NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While money flowing through church offering plates increased 112 percent in the last 15 years, the amount of money Baptist churches give to missions causes has increased at only half that rate, according to a report by Associated Baptist Press.

The news service analyzed financial data reported by Southern Baptist Convention churches and found churches are sending smaller percentages of their undesignated offerings to the Cooperative Program unified missions budget. That budget funds state and national missions programs.

Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of empty tomb, inc.,  a Champagne, Ill. Ministry devoted to increasing awareness of missions funding needs told the news service the trend is found not just among Baptists.

"These trends are common to the church in the United States," she said. "Churches seem to be turning inward. They seem to be emphasizing the comfort and happiness of members over the transformation of those members."

The analysis of data reported in the Annual Church Profile and published by the SBC Executive Committee revealed:

• Undesignated receipts in SBC churches grew 112 percent from 1987 to 2002, from $3.2 billion to $6.8 billion.
• Total receipts in SBC churches, combining regular budget gifts and special offerings, grew 120 percent from $4.3 billion to $9.5 billion.
• Total missions expenditures reported by churches, including Cooperative Program, special offerings and local missions, grew 55 percent, from $663 million to $1 billion.
• Gifts to the Cooperative Program nationwide, including both the portion retained by state conventions and the portion forwarded to the SBC, grew 49 percent, from $337 million to $502 million.
• Designated giving to the SBC's special offerings, such as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, grew 56 percent, from $109 million to $170 million.
• The average percentage of a church's undesignated receipts sent through the Cooperative Program decreased from 10.5 percent in 1987 to 7.4 percent in 2002. As a percentage of undesignated offerings, local churches have decreased their Cooperative Program giving by 30 percent.