50/50 Committee Recommendation Adopted by July Mission Council

The Mission Council of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio meeting July 28, 2016 adopted without opposition the recommendation of the 50/50 Committee to move to a 50/50 distribution of Cooperative Mission Program receipts from affiliated churches beginning with the December 2016-November 2017 budget.  Members of the Mission Council subsequently approved a budget including the 50/50 distribution to be presented the messengers of November 2, 2016 annual meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

Mission Council members meeting November 3, 2015 created the special committee to bring a recommendation to the July 28, 2016 Mission Council on moving toward a 50/50 distribution of Cooperative Mission Program receipts between worldwide SBC missions and Mission Ohio.  Steve Spurgin, pastor of Miamisburg First Baptist Church chaired the committee.  Chairman Spurgin led the committee to bathe the process in prayer and fasting.

All committee members readily agreed to affirm the action of the 2006 Mission Council in challenging the SCBO churches to increase Cooperative Mission Program giving in order to obtain a 50/50 distribution.  After the committee considered several timelines, the majority favored recommending moving from the current 59.75/40.25 ratio to the 50/50 ratio beginning with the December 2016-November 2017 budget which the Mission Council approved in the July 28, 2016 meeting to recommend to the messengers in the November 2, 2016 annual meeting.

This move to the 50/50 ratio distribution in one year represents a decrease of $78,059 in personnel costs and an increase of 16.65% (an additional $630,447) in contributions from the SCBO churches.  This additional decrease in SCBO staffing, will bring the total to a 52% reduction in positions implemented over the years in order to continue supporting missions from Ohio to the ends of the earth.

Supporting missions from Ohio to the ends of the earth is the heartbeat of Ohio Southern Baptists.  The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio exists to assist Southern Baptist churches and associations in Ohio obey the Great Commission.

Ohio Southern Baptist churches have already increased their giving to the worldwide Cooperative Mission Program this year.  If the rate of giving continues and all SCBO churches contributed to the Cooperative Mission Program, we should reach the December 2016-November 2017 budget requirement of $4,416,153.  Let’s press toward that mark.