The South Carolina Baptist Convention is collecting the 2008 Annual Church Profile (ACP), and Colleton Baptist Association was the first to report with 100 percent participation among its 30 churches. Palmetto Association has also received ACP reports from all of its 24 churches.
The ACP collects relevant statistical data – including membership, church giving, and numbers of baptisms – from South Carolina Baptist churches. The data is also used by the Southern Baptist Convention. The SCBC data processing office uses ACP information to equip churches with trends and other customized demographics to better reach their surrounding community with the gospel.
According to Phil Charpie, SCBC database manager, a church shouldn’t keep records just so it can give an annual report to the convention, but to help in planning and for its growth.
Sherry Seigler, ministry assistant and clerk for Colleton Association, set deadlines for Colleton Association churches and followed up with many to complete their ACP reporting ahead of schedule. “Some churches may think the information isn’t used, but we definitely use it,” she said. Colleton Association uses their churches’ information to create statistical graphs, newsletter reports, to monitor church growth, and in leadership profiling.
All ACP reports are due to the SCBC by Nov. 7. Churches should contact associational offices for their reporting deadlines.