Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

SBC CP dips in May, remains down for FY23

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released the May 2023 financial report, June 6, showing that gifts to SBC causes through the Cooperative Program dipped 0.95 percent while designated giving for the month was up 2.94 percent compared to May 2022. Meanwhile, year-to-date figures showed both funding channels were under 2022 levels. From October 1, 2022, through May 31, 2023, CP contributions were 5.75 percent lower compared to the same timeframe for the last fiscal year. Likewise, designated giving was 4.10 percent less for the same months. Both the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering were down for the year. LBC CP The national report showed giving by Louisiana Baptists to SBC causes in May climbed 8.95 percent through CP and surged 14.33 percent for special offerings. Likewise, the year-to-date data showed Louisiana Baptist contributions through the CP and to designated offerings trended higher for both funding channels, 2.54 percent, and 9.84 percent, respectively. … [Read more...]

‘Stop Harming Our Kids Act’ passes Senate with supermajority, heads to governor’s desk

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The “Stop Harming Our Kids Act," which prevents doctors and therapists from performing irreversible transgender procedures on minors who are incapable of giving informed consent, passed the Louisiana Senate, June 5, by a vote of 29-10 (eclipsing an earlier Senate supermajority), giving it final passage in the legislature and sending it to Gov. John Bel Edwards’s desk. SHOWDOWN The bill, HB 648, by Rep. Gabe Firment, a deacon with the First Baptist Church, Pollock, now faces a showdown with the governor, who actively lobbied to successfully kill the bill, 5-4, in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, May 24, after the measure had sailed through the House Committee on Health and Welfare, 14-3, May 4, and on the House floor, 71-24 (a supermajority), May 16. The 29 favorable votes on June 5 were a pickup of three supporters since the Senate voted 26-12 (one absence) --  a supermajority -- on June 1. That vote removed responsibility for hearing the bill from the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare (which had tanked the legislation), and transferred it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary A, which favorably considered it (4-0, with three … [Read more...]