LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The Kentucky Baptist Convention announced job cuts Jan. 31 intended to free up more money for national and international ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Five full-time jobs and 19 part-time jobs are being eliminated. Employees staying on the job will not receive a pay raise next year.
The reductions, which go into effect Sept. 1, are part of a Great Commission Task Force report approved by Kentucky Baptists at their 2010 annual meeting. The report called for splitting allocations of the Cooperative Program unified funding plan evenly between state and national causes within 10 years.
Currently 62 percent of CP gifts are retained by the 2,400-church state convention to fund ministries of the Kentucky Baptist Convention mission board and agencies, while 38 percent are forwarded to the SBC.
Three of the five full-time jobs being eliminated are vacant. The other two will be vacated by retirements scheduled Aug. 31. The 19 part-time jobs being cut are a mixture of filled and unfilled positions. Seven other part-time contract positions will be reduced.
"We regret having to give up these positions and the ministry that takes place through them," said Bill Mackey, executive director of the state convention. "But we will do our best to meet these ministry needs through effective and faithful volunteers and assignments to current personnel."
Mackey retires in May. A search committee is currently seeking his replacement.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.