By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released the March financial report, April 5, showing that gifts through the Cooperative Program had dropped 1.18 percent while designated giving for the month had increased 5.09 percent compared to March 2022.
Meanwhile, year-to-date figures show both funding channels were in decline.
From October 2022 through March 2023, CP contributions were down 7.62 percent overall compared to the same timeframe for the last fiscal year. Likewise, designated giving was down 3.9 percent year-to-date for the same months. Both the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering were down for the new fiscal year through the end of March.
Only nine states showed a positive CP trend for the year, including three “old line” Southern states, Louisiana, North Carolina and a combined Virginia (which has two state conventions). Louisiana and North Carolina also were among 13 state conventions which showed a positive trend in designated giving.
