Samford University announced Friday it won't accept its anticipated $3 million annual budget allocation from the Alabama Baptist State Convention, effective Jan. 1, 2018.

The decision was approved by the Executive Committee of the university's Board of Trustees after consultation with state convention leaders.

"I believe the action taken by our trustees is something that both parties have been anticipating for some time and will serve the best interests of both Samford and the Alabama Baptist State Convention," said Samford President Andrew Westmoreland. "Our longstanding educational and ministry relationships with Alabama Baptists have always been more significant than money, and these relationships will continue and flourish."

Westmoreland said recent tension between Samford and state convention leaders over a proposed student organization to discuss LGBT rights and issues was a factor.

The Samford faculty voted April 27 to recommend approval of "Samford Together," a student organization that "will provide a forum for SU students who want to discuss topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity" in "an open-minded and accepting environment." The proposed group still needs approval from the Samford board of trustees to form.

The idea of a student group to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues did not sit well with Alabama Baptist leaders who have historically supported Samford University.

State Convention President John Thweatt and State Board of Missions executive director Rick Lance said they were "saddened" by the faculty's vote, "which provides recognition of an agenda that we believe to be contrary to Scripture."

When the proposed student organization sought official university recognition, convention leadership informed Samford that "if the [Samford] trustees decide not to deny permanent recognition and revoke its provisional status, we will not recommend any allocation for Samford University in the 2018 budget."

Thweatt issued a statement today in response to Samford's decision:

"If our recommendation is approved during the SBOM's (State Board of Mission's) August meetings, then the 2018 Cooperative Program budget will be reduced by $3 million - the approximate amount that would have been Samford's likely allocation in 2018. This will, in effect, be a base budget that better reflects current Cooperative Program receipts," he said.

"The matter of recognition of the student organization is in the hands of the leadership of Samford University. They know our concerns about the organization as expressed in person and in print."

The intent and purposes of the proposed student organization were widely misunderstood, Westmoreland said. He advised the university's faculty and other employees on July 7 that, even prior to receiving this communication from convention leaders, he already had determined that he would not seek formal recognition of the proposed student organization by trustees but would work to accomplish each of the group's goals.

In his message to employees, Westmoreland promised to address topics related to human sexuality and "other important issues at the intersection of Christian understanding and cultural reality."

"I will involve these students and others across campus in taking essential steps to create new and ongoing opportunities for robustly engaging these and other important issues," he said. "Our actions at Samford, irrespective of financial considerations, must demonstrate fidelity to God's truth, abiding compassion and respect for all people, and solidarity with the timeless ideals of a strong university."

Samford was founded by Alabama Baptists in 1841. Since then, both the university and the state convention have enjoyed a mutually rewarding relationship which will continue, Westmoreland said.

"The relationship between Alabama Baptists and Samford remains crucial to the mission of Samford and the ongoing work of Baptists in Alabama and Christians throughout the world," Westmoreland said.

This will be the third time since 2008 that Samford has voluntarily reduced the annual funding it receives from the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

"Samford recognizes that gifts from churches to the Alabama Baptist State Convention are not keeping pace with the resources required to appropriately fund the convention's operations and ministries," Westmoreland said. "Although Samford is immensely grateful for the financial support of the convention, which we have carefully stewarded, we are also mindful of the valuable ministries that are dependent upon funds allocated through the Alabama Baptist Convention's annual budget."

Westmoreland emphasized that the university's financial strength depends heavily on generous financial contributions from alumni and others. "We acknowledge that reducing reliance on financial support from the Alabama Baptist State Convention will require careful stewardship of the university's resources, but I am confident of Samford's ability to maintain financial integrity."

Westmoreland added that Samford's Board of Trustees and administrative leadership will be working with leaders of the Alabama Baptist State Convention "to provide for thoughtful and harmonious agreement upon principles and practices that will ensure effective cooperation throughout the years ahead."

Samford had an annual budget in 2016 of more than $166 million. Samford recorded its eighth consecutive record enrollment in fall 2016 with 5,471 students.