The Next Era of the Cooperative Program
Navigating the Uncertain Future of Southern Baptists’ Signature Missions Funding Pathway
In our new book The Next Era of the Cooperative Program we call for Southern Baptist leaders to reimagine the future of shared mission. Developed through the Future Commission 2050 Project, this strategic foresight report initiates a deeper conversation about trust, funding, and cooperation, enabling church leaders to explore how today’s decisions could shape the next generation of gospel advancement.
Veteran ministry strategist Chris Forbes, D.Min., is a certified foresight practitioner who has served within the Southern Baptist Convention for over 35 years. His work equips leaders with practical insight and biblical clarity for navigating change with foresight and conviction.
Readers learn to think like futurists and gain an inside peek into the Incite Futures Labs, where pastors and ministry leaders identify signals, track emerging trends, and examine the deeper drivers shaping ministry. Along the way, they engage practical tools for horizon scanning, scenario planning, and gospel-shaped strategy in real-world settings.
This is not a book of predictions. It is a guide for pastors, associational leaders, and denominational stakeholders who want to anticipate change, lead with clarity, and build a cooperative future worth stewarding.
In this book, you will:
• Explore four strategic foresight scenarios for the future of cooperative ministry
• Learn the frameworks and tools of foresight used in the Incite Futures Labs
• Understand the seven drivers of change shaping the SBC landscape
• Gain insight into the values and concerns of multiple generations of SBC leaders
• Discover how biblical convictions and forward-thinking strategy can work together
Who is this book for?
Pastors, associational missionaries, state convention leaders, seminary educators, SBC entity staff, and anyone engaged in missions strategy, stewardship education, or preparing ministries to navigate the future with clarity and purpose.
About the Author
Chris Forbes is a ministry strategist and certified foresight practitioner who helps leaders anticipate the future and prepare with wisdom. With over 35 years of experience in the Southern Baptist Convention, he led the Future Commission 2050 Project to guide churches in thinking ahead, navigating change, and staying rooted in biblical clarity.
What Leaders Are Saying
“The SBC Cooperative Program is in its 100th year, and its urgency within our missional ecosystem is as critical today as it ever has been. Thankfully, in his Future Commission 2050 work with SBC leaders, Dr. Forbes offers us a careful, immersive, and strategic look into the future of SBC Cooperative Program engagement.”
— Dr. Tony Wolfe, Executive Director, South Carolina Baptist Convention
“In a timely and thoughtful manner, Chris Forbes has offered an engaging and winsome path forward to re-envision the work of the Cooperative Program across the life of the Southern Baptist Convention. All who long to see a Spirit-enabled renewal among Southern Baptists need to seriously and prayerfully read and reflect on these eleven insightful chapters.”
— Dr. David S. Dockery, President and Distinguished Professor of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Chris does a masterful job of looking at the roots of the CP and the biblical principles that undergird our mission. Then, he mines the mindset and attitude toward the Cooperative Program today using valid research tools to interview the heart and mind of Southern Baptists. Chris asks us to consider four potential futures of the CP that should compel us to action.”
— Ray Griffin, Executive Pastor, Quail Springs Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK
Use this foresight guide to spot change, surface key drivers, and lead with clarity in missions, ministry, and cooperation as you navigate what’s next.
