"I am looking forward to beginning what I hope will be a very open budget planning process, involving as many Baptists as possible," Royston said.

Last year, the BSC received almost a million dollars a week -- $51.93 million -- through the regular budget, special mission offerings and other designated gifts. More than $30 million was distributed through the Cooperative Program, with about one-third going to the Southern Baptist Convention. The largest special offering -- $9.84 million -- was for the Southern Baptist Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

"How we allocate our money -- both to whom and in what amounts -- says a great deal about our priorities and commitments as a mission people," he said. "These meetings will allow everyone to share their perspective. No area of the budget will be off-limits for discussion."

Scheduled to joined Royston at each meeting are Mac Brunson, pastor, Green Street Church in High Point and BSC president; Larry Harper, pastor, Forest Hills Church, Raleigh and BSC General Board president; and Ronald W. McSwain, pastor, Earlys Church, Ahoskie and chairman of the 1999 state convention budget committee.

Each year, the General Board president appoints a committee to recommend a budget to the General Board, which, in turn, bring the budget to the annual state convention meeting in November for discussion and approval. The budget committee spends several months considering program proposals submitted to it by the institutions and agencies and various ministry areas within the state convention.

The budget town meetings, according to Royston, will simply add another forum for N.C. Baptists to express their concerns and priorities.

"I want everyone to have the opportunity to be heard," he said. "Now that doesn't mean everyone will be able to construct the budget of his or her choice -- anymore than you can do that in your local church -- but everyone will be given a chance to express an opinion."

The budget town meetings will also provide Royston an opportunity to meet Baptists from across the state in an open and informal setting.

"Being new in my position, I'm looking forward to meeting as many North Carolina Baptists as possible, as well as spending more time with our new convention president, General Board president, and budget committee chairman," he said.

Central to the entire budgeting process, Royston said, is a commitment to accountability. The state convention employs a certified public accountant each year to make a complete audit of every financial transaction.

"We have an excellent record of handling the money entrusted to us by the churches," he said. "We do a good job of telling Baptists how we spent the money we received each year. Now I want to make an extra effort to ask Baptists how they would like for us to spend this money in future years."

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Boatwright is public relations director for the General Board of the Baptist State Convention.)