BURTON, MI (BP) – Michigan Baptists will forward a larger percentage of Cooperative Program receipts to the Southern Baptist Convention this year, despite an anticipated decrease in CP receipts from the state's 262 churches. The $1,292,886 in CP funds the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) anticipates receiving from its cooperating churches in 2017 is 8.6 percent less than this year's receipts of $1,415,291, the BSCM reported. Yet, the state will forward $351,256 of 2016 CP receipts, 32.5 percent of the total, to the SBC for national and international causes. In 2016, the state forwarded 31.5 percent of CP receipts to the SBC.
The state's total 2017 budget is also down from the 2016, with the new budget of $2,057,873 totaling 6.5 percent less than the 2016 budget of $2,201,778. The 2017 budget allocates 20 percent, or $212,098, to cover expenses shared by the BSCM and the SBC.
"Celebrating Missions" was the theme as 167 messengers and 14 guests gathered Nov. 4-5 at Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton. Those in attendance represented 68 of the state's 262 churches and all 14 of its associations. North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell was the keynote speaker during the meeting. At the preceding pastors' conference Nov. 3 at Eastgate Baptist Church, former SBC President Fred Luter was the keynote speaker.
In other annual meeting business, messengers elected 2017 officers. They are president Jerome Taylor, host pastor; first vice president Nathaniel Bishop Sr., pastor of Middlebelt Baptist Church, Inkster; second vice president Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, Macomb; recording secretary Roy Henry, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Battle Creek; and assistant recording Secretary Jeff Buchholz, pastor of Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City.
The 2017 annual meeting is set for Nov. 7-8 at the Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center in Roscommon.
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Compiled by BP general assignment writer/editor Diana Chandler, based on reports from the Baptist General Convention of Michigan.