Cooperative Program and Stewardship A Census of Southern Baptist Pastors and Selected Laity

Methodology Census of all Southern Baptist congregations conducted November 2007 – February 2008 Two invitations were mailed to senior pastors of all SBC congregations Nov. 9, 2007 and Dec. 27, 2007 requesting their participation in the online survey Pastors were asked to personally complete the survey 9,020 Southern Baptists completed the survey

Methodology The sample of pastors is a census; there is no sampling error in selecting the invitation list Weighting the pastor responses minimizes any response error – weights were based on 6 categories of average worship attendance representing all SBC congregations ATTENDANCE PASTOR SAMPLE RESEARCH UNIVERSE* 1 – Congregations 12,818 Congregations 50 – Congregations 11,741 Congregations 100 – 249 1,204 Congregations 9,945 Congregations 250 – Congregations 3,206 Congregations 500 – Congregations 1,121 Congregations 1, Congregations 560 Congregations *Based on the number of congregations reporting each worship attendance on the 2006 Annual Church Profile

Methodology Pastors were also asked to select 5 members of their church to complete the survey: Chairman of deacons or a trustee (or key male leader) A woman who is a Sunday School teacher or Bible study leader An additional man and two women who are not a deacon, Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader or missions leader A maximum of 6 surveys were permitted from each church (including the pastor’s survey) Responses other than pastors were not weighted

Methodology Data will be reported separately based on the roles respondents indicated on the survey: Pastors – sample size 3,500 Other ministers – sample size 285 Laity – sample size 5,245

Cooperative Program

Cooperative Program Summary A large majority of Southern Baptists are positive about the Cooperative Program When forced to indicate if they are generally satisfied or dissatisfied with the CP, 87% of pastors and more than 90% of other ministers and laity indicated they are generally satisfied The most important objective of the CP is that it should send and support missionaries in North America and around the world The most important benefit of the CP is that it should allow a church to support more missions endeavors efficiently than they could on their own Overall View of the Cooperative Program

Cooperative Program Summary continued Efficiency in the use of Cooperative Program funds and how the funds are allocated are the areas that the largest number of Southern Baptists have concerns 31% of pastors strongly agree efficient use of contributions are important (SBC and state) and yet do not strongly agree they are efficient today Almost one quarter of pastors strongly agree how CP dollars are allocated (among all and between states and national) is important but do not strongly agree they are allocated appropriately today Concerns with the Cooperative Program

Cooperative Program Summary continued Two thirds of SBC pastors indicate their church promoted the Cooperative Program within their church this last year Resources used by a majority of churches to promote the CP include bulletin inserts, posters, missions magazines and videos Churches are split as to their primary source of resources to promote the CP with state conventions and SBC entities being the most common Promotion of the Cooperative Program

Currently Describes the Cooperative Program % Strongly Agree Q2

% Strongly Agree Currently Describes the Cooperative Program

Q2 % Strongly Agree Currently Describes the Cooperative Program

Importance of Potential CP Benefits Q3 % Strongly Agree

Q3 % Strongly Agree Importance of Potential CP Benefits

Q3 % Strongly Agree Importance of Potential CP Benefits

Importance of Cooperative Program Objectives Q4 % Strongly Agree

Q4 % Strongly Agree Importance of Cooperative Program Objectives

The Cooperative Program supports SBC entities, ministries, and missions that my church values 1% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The Cooperative Program supports state convention entities, ministries, and missions that my church values 2% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The Cooperative Program protects churches from direct funding appeals by entities 11% Don’t Know 8% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The Cooperative Program allows my church to support more missions endeavours efficiently than we could on our own 2% Don’t Know 1% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The SBC entities that the Cooperative Program supports use the contributions efficiently 9% Don’t Know 5% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The state convention entities that the Cooperative Program supports use the contributions efficiently 7% Don’t Know 5% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The Cooperative Program allocates contributions among state, national, and global ministries, missions, and entities appropriately 7% Don’t Know 5% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The division of Cooperative Program contributions between state conventions and the SBC is appropriate 10% Don’t Know 7% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

The Cooperative Program is the most effective way to support the spread of the gospel worldwide 2% Don’t Know Pastors Level of Agreement Service Level Currently Describes Importance

Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: The Cooperative Program The median known percentage is 8% Over the last 5 years 12% indicate the percentage decreased 51% indicate the percentage stayed the same 32% indicate the percentage increased 8% Don’t Know Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget Q5 & Q6

Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: your local Association The median known percentage is 3% Over the last 5 years 13% indicate the percentage decreased 52% indicate the percentage stayed the same 31% indicate the percentage increased 9% Don’t Know Q5 & Q6 Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget

Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: one or more SBC entities The median known percentage is 0% Over the last 5 years 5% indicate the percentage decreased 65% indicate the percentage stayed the same 17% indicate the percentage increased 21% Don’t Know Q5 & Q6 Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget

Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: local, domestic, & foreign ministries, mission trips & missions projects conducted by your church The median known percentage is 2% Over the last 5 years 3% indicate the percentage decreased 42% indicate the percentage stayed the same 44% indicate the percentage increased 17% Don’t Know Q5 & Q6 Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget

17% Don’t Know Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: ministries, missions, or para-church organizations over which your church has no direct control The median known percentage is 0% Over the last 5 years 8% indicate the percentage decreased 56% indicate the percentage stayed the same 23% indicate the percentage increased Q5 & Q6 Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget

Church’s construction budget expenditures Over the last 5 years 12% indicate the budget decreased 45% indicate the budget stayed the same 36% indicate the budget increased 7% don’t know Pastor Responses: Q6

Church’s overall budget expenditures Over the last 5 years 14% indicate the budget decreased 14% indicate the budget stayed the same 69% indicate the budget increased 3% don’t know Q6 Pastor Responses:

Beliefs about the current division of CP gifts in your state The percentage retained by the state should increase The percentage forwarded to the national Convention should increase The division of Cooperative Program gifts is about right Q8

Beliefs about the current division of CP gifts in your state The percentage retained by the state should increase The percentage forwarded to the national Convention should increase The division of Cooperative Program gifts is about right Q8 Pastor Responses: Indicates statistically significant difference

Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget IMB50.00%50%50%50% NAMB22.79%23%23%23% SBC Seminaries22.16%22%22%22% ERLC1.65%1.65%1.65%1.65% SBC Operating Budget3.40%3.35%3.4%3.4% Current Allocation Pastors Other Ministers Laity Median Preferred Allocation: Q9

Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget IMB50.00%49.51%48.79%48.09% NAMB22.79%24.67%24.36%24.62% SBC Seminaries22.16%20.28%20.84%20.95% ERLC1.65%2.10%2.28%2.43% SBC Operating Budget3.40%3.43%3.72%3.91% Current Allocation Pastors Other Ministers Laity Mean Preferred Allocation: Q9

Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget IMB18%65%16% NAMB18%19%63% SBC Seminaries (1%=0) 60%20%20% ERLC (7%=0) 31%22%46% SBC Operating Budget (2%=0) 51%24%25% Percent of Pastors Compared to Current Allocation: Q9 Preference = Current Preference > Current Preference < Current Indicates majority of pastors

Wording of Cooperative Program Descriptions We have an overwhelmingly positive view of the CP. We believe the CP is not only satisfactory, but is essential to the continued existence of the SBC, and the fulfillment of its mission of worldwide evangelism We have a mostly positive view of the CP. We believe the CP perhaps could be improved in some ways, but is doing a very good job at present of supporting worldwide missions We have a mixed view of the CP. The CP is merely our denomination’s present method of supporting worldwide missions and it could be improved in many ways Q10

Wording of Cooperative Program Descriptions We have a mostly negative view of the CP. We do like some of its aspects, but are often disappointed by its inefficiencies. We view the CP as a regrettably necessary “tax” to support the SBC’s infrastructure We have an overwhelmingly negative view of the CP. We believe the CP is no longer satisfactory, and no longer participating in it. Our church is unaware of the CP. It is not on our radar screen at all. Q10

Description of the Cooperative Program that best reflects view of churches Q10

General Opinion of the Cooperative Program Q18

Activities Used by Churches to Emphasize Missions Giving Pastor Responses: Q11

Activities Used by Churches to Emphasize Missions Giving Q11 Pastor Responses:

Resources Used by Churches Within Last Year to Explain or Promote the CP Q12 Pastor Responses:

Resources Used by Churches Within Last Year to Explain or Promote the CP Q12 Pastor Responses:

Resources Used by Churches Within Last Year to Explain or Promote the CP Q12 Pastor Responses:

Primary Source for Resources to Promote the Cooperative Program Pastor Responses: (Among those who explain/promote the CP) Q13

Stewardship

Stewardship Summary Sermons are the most common activity churches to encourage financial stewardship Almost half offered a planned giving or estate planning emphasis Testimonies of people who gave faithfully/ sacrificially also were shared by a third of churches Small group studies on financial stewardship were not used by 60% of churches New Day for Financial Freedom were only used by 2% of churches last year

Stewardship Summary continued Churches look within for guidance on promoting and teaching stewardship The minority who looks outside their church, turn to their state and/or association The majority of pastors do not see a huge opportunity for meeting needs for financial management skills

Stewardship Activities Conducted by Churches in last 12 months Q14 Pastor Responses:

Stewardship Activities Conducted by Churches in last 12 months Q14 Pastor Responses:

Stewardship Resources Used by Churches in the last year Q15 Pastor Responses:

Stewardship Resources Used by Churches in the last year Q15 Pastor Responses:

Preferred Sources of Guidance on Promoting and Teaching Stewardship Q16 Pastor Responses:

Preferred Sources of Guidance on Promoting and Teaching Stewardship Q16 Pastor Responses:

Preferred Sources of Guidance on Promoting and Teaching Stewardship Q16 Pastor Responses:

Members of our congregation as a whole: Have a significant amount of personal debt 16% Don’t Know Q17a Pastors Description of Congregation

Members of our congregation as a whole: Look to the church for guidance in improving their financial management skills 7% Don’t Know Q17b Pastors Description of Congregation

Members of our congregation as a whole: Are open to teaching or preaching on the subject of stewardship 3% Don’t Know Q17c Pastors Description of Congregation