BGCT board recommends more cuts in 2011 budget

DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board voted to recommend a $38 million 2011 budget—$3 million less than the approved 2010 budget, a 7.3 percent reduction.

Messengers to the BGCT annual meeting in McAllen will consider a budget based on $35.85 million in Cooperative Program receipts and a projected $2.15 million in investment income.

Assuming $2.95 million from the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions and additional income from conference fees, product sales, funds from the North American Mission Board and other sources, as well as an expected $1 million draw on reserve funds, the BGCT anticipates $48 million in revenue—about $4 million less than the amount expected in 2010.

This marks the third consecutive year the BGCT Executive Board approved a budget recommendation reduced from the previous year.
The proposed budget includes no salary increases for employees and no change in retirement contributions, which were decreased last year.

Jill Larsen, BGCT treasurer and chief financial officer, reported year-to-date receipts are running about 10 percent behind the same time last year.

The $38 million 2011 budget recommendation includes:

• $7,448,387 for evangelism/missions, a $463,100 decrease from the 2010 budget.

• $3,030,307 for education/discipleship, a $336,701 decrease.

• $1,499,517 for advocacy/care, a $148,606 decrease.

• $1,697,966 for the executive director’s office, including Texas Baptist Men and the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, a $156,967 decrease.

• $18,047,278 for areas related to the associate executive director’s office, a  $1,420,446 decrease. That includes $14,714,733 for institutional ministries, down more than $1.26 million. The proposed budget eliminates funds for Buckner Adoption Services and Buckner Retirement Services, totaling $95,000, and decreases support for Valley Baptist Missions Education Center from $110,000 to 11,000.

• $6,276,545 for financial management, down $474,180.

Larsen reported the BGCT has 277 employees, compared to 406 in 2006. The employee total includes 72 in Baptist Student Ministries, compared to 94 in 2006.

Larsen projected total church-directed Cooperative Program giving—including funds forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship—to exceed $53 million.

Larsen anticipates $1,725,000 in worldwide giving for Texas Baptist initiatives and partnerships. The board approved ongoing support from worldwide missions giving for missions mobilization, River Ministry/Mexico endeavors, Texas Partnerships, Baptist World Alliance, intercultural international missions, Texas Baptist Men international missions, student missions, world hunger promotion, western heritage churches, Baptist University of the Americas and the Hispanic Education Task Force.

New items include $100,000 for Mary Hill Davis Offering promotion, $60,000 for Baptist Bible Institutes, $15,000 for evangelism language materials and $100,000 for the Hope 1:8 initiative, an emphasis on Texas Baptists sharing their faith locally, regionally and globally.