MBC restructures; proposes budget
By Allen Palmeri
Associate Editor
JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Board voted without opposition April 14 to approve a new staff structure recommended by MBC Executive Director David Tolliver and a budget goal for 2010 of $15.75 million, which is a 3.4 percent cut from the current $16.3 million budget.
Jerry Field, MBC state church planting director, and Jay Hughes, MBC controller, were unanimously approved by the board as the two associate executive directors who will report to Tolliver.
“These two men have proved themselves to be valuable partners and dedicated allies in bringing integrity and stability to the work of the Convention,” Tolliver said.
The new staff structure includes eight team leaders (plus one for The Pathway) and a streamlined, one-page job inventory that is crisply divided under three headings: Congregational Services, Support Services, and Executive Office.
In an uncertain economic climate, the new MBC is leaner, fiscally frugal, and wedded to realism, not idealism, in terms of its budgetary planning and execution. It has gone from 91 to 73 positions listed on the job inventory, representing an approximate annual savings of $325,000 in salaries, benefits and program monies/operating expenses.
Executive Board Chairman Bruce McCoy, pastor, Canaan Baptist Church, St. Louis, made public the fact that Tolliver is leading by example. McCoy said the new executive director has requested and received a 10 percent salary reduction from his originally approved salary as executive director.
“He’s to be commended and honored for this sacrifice,” McCoy said.
Hughes, who brings CPA credentials to his new role, is part of an intricately detailed operation when it comes to maximizing Cooperative Program (CP) dollars. For 2009, the two main initiatives are the $375,000 found in unapplied savings from the pre-restructured budget to the post-restructured budget, and the ongoing emphasis for staff to spend at a 90 percent level. For 2010, the main method will be across-the-board cuts coupled with an ongoing focus on outsourcing and automation that is now being launched in human resources and payroll.
Hughes, Tolliver and Field have been viewing data the last couple of years that seems to indicate that Missouri Baptist CP budgets may be settling in around the $15.6-$15.8 million mark. Board members have been persuaded that their fiscal projections have been accurate, insightful, and trustworthy, and the budget goal for 2010 is a reflection of that. This is how the MBC aims to make its way through these tough financial times.
Reductions in the proposed 2010 budget are varied. The Executive Board budget fell from approximately $6.9 million to $6.5 million, the amount earmarked for institutions and agencies slipped from $2.9 million to $2.7 million, Christian higher education operations fell from $2.2 million to $1.9 million and reserves dropped from $162,000 to zero. A new expense being proposed is $469,000 in an agency restoration fund.
For the second consecutive year, the board is proposing a budget item setting aside .75 percent ($118,125) off the top for CP promotion. (The 2009 number in this category is $122,250.) In addition, the giving goal for Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) causes is up slightly to 36.75 percent of the estimated total CP budget of $15,631,875, with the goal for Missouri Baptist causes falling slightly to 63.25 percent.
The projected budgets for the 2010 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering of $4 million, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering of $2 million, the World Hunger Offering of $300,000 and the Missouri Missions Offering of $750,000 were largely kept the same as 2009, with World Hunger dropping $25,000 and MMO down $50,000.
Budgetary caution is clearly not getting in the way of MBC foreign missions work as new MBC Partnership Missions Specialist Rick Hedger boldly announced his recommendation for “Impact Africa Missouri,” a proposed partnership with the International Mission Board (IMB) in the Western Gateway Cluster (an eight-nation sector) of Africa. This would be an “uttermost parts of the earth” endeavor that would be joined to the existing partnership with El Salvador and new initiatives in northern Illinois and Ontario, Canada. With all potential missions relationships subject to Convention approval, Hedger said formal recommendations will be brought to the Executive Board in July.
Baptist Press Executive Editor Will Hall, who was in town to deliver the keynote speech at a Christian Journalism Conference sponsored by The Pathway, was presented with a plaque of appreciation by Pathway Editor Don Hinkle and Board Member Kerry Messer, who chairs the board’s Communications & Development Committee. Hall received a standing ovation from board members after being commended for his faithful friendship to Missouri Baptists and his passion for the truth.
A board member asked about the Convention’s anticipated move to California, Mo. Tolliver said it was officially “on hold.” Due to board action, there is now approximately $614,000 in a new building fund.
Finally, Hughes delivered some good financial news in that the MBC reserve fund has now grown to $2.5 million, which is its highest since 2003.
More good news came April 16 in In-Office Day when Tolliver announced that Vince Blubaugh, MBC church planting strategist in the Kansas City area, will fill the newly created position of Communications/Development Director as of May 1. “My job will be to tell your story,” Blubaugh told staffers. Other action taken by the board included:
• Raising the maximum pay for Level 4 approximately 13 percent from $66,150 to $74,815;
• Approving a revised Executive Board and Committee Expense Policy;
• Agreeing to allocate up to 3 percent for 2010 pay increases for MBC staff with a maximum of 5 percent per employee, if funds are available;
• Approving the addition into the Convention’s bylaws of an executive director evaluation procedure;
• And passing a resolution supporting current Missouri General Assembly funding for Access Missouri, a program that greatly benefits students at Southwest Baptist University and Hannibal-LaGrange College.
