The Cooperative Program ought not be a sacred cow, but it is close to one for me. Begun by Southern Baptists nearly a century ago, it has proven to be a most effective and enduring way to support our collective ministry and mission work. I often visit with leaders of other evangelical denominations who are envious of the Cooperative Program. And they should be; there is nothing like it in American Protestantism.
I was reared in a Southern Baptist church, so I grew up with a general awareness of the Cooperative Program. But it was not until I sensed God’s call to ministry that I became fully aware—and fully appreciative—of the Cooperative Program.
As a seminary student, I was astounded by how affordable my seminary training was compared to other evangelical seminaries. While a student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, I learned more intimately how the Cooperative Program worked, felt how much it helped me, and saw it impact the world by providing for our missionaries. It was during this time that I became a true believer.
Then, as a pastor, the two churches I had the privilege of leading gave 14% and 10% of their undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program. When the first church grew exponentially, we flirted with cutting our CP giving to hire additional staff. But we held firm. The second church, conversely, had to trim its budget on a couple of occasions. Cutting CP would have been the easier way to balance the budget, but we held firm then as well. I had come to value the Cooperative Program enough that I advocated against cutting it. Thankfully, in both churches, the CP won out and we kept our giving at its high levels.
Now, as a seminary president, I lead an institution that benefits daily from the Cooperative Program. Without it, we would be forced to double tuition on our students. Such a move would plunge the enrollment and bring immediate and long-term financial hardship on our students. In the world of theological education, the six SBC seminaries stand as grand anomalies in size, support and overall strength. The Cooperative Program is essential to this vitality.
Though the Cooperative Program has been proving itself since 1925, we cannot take it for granted. We neglect it, or minimize it, to our own peril. Without a robust CP, our work as a whole will suffer. With a robust CP, our collective ministry and mission can more flourish. That is why we must work in our generation to strengthen the Cooperative Program.
– The article first appeared at JasonKAllen.com and was distributed by Baptist Press