BGCT received $86.4 million last year but fell 9.5 percent short of budget

February 25, 2002

BGCT received $86.4 million last year
but fell 9.5 percent short of budget
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___Texas Baptists gave more than $86.4 million to missions through the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 2001, but total Cooperative Program receipts through the BGCT fell $10.3 million below the previous year and $6.4 million below the anticipated giving goal.
___Texas Baptist churches gave $61,353,350 through the BGCT Cooperative Program in 2001, compared to the $67,782,756 projected budget goal for Texas and worldwide missions (a 9.5 percent variance).
___Of that total, Texas Baptists gave $18,221,314 to worldwide Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries through the BGCT Cooperative Program, and churches directed $1,336,777 to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
___Gifts to the BGCT's own budget totaled $40,857,987, which was 14.1 percent below the budgeted $47,546,339. Receipts fell below budget every month in 2001 except January.
___"While totals for 2001 show giving was lower than in previous years, we hope and pray this will be a short-term variance and that more funding for missions and ministries will resume soon," said Roger Hall, BGCT treasurer and chief financial officer.
___Four of the five designated statewide missions offerings also posted declines in 2001 compared to the previous year. Texas Baptists gave $25,105,935 total to the missions offerings in 2001, down 7 percent from the $26,997,817 given in 2000.
___"Decrease in missions giving is a reduction in missions and evangelism both here in Texas and around the world. Ministry opportunities go unmet or are hampered because of reduced funding," said Carolyn Porterfield, executive director-treasurer of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas.
___"There are many factors that impacted missions giving last year, and we encourage all Texas Baptists to look forward to this new year with renewed commitment to do more than ever before. God has blessed us with much, and we have the responsibility to use those blessings to share the gospel with those who have yet to hear."
___Texas Baptists gave $5,009,735 to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions in 2001, down 6 percent from the $5,330,013 given in 2000. The 2001 giving goal was $5,750,505.
___Gifts through the BGCT to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions posted an almost identical percentage decline, from $13,814,104 in 2000 to $12,995,071 in 2001.
___Texas Baptists gave $5,319,314 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions in 2001, down 13 percent from the $6,117,112 given the year before.
___The Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger was down 8.5 percent, from $888,053 in 2000 to $812,815 in 2001.
___The only offering posting an increase last year was the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions Offering. Texas Baptists gave $969,001 in 2001, up 14.2 percent from the $848,535 given in 2000.
___

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