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

2. 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

3. 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 – ,204 Congregations 9,945 Congregations
250 – Congregations 3,206 Congregations
500 – Congregations 1,121 Congregations
1, Congregations Congregations
*Based on the number of congregations reporting each worship attendance on the 2006 Annual Church Profile

4. 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

5. 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

6. Cooperative Program

7. Cooperative Program Summary
Overall View of the Cooperative Program
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

8. Cooperative Program Summary continued
Concerns with the Cooperative Program
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

9. Cooperative Program Summary continued
Promotion of the Cooperative Program
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

10. Currently Describes the Cooperative Program
% Strongly Agree Q2

11. Currently Describes the Cooperative Program
% Strongly Agree Q2

12. Currently Describes the Cooperative Program
% Strongly Agree Q2

13. Importance of Potential CP Benefits
% Strongly Agree Q3

14. Importance of Potential CP Benefits
% Strongly Agree Q3

15. Importance of Potential CP Benefits
% Strongly Agree Q3

16. Importance of Cooperative Program Objectives
% Strongly Agree Q4

17. Importance of Cooperative Program Objectives
% Strongly Agree Q4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27. Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: The Cooperative Program
Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget
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
Q5 & Q6

28. Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: your local Association
Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget
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

29. Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: one or more SBC entities
Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget
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

30. Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: local, domestic, & foreign ministries, mission trips & missions projects conducted by your church
Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget
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

31. Percentage of church budget currently allocated to: ministries, missions, or para-church organizations over which your church has no direct control
Pastor Responses: % of Church Budget
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
17% Don’t Know
Q5 & Q6

32. Church’s construction budget expenditures
Pastor Responses:
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 Q6

33. Church’s overall budget expenditures
Pastor Responses:
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

34. 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

35. Beliefs about the current division of CP gifts in your state
Pastor Responses:
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
Indicates statistically significant difference Q8

36. Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget
Median Preferred Allocation:
Current Allocation
Other Ministers
Pastors
Laity
IMB 50.00% 50% 50% 50%
NAMB 22.79% 23% 23% 23%
SBC Seminaries 22.16% 22% 22% 22%
ERLC 1.65% 1.65% 1.65% 1.65%
SBC Operating Budget 3.40% 3.35% 3.4% 3.4% Q9

37. Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget
Mean Preferred Allocation:
Current Allocation
Other Ministers
Pastors
Laity
IMB 50.00% 49.51% 48.79% 48.09%
NAMB 22.79% 24.67% 24.36% 24.62%
SBC Seminaries 22.16% 20.28% 20.84% 20.95%
ERLC 1.65% 2.10% 2.28% 2.43%
SBC Operating Budget 3.40% 3.43% 3.72% 3.91% Q9

38. Preferred Cooperative Program Allocation Budget
Percent of Pastors Compared to Current Allocation:
Preference > Current
Preference < Current
Preference = Current
IMB 18% 65% 16%
NAMB 18% 19% 63%
SBC Seminaries (1%=0) 60% 20% 20%
ERLC (7%=0) 31% 22% 46%
SBC Operating Budget (2%=0) 51% 24% 25%
Indicates majority of pastors Q9

39. 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

40. 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

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

42. General Opinion of the Cooperative Program
Q18

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

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

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

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

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

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

49. Stewardship

50. 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

51. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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