Mission Board Approves Budget, Recognizes Mackey
05/10/2011
LOUISVILLE – The Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board approved the budget and honored retiring Executive Director Dr. Bill Mackey at its meeting here May 9-10.
The board also focused on a three-year emphasis to challenge Kentucky Baptists to increased commitment to the Great Commission called “More for Christ” at its spring meeting at the Kentucky Baptist Building.
Board members listened to a detailed presentation on the Kentucky Baptist Convention budget for 2011-2012. The Cooperative Program funding goal of $23,500,000 remains unchanged from the previous year, but the way those funds are allocated will shift dramatically in 2011-2012.
In keeping with recommendations from the Great Commission Task Force adopted by messengers at the KBC annual meeting last November, Kentucky Baptists will send 5.54 percent more to Southern Baptist Convention causes in 2011-2012. The shift will bring the split between the KBC and SBC to 56.46 percent and 43.54 percent, respectively.
Kentucky Baptists intend to move to a 50/50 split with the SBC in the next 10 years. The 50/50 split will be calculated after shared expenses are deducted. Shared expenses are funds used by the KBC to promote and benefit SBC work, such as promotion of the Cooperative Program and collection and administration of offering gifts.
Currently, the KBC is planning to budget 4 percent of the total Cooperative Program budget as shared expenses. The figure is significantly lower than the 19 percent declared by the Georgia Baptist Convention, the only other state convention with a 50/50 split after shared expenses. This percentage may need to increase in coming years, according the KBC Business Manager Lowell Ashby.
The 5.54 percent shift in funding from KBC causes to SBC causes in a single year looks to be the greatest shift of any of the old-line state conventions that originally formed the SBC, said Ashby. The 5.54 percent shift represents $1.3 million.
As a result of the 5.54 percent shift of Cooperative Program allocations from the KBC to the SBC, the International Mission Board will receive $5,136,288 in Cooperative Program gifts from Kentucky Baptists in 2011-2012, an increase of $671,288 over 2010-2011 funding (15 percent.) The North American Mission Board will receive $2,331,793, an increase of $296,646 (14.6 percent).
The six Southern Baptist seminaries will receive $2,242,777, an increase of $285,321 (14.6 percent) while the Historical Library and Archives will receive $24,556, an increase of $3,124 (14.6 percent). The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission will receive $168,822, an increase of $21,477 (14.6 percent); and the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will receive $327,413, an increase of $23,793 (7.8 percent).
The allocation shift, coupled with other funding changes will result in a $492,884 reduction in total funding to Kentucky Baptist Convention agencies and institutions. The allocations for colleges will be reduced approximately 11 percent, and other agencies approximately 5 percent.
The operating budget of the Mission Board staff will also be reduced by $880,024 due to the Cooperative Program reductions and other changes in funding. Slightly more than half of that comes from reducing fixed costs such as personnel and the remainder comes from reducing program costs.
The Mission Board was also encouraged by KBC President Floyd Paris to give “More for Christ.” The new emphasis is aimed at encouraging Kentucky Baptists to share the Gospel with boldness and intention, deepen their own discipleship and commit to giving more resources to advance the Gospel across Kentucky and beyond.
Acts 1:8 commands believers to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth, Paris reminded board members.
“If your church isn’t involved in reaching all four, your church is a little lopsided,” said Paris.
Believers must work together to reach the whole world with the Gospel, he continued.
“I believe the Cooperative Program in the best way to do that,” said Paris.
Details on “More for Christ” are available at http://www.moreforchrist.com. More information will be mailed to Kentucky Baptist churches starting this week.
The mission board also honored KBC Executive Director Bill Mackey and his wife Kay for more than 13 years of service. Mackey will retire at the end of May.
The board presented the couple with the keys to his fleet car and funds for a trip as a gift. The board also unveiled a portrait of Mackey that will hang outside the newly-named Bill Mackey Board Room in the Kentucky Baptist Building.
Associate Executive Director Steve Thompson was named interim executive director effective June 1, following the retirement of outgoing Executive Director Bill Mackey. Thompson will continue in the role until a new executive director is named.
The mission board also empowered the chairman to call a special meeting to present an executive director candidate for consideration whenever the search committee seeking Mackey’s replacement is ready with a recommendation.
The mission board also approved the following recommendations from the Administrative Committee:
- Added the chairperson of the mission board as an ex-officio member of all committees of the board, and formalized the executive director’s role as a non-voting ex-officio member.
- Established the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised as the Convention’s guide for conducting business for all items not covered by the KBC’s Constitution and Bylaws.
- Reduced the size of standing committees, in keeping with the board’s recently reduced size.
- Changed the size, composition and selection process for the Mission Board Nominating Committee. The committee will now be composed of the KBC president, first vice president and second vice-president, plus 15 members. The officers and 10 returning members will appoint the five remaining members annually. The Nominating Committee is responsible for assigning board members to committees.
The Mission Board also:
- Approved transfer of funds for minister to annuitants and to make repairs to the outer wall of the Kentucky Baptist Building;
- Approved bank resolutions regarding signatories and establishing credit with Stock Yards Bank.
- Approved several updates to the Mission Board Policy manual.
The next Mission Board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 at Union Baptist Church in Union.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
by Brenda Rick Smith, KBC Communications
