A 2 percent correction 

This is the season when church boards and other congregational decision-makers are thinking about their 2008 ministry spending plans, including (we hope) what the congregation anticipates contributing to Cooperative Ministries. We praise God for the amazingly high level of congregational participation in this year’s shared giving program (more than 90 percent of all U.S. congregations have contributed to CM in 2007), but at the same time, we are concerned that too many congregations are lagging behind the suggested 10-12 percent level—a situation that can be reversed in 2008 through the application of 2 percent increases.

Leadership Council strongly encourages congregations that are giving at less than 10 percent in 2007 to consider a 2 percent increase in giving for 2008. Rebekah Basinger, our director of congregational relations, tells us that if every church in the under 10 percent group is able to increase by 2 percent, an additional $290,000 will be available to support our shared commitments to encouraging leaders, starting and supporting healthy congregations, and going to all the world. Without these dollars, ministry priorities will have to be cut.

When it comes to CM, we know we have a communication problem. While CM is a (somewhat) familiar concept to pastors, many church board members and other decision-makers within our churches, find it confusing. So Rebekah and her team have sent all churches in the U.S. a packet containing brochures that were created to provide a concise, “sound-bite” telling of the CM story. In addition, an abbreviated version of the brochure is available as a PDF that can be downloaded and copied.

As we move into the final years of our Impact 2010 ministry plan, we rejoice at the progress being made toward our shared goals. And with a 2 percent correction, full achievement of our plans is within sight.

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