VIDALIA — GBC President Bucky Kennedy will name a special committee to study the flow and use of mission funds and resources of the state convention, including Cooperative Program funds and those received through the annual State Missions and other special offerings.

Kennedy, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vidalia, will form the committee at the request of GBC Executive Director J. Robert White. The state executive called for the committee’s creation following the national discussion for greater denominational accountability, which is one of the tenets of the Great Commission Resurgence declaration.

“A firm and continuing belief of mine is that we should not be afraid to look inward in order to evaluate the job that we are doing and be accountable for how funds are being put to use for Kingdom work,” White said as he made the appointment.

Kennedy said he intends to bring the slate of committee members to the Georgia convention at its annual meeting in November in Woodstock. Kennedy said he expects the committee to make its report to messengers at the next annual meeting in 2010.

According to the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, the Georgia Baptist Convention led all 42 state conventions in dollar support for the denomination in 2008 and is among the leading states in percentage of giving. See state-by-state listing on page 9 of this issue of The Index.

“We have a devotion to excellence and are constantly honing our skills and organization to most effectively use dollars we are blessed to receive,” White explained. “We continually review and evaluate our performance to assure Georgia Baptists that monies received are used to bless Kingdom ministry and mission work in an efficient and purposeful way.”

The Convention has an ongoing commitment to fine-tuning its organizational structure to maintain the highest rate of efficiency. It accomplished a major restructuring in 1997 that allowed for a streamlined organization to meet changing needs and environments.

The Report of the Structure Study Committee stated “it is expected that the executive leadership will be in a continual mode of restructure in future years as adjustments are made to maintain a relevant ministry for the convention.”

The approved restructuring allowed White and the convention staff the flexibility to effectively meet cultural changes and changing needs of ministry. White told The Index, “Since 1997 and especially in the past few years, we have been retrospective in evaluating operations and have not been reticent to make positive changes where indicated to allow the Convention to better use its assets to serve Christ.

“We intend to continue to provide leadership among Southern Baptists in giving to missions through the Cooperative Program for the sake of the Kingdom of God.”