With word in the last few days that the Georgia Baptist State Convention would release another one of their Baptist Collegiate Ministers at the end of this month and not replace him, it has stirred the conversation again about college ministry funding for Southern Baptists. I understand the reality of money and paying bills. My frustration is that we do not seem to be very strategic, but simply make cuts. To quit or diminish what we do in college ministry is to short change the future in Baptist life and witness.
I believe we must have conversations about the BEST WAYS to continue to do college ministry and not just make cuts. Here are some different options...none presented as a perfect option, but as fuel for better ideas. They are in no particular order and I don't even like all of them.
LEAVE COLLEGE MINISTRY TO THE NON-DENOMINATIONAL MINISTRIES. This has been suggested by some that we simply let CRU, Intervarsity, etc do the college ministry. They raise their own salaries, etc. It doesn't cost us anything. While much ministry is done by these groups, we lose the distinctive strengths of our denomination both in beliefs and practices. AND, much of the money raised by these staffers comes from Southern Baptists.
ADOPT THE VIRGINIA MODEL. The Virginia Baptist Convention requires their College Ministers to raise a percentage of their salary and that percentage is gradually increased. Obviously, they do this primarily through their ministry alums. At this point, some Southern Baptist State Conventions do not allow their College Ministers to ask individuals for money, for fear that it affects giving to the overall Baptist offerings.
ASK THE LOCAL CHURCHES TO TAKE UP THE COLLEGE MINISTRIES. This approach was adopted by North Carolina Baptist State Convention some years ago. They went from multiple BCM Ministers with Centers to three employees who were to enlist and train individuals and churches to do it locally. More recently, they have downsized this to one person who has some responsibility in collegiate ministry. Different observers give different reports to their success with this approach.
GO ONLY TO THE UNDERSERVED CAMPUSES. This approach argues to cut our number of College Ministers and go only to the smaller campuses where no one is doing anything or very little is being done. "Big Name Campuses" have lots of ministries and smaller and often more commuter type campuses have less witness. The feeling is this spreads our gospel witness and ministry where it is most needed.
GO ONLY TO THE FLAGSHIP CAMPUSES. The argument for this approach is that "flagship campuses" are the ones with the most students normally and it is easier to draw support for these ministries for both salary and budget because they are high profile. The argument further continues that "flagship campuses" tend to turn out the most high profile, assertive leaders that will make the greatest difference in the world (and local churches) in the days to come. Southern Baptists have long advocated the idea of being on more campuses while CRU and others have more practiced the "Flagship Model".
DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATE CONVENTIONS AND LOCAL CHURCHES. This idea maintains that instead of local churches hiring their own College Minister that the State Convention and one or more local churches would partner to hire one or more College Ministers. Some State Conventions now do this on some campuses. But, these alliances are often fragile and complicated. Some churches are willing and others are not. Should we invite all and simply combine with those who are willing?
Already in some states outside the Bible Belt, College Ministers raise their own salaries and relate to the State Convention as a Contract Worker.
This is an UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION but one I believe we must be having in order to be more strategic, if offerings continue to decline and hard decisions have to be made. LET'S HAVE A PLAN!
Arliss Dickerson's college ministry books are available at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX
Thanks for the article and writing me on FB. Don't forget another model used is missionaries are 100% support raised and work as contract workers under the state convention.
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