MEMPHIS — Gathering just a few hundred yards from where it all began, a host of SBC leaders recognized and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program on Tuesday afternoon.
The event, held at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, included praise music, an extended time of prayer and a message from Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC executive committee. The special service was highlighted by the signing of the Declaration of Cooperation resolution. (See below for full resolution).
Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said it was a powerful day — not only for those who attended, but for all Southern Baptists.
“This exceeded expectations in every way,” said Davis. “I wish every Southern Baptist could have been here. They would have been very thankful for, and proud of, what the Cooperative Program has done in the past, and they would have heard a clear challenge about the future.”
Roughly 70 SBC leaders — including representatives of various SBC entities and state conventions — ceremonially signed the document, which was crafted as a means of expressing gratitude to God and solidarity with one another for future Great Commission cooperation.
The Declaration resolution will now be sent to the 2025 SBC Resolutions Committee as a recommended resolution for messengers’ consideration in Dallas this June. If the Resolutions Committee brings the Declaration forward and the messengers pass it, it will be hosted online for any Southern Baptist to digitally sign.
The list of signees on Tuesday included a long line of prominent SBC leaders, including David Dockery, Paul Chitwood, Kevin Ezell, Ben Mandrell, Brent Leatherwood, Sandy Wisdom-Martin, Iorg and many others.
“Like our forefathers, we’ve come to a significant moment (in the life of the Cooperative Program),” said Iorg. “My appeal today is (for us) to make the choice to reaffirm our commitment to cooperation in its simplest form. Why? Because the Cooperative Program works.”
Iorg noted that more than 20 billion dollars have been given through the Cooperative Program “in its first 100 years.”
He said the anniversary of CP was certainly worth celebrating, noting that it is now — and always has been — “based on serving others.” He said the key to the success of CP hinges on individuals being willing to forego personal honors for the sake of shared success.
Davis said the site of Tuesday’s gathering — and even the starting time of the event — helped make the service all the more special.
“Not only are we standing a few hundred yards from where it all happened, but we signed the document today at almost the exact same time of day as the SBC did when it originally adopted the Cooperative Program,” he said.
Fittingly, the pulpit that was used during the ceremony was the pulpit used by M.E. Dodd, considered to be the “father” of the Cooperative Program. The pulpit was on loan from the Louisiana state convention.
Davis said he believes the Cooperative Program can have a future that is just as strong as its past.
“I think the key for us is to hold onto the ‘why’ behind cooperative giving,” said Davis. “It’s not about the Cooperative Program itself. It’s about the Great Commission work that the Cooperative Program starts and funnels. Billy Graham called it ‘the greatest method of supporting global missions that has ever existed.’
“And I believe that if we maintain the mission, and continue to understand the ‘why’ behind it, it will motivate future generations to continue to cooperate and collaborate.” B&R
Resolution: Declaration of Cooperation
WHEREAS, Upon the semicentennial anniversary of the Cooperative Program 32 influential Southern Baptist leaders signed a “Declaration of Cooperation”* which expressed their affirmation of Southern Baptist Great Commission cooperation, their appreciation for the Cooperative Program, and their solidarity in continuing the work; and
WHEREAS, Jesus has given us, His followers, the Great Commission and empowered us by His Holy Spirit to accomplish its end (Matthew 28:18–20, Acts 1:8); and
WHEREAS, The biblical doctrine of cooperation compels us to work together and thereby effect a greater reward for our efforts (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12); and
WHEREAS, Upon the adoption of the Cooperative Program at the 1925 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Memphis, Tennessee, the Executive Committee declared that “the successes of the future depend upon the heroic spirit shown by our people at this time,” then urged the pledging of Southern Baptists “in the fullest support to the Cooperative Program as the best and most practical way of meeting our obligations and providing for the ongoing of all our enterprises”; and
WHEREAS, Since 1925 the Cooperative Program has provided a comprehensive funding mechanism for like-minded Baptist churches to support missions in all the world, all the time, at the same time; and
WHEREAS, As a result of Cooperative Program commitment and by the grace of God, our Baptist life has prospered in terms of unity, missions, and ministry throughout Baptist state conventions and Cooperative Program-funded national and international enterprises; and
WHEREAS, During these past 100 years Southern Baptists have deployed more than $20 billion through the Cooperative Program, demonstrating both the vast wealth God has entrusted to their stewardship and their willingness to sacrificially invest that wealth into Great Commission cooperation through Southern Baptist enterprises; and
WHEREAS, We have made a great commitment to our Southern Baptist missionaries, both at home and abroad, and to the ongoing work of our Southern Baptist entities and state conventions, all whose Great Commission efforts are supported and sustained through Cooperative Program giving; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That we, the undersigned, affirm the Cooperative Program as a missions-funding strategy God has blessed to support and strengthen Southern Baptist efforts to share the Gospel throughout the world; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we are grateful for Southern Baptist churches and individuals that give faithfully and sacrificially through the Cooperative Program; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we commend all who promote, support, and renew their commitment to the Cooperative Program among our family of churches, mission boards, seminaries, entities, local Baptist associations, and state conventions.