Cooperative Program receipts through September are more than $1 million short of budgeted needs for the year but up slightly from the same period a year ago, according to figures released by Pam Carroll, chief financial officer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

September 2014 receipts of $2.48 million put the state convention at $20.33 million in CP receipts for the calendar year, or 4.88 percent below budgeted needs through the third quarter. A year ago, CP giving from churches was 5.97 percent below budgeted needs.

SCBC messengers this November will consider adopting a $28.6 million budget for 2015 at their annual meeting. The budget has remained at $28.6 million since 2012. The proposed budget for 2015 reflects a decrease of $89,144 (to $8.8 million) in the Executive Board ministries section of the budget.

The convention’s approval of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report in 2011 fixed the budgeted amount for Anderson University, Charleston Southern University, North Greenville University, Connie Maxwell Children’s Home and South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging for a period of five years.

The Baptist Foundation of South Carolina is on a set schedule to reduce Cooperative Program support toward a goal of self-sufficiency. Funding to The Baptist Courier was reduced by 10 percent each year for a period of three years, to be followed by review. The Courier has agreed to a $50,000 reduction in its Cooperative Program support for 2015.

The SCBC budget sets aside direct funds for the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. While the funds are not disbursed if the budget is not met, Budget, Finance & Audit Committee chairman Marshall Blalock said the Executive Board will consider funding the IMB budget amount from the convention’s fund balance if there is a budget shortfall in 2015.