DALLAS (BP) — As early as 1884, Southern Baptist mission leaders sensed a need for something other than “spasmodic” giving to fund denominational work at home and abroad.
“Our people must be taught to give by system,” Home Mission Board Secretary (now North American Mission Board) I.T. Tichenor put it at the time. “They must be taught that when each does his part, how easy it would be to supply all that is needed for the spread of the gospel and how small a contribution from everyone will hush the cries of destitution and fill our own and distant lands with songs of joy.”
The idea of systematic giving gained momentum in the 20th century and, with the encouragement of Louisiana pastor M.E. Dodd, messengers to the 1925 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting adopted it.
Messengers to the 2025 SBC annual meeting June 10-11 in Dallas will have several opportunities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program (CP), including in the exhibit hall and during general sessions of the meeting.
Brandon Porter, SBC Executive Committee vice president for convention communications, said the celebration’s planning drew broad participation.
“It has been exciting to see state conventions begin to celebrate the Cooperative Program’s 100th anniversary,” Porter told Baptist Press. “We’re looking forward to Southern Baptists from across the convention joining together to thank God for His faithfulness and to recommit to our cooperative partnership.”
Exhibit hall
Learn more of CP’s history, view such historic artifacts as the pulpit used by M.E. Dodd and record a 30-second video of what CP means to you at the CP booth in the SBC Exhibit Hall in Dallas.
The Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives contributed to the exhibit in its display of historical artifacts and the compilation of a timeline of Southern Baptists’ journey to adopt the Cooperative Program and efforts to maintain it since 1925.
“We’ve been working for months to prepare the Cooperative Program 100 exhibit, and we’re happy to share it with Southern Baptists,” Porter said.
The Shreveport Baptist Association loaned the pulpit Dodd used at First Baptist Church of Shreveport, La., from 1925-1955, Porter said, as Dodd’s encouragement of the CP at the 1925 SBC annual meeting gained him the moniker “Father of the Cooperative Program.”
The CP booth will provide a special backdrop for messengers and guests to record short videos titled, “What does the Cooperative Program mean to me?” and post them on social media.
In the same booth, Kentucky Baptist Convention Communications Director Lawrence Smith will record podcasts with a series of guests, highlighting how CP is impacting missions, church planting, disaster relief and other Southern Baptist work.
CP 100 book
“Unity of Purpose,” a brand new book featuring Southern Baptist leaders’ stories of how the Cooperative Program was created and its impact over the past 100 years, will be available in the Lifeway Village. The book was edited by Tony Wolfe, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and W. Madison Grace, provost, vice president and dean at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
CP on the main stage
The SBC annual meeting will include a CP 100 celebration Tuesday, June 10, at 2:40 p.m. on the main meeting stage in Hall F of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
Jeff Iorg, SBC Executive Committee president, will lead messengers and leaders in prayer and reflection, thanking God for His faithfulness through cooperative partnership.
At 2:55 pm, the SBC Committee on Resolutions is scheduled to ask Southern Baptists to make a declaration of cooperation reaffirming commitment to the CP partnership.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer.)
