under that category are the Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Out & Equal (Workplace Advocates), and The Point Foundation. Don Wildmon, chairman of AFA, urged his supporters to contact their local Wal-Mart stores, express their displeasure and shop elsewhere.
BGCT reports $1.3M fraud, mismanagement
Phantom churches and ignored accountability standards cost Texas Baptists more than $1.3 million between 1999 and 2005, according to a report presented to the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ executive board. Allegations of fraud and mismanagement in church-starting operations in the Rio Grande River Valley attracted attention from the FBI as early as 2000, according to the report. In listing various other oversight miscues, the report states that “the allegations by federal authorities of fraud did not generate an internal (BGCT) investigation of these issues.” Of 357 churches started from 1999-2005, 258 were started by pastors Otto Arango of McAllen, Tex.; Aaron de la Torre of Hidalgo; and Armando Vera of Pharr. Five of those 258 churches are still in existence today. According to the report, de la Torre said he and Arango would submit fraudulent paperwork to the BGCT with names of new churches under the sponsorship of his church and receive a one-time startup gift. Then, de la Torre would write a check to Arango’s Institute for Church Starting for the amount of the gift. Arango would then write a check to de la Torre for one-half the amount.