by Rod D. Martin
November 11, 2015
The just concluded Florida Baptist Convention was historic, not just for Florida but for all Southern Baptists.
A few thoughts:
1. The 51-49 CP split is utterly unprecedented. The messengers’ unanimous decision to send a majority of Florida’s Cooperative Program funds to global ministry is unprecedented, anywhere in America. And Tommy Green’s vision to gradually move that to 60% or more was greeted with cheers.
Many younger pastors – and more than a few older ones – have long criticized our denominational entities for spending precious resources on too many bureaucrats and not enough ministry.
No one can say that now. And a lot of hard questions are about to be asked in every other state convention.
2. It’s actually a lot more than 51-49. By this I don’t mean just the deep staff cuts, or even the sale of the Baptist Building. I mean that Florida is now giving away much more out of far, far less.
The Convention had almost $40 million to work with before Barac…
