Churches have slightly more leeway when it comes to dealing with a budget shortfall when inflation impacts a congregation’s ministry. The church can either scale back on its ministry, reduce staff in more dire circumstances, or collect a special offering.

International and North American missionaries don’t have the option of asking for additional funds. With salaries tied directly to CP and the two major offerings – Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong – missions personnel are asked to conserve, conserve, and then conserve more if necessary until a new budget year allows adjustments.

The International Mission Board has slightly more flexibility in that it directly provides salaries and benefits to those in the field and sometimes makes adjustments several times a year. (See “International Missions” story in this series).

But North American missionaries are jointly funded with state conventions and increases require a more long-term approach. Through an arrangement known as cooperative agreements, NAMB and individual state conventions agree on a budget for funds to be allocated to missions personnel in a state. That agreement cannot be adjusted until the following year and any mid-year changes need to be made within the context of that original document.

In the next budget cycle NAMB can allocate additional funds as part of an agreement and request that those funds be used as a fuel supplement for the missionaries. But the state convention is not obligated to pass those funds along to the missionaries if it feels other needs are more pressing.

 

Related stories: Running On Empty - Overview Georgia Baptist Missions North American Missions International Missions Georgia Baptist pastors: CP giving can't be compromised Turning a negative into a plus