December 8, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
Statistics supply important
details for all Baptists
___"And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41
___God evidently believes statistics are important, because the Bible contains much statistical information. Therefore, we should consider them important.
___Statistics of various kinds have been used by Baptists to determine areas of progress and need. Some of these statistics are verified by auditors, such as the amount of dollars for Cooperative Program giving and special offerings. Others are verifiable by entities, such as accrediting associations for schools. Medical centers and child- and aging-care ministries provide accurate figures on their work.
William M. Pinson Jr. Executive Director,
BGCT Executive Board
___Statistics from churches are less reliable, however. Why? For one reason, churches are autonomous Baptist bodies. If churches don't supply statistics through the Annual Church Profile or other methods, no one can force them to do so. A look at the Baptist General Convention of Texas Annual reveals a number of churches choose not to send in an Annual Church Profile. Others submit incomplete information. Therefore, the totals for various categories in Texas Baptist church life are difficult if not impossible to obtain, such as the number of baptisms, the attendance in Sunday School and membership in missions organizations.
___In these areas, the totals are greater than what is reported, but no confirmable data is available.
___The number of churches reporting either incompletely or not at all has increased for various reasons. Some of this is cultural, since certain people groups do not consider statistics of great importance. Some of it is generational, since some of the younger generation groups are not as conscious of statistics and denominational reporting as older generations have been.
___Another factor complicating statistical reporting is the emergence of additional state conventions, with some churches aligned with more than one state convention. Churches are free to form whatever affiliations they choose, of course; however, it helps the process of accurate statistics when they report their data to each group, recognizing different forms may be required. Clay Price, manager of research and information services for the BGCT, is cooperating with various Baptist entities to prevent duplicate reports from resulting in misleading totals.
___As churches are aware of the reasons and benefits of annual reporting, hopefully more and more will be involved. Foremost, reporting provides a record of the growth of the kingdom of God. It shows how churches have multiplied, how Bible study and discipleship have grown and how souls have been added to churches to the glory of God. Second, as churches share information, they help associations, state conventions and Baptist agencies to better plan to meet the needs of the churches. Third, the information enables individual churches to examine their own progress.
___Please pray for the person in your church who fills the role of recording clerk, whether this is a volunteer lay person, the church secretary or the pastor. Pray also for the Baptist family as we plan for the future. Pray we will be dependent primarily on the leadership of the Holy Spirit and use statistics and other information as important but supplementary.
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