Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990                   TAG: 9006300123
SECTION: RELIGION                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE RELIGION WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STATE BAPTISTS PROPOSE PLANS TO CUT FUNDING

In reaction to what the Rev. Ray Allen of Blacksburg called the continuing unresponsiveness of the denomination's ultraconservative leadership, the budget and denominational crisis committees outlined proposals in which churches may designate which Southern Baptist agencies they support.

Allen, a member of the budget committee, said, "We simply are not going to get a hearing" from the ultraconservatives who won the denomination's presidency for the 12th consecutive year this month in New Orleans.

The funding plan will be presented to a special July 31 meeting of the Virginia Baptist General Board, which represents each of the local Southern Baptist associations, then taken to the General Association meeting in November.

The state's 1,500 Southern Baptist congregations contribute about $16 million annually. Almost $10 million is designated for state association use and $6 million is passed on to the Southern Baptist Convention.

Allen argued against dragging out the funding cutback process with gradual reductions. "If we cut this dog's tail off an inch at a time, we'll keep this sucker mad for years." But the committees voted to allow a variety of options.

Allen said many churches in the state already are considering cutbacks in giving to the national convention. A bylaw exists, he said, under which churches may designate the causes for which their funds can be used. The funding proposals considered this week will clarify and emphasize that option and offer specific ways to split the donations.

Allen said he believed about 80 percent of Virginia's churches would be aligned with the so-called moderate faction of the denomination and that many of them would exercise the funding options. He estimated that the national convention "will lose $1 million to $1.5 million from Virginia in the next 12 months."

However, churches that wish to continue the current division of funding, or that wish to increase national contributions, will be able to do that as well, he said.

Allen said Virginia is looked to for leadership by other moderate associations and will lead the way in creative funding options for congregations.

There were reports this week that churches in other states - including one large Texas church that contributes almost $1 million a year to the denomination's Cooperative Program - also were considering cutbacks.