Meeting Oct. 12-13 at White Oak Conference Center, the Executive Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention approved a 2010 budget that reflects a 5.67 percent across-the-board reduction for institutions and other state Cooperative Program ministries.
The Board also approved a recommendation to utilize its contingency reserve fund at year-end for the anticipated shortfall in Cooperative Program gifts for 2009. Allocations from the reserve will go to the Southern Baptist Convention, SCBC institutions, and, as needed, to the work of the Executive Board and convention staff.
The proposed 2010 budget awaits final approval from SCBC messengers at the 189th annual meeting of the state convention, to be held Nov. 10-11 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
In his financial report, Dennis Wilkins, pastor of Bluffton First Baptist Church and chairman of the Executive Board’s budget, finance and audit committee, offered recommendations for the 2010 budget. The proposed budget reflects a reduction of the Cooperative Program section of the budget from $33,925,000 to $32,000,000.
Reductions were prorated across the entire budget, including the Southern Baptist Convention, South Carolina Baptist institutions and the work of the South Carolina Baptist Convention staff, he said.
Wilkins noted that the percentage going to the Southern Baptist Convention will continue to be 40.44 percent. He said that if state CP gifts in 2010 exceed the budgeted amount, the funds beyond the goal will be allocated as follows: International Mission Board, 55 percent; North American Mission Board, 25 percent; and mission scholarships for South Carolina participants in mission trips, 20 percent.
The budget to be presented to SCBC messengers will total $32,180,000, a decrease of $2,070,000, or 6 percent, compared to the 2009 budget.
Executive Board chairman David Anderson, pastor of Maple Cane Baptist Church, Cottageville, read a statement from the business committee’s report: “Dr. Austin has successfully managed the 2009 budget with his team during some very difficult times, and we can proudly state this morning that, through September of this year, with revenue running 7 percent below budget, Jim and our wonderful staff at our convention building are operating with expenses at $1.4 million below income, and they have still managed to meet the ministry needs of this state.” Board members stood and applauded.
Administrative Committee
D.J. Horton, pastor of Anderson Mill Road Baptist Church, Moore, and chairman of the Executive Board’s administrative committee, reported that SCBC staff members will not be receiving cost-of-living adjustments for the coming year. Increases in medical insurance costs will also mandate a change in insurance coverage and will raise out-of-pocket costs for staff, he added. Horton said a compensation study has been conducted by an independent firm, and a report will be reviewed by an ad hoc committee in the next few months.
Horton also addressed a hiring policy issue that came up following the Board’s April meeting and was reported in the Courier. “Our policy has basically two prongs,” Horton said. “Any person involved in leadership, in field ministry, representing South Carolina Baptists, absolutely should be a member of a South Carolina Baptist church. That’s the common sense, right thing to do.
“However, if a person is in a purely support role, we would encourage the staff to look for a qualified Southern Baptist, South Carolina Baptist. But if a qualified South Carolina Baptist cannot be found, then as long as that person is a professing Christian and active in their local church, we do not see why that person cannot be an employee.”
Any exceptions of the policy, while unlikely, would have to be approved by the executive director-treasurer, along with the chairmen of the Executive Board and administrative committee, Horton said.
Other Business
The properties committee reported on phase 2 of the renovations of White Oak Conference Center. Purchases for McCall RA Camp were authorized, as were negotiations for the Baptist Collegiate Ministry relocation in the Spartanburg area.
The scholarship committee reported on the number of scholarships given to undergraduates going into full-time Christian service and to seminary students. With investments not providing as much revenue as in years past, both the Baptist Foundation and the Executive Board provided additional funds in order to award support comparable to past years.
Members of the White Oak staff were recognized for their tenure. The White Oak staff presented Dennis Wilkins a metal art piece entitled “The Tree of Life” for his leadership and consultations over the past year.
Many board members saw for the first time the renovations that have taken place at the convention’s conference center located north of Columbia, just outside of Winnsboro.
Committee meetings were held on Monday, along with a worship time led by Rudy Gray, SCBC president.