FRESNO - With Cooperative Program gifts continuing to fall short of anticipated levels in 2009, California Southern Baptist Convention enacted benefit reductions for staff effective through the end of the year.

Mike McCullough, CSBC associate executive director and chief operating officer, made the announcement during the monthly staff meeting in late May.

Affecting all staff - Fresno-based, field staff and Jenness Park - was a week of mandatory unpaid vacation during the remainder of 2009. He noted the unpaid week was equivalent to a salary reduction of 1.9 percent annually. However, with seven months left in the year, salaries would be reduced by 3.25 percent to achieve the reduction.

Also affecting all staff, CSBC suspended, through the end of 2009, its 5 percent employer matching dollars for the employee retirement program. CSBC will continue its basic 5 percent contribution for all eligible employees.

McCullough also announced CSBC's six administrative staff took a reduction in salary for the remainder of 2009. The executive director took a 10 percent reduction while other administrative members - group leaders for business services, church starting, communications, healthy church and missions advancement - took a 5 percent cut.

These actions will result in a savings of more than $186,000, McCullough noted.

He said it appears CP gifts from churches could be down as much $1.2 million from the 2009 projected budget objective, which means the shortfall for CSBC ministries could be as much as $700,000. In January $361,000 CP dollars were trimmed from budgets, staff vacancies frozen, equipment purchases restricted, and some travel reimbursements for staff were eliminated. He noted any additional shortfalls would be covered by reserves and designated accounts.

McCullough said these decisions "were not taken lightly" and encouraged staff to continue their ministries in "creative ways to serve the churches of our Convention and reach the world in California."

McCullough also asked staff to continue seeking God's wisdom in fulfilling His task and to pray for economic recovery, CSBC churches and the millions of Californians who need to know Jesus.

He added the Convention is not the only CSBC entity affected by the economy, saying many churches are feeling the economic crunch and are making difficult decisions.

McCullough said California Baptist Foundation and its subsidiary, Strongtower Financial, Inc., continue to struggle because of their economy-based ministries. The Foundation has reduced its staff from 32 to 22, executives' and managers' salaries by 20 percent, other staff salaries by 10 percent, and in July suspended all retirement contributions. Strongtower has reduced its staff from 88 to 57 since last fall, adjusted salaries and suspended all retirement contributions.

In May, California Baptist University trustees approved suspending the CBU employer retirement match of up to 8 percent, which began June 1 and will continue through at least June 30, 2010.