Tithe Record Lows
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Money on Oct 26th, 2011 | 6 commentsTithing to mainline Protestant churches as a percentage of income is at its lowest level in at least 41 years, according to a new report, and churches are keeping a greater share of those donations for their own needs.
Parishioners gave about 2.38 percent of their income to their church, according to “The State of Church Giving through 2009,” a new report being released this month by Empty Tomb inc., a Christian research agency in Champaign, Ill.
Just over 2 percent of income went toward congregational finances, such as operating costs and building expenses. Only 0.34 percent of parishioner income went to what Empty Tomb calls “benevolences,” such as charities and seminary training beyond the four walls of the church.
Those are new lows, at least going back to the first report in 1968.
via The Washington Post.
QUESTION: Do you even have any idea what the average person in your church gives? Is it more than 2.38%?
6 Responses to “ “Tithe Record Lows”
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You ask this question only because we all know that most american churches are really profit making, cash flow generating businesses. So your question about cash and percentage of income is important to the business bottom line. However, A real church wouldn’t care about such things.
If you find a real christian church that actually tries to follow Jesus, please let me know. I haven’t seen one yet.
All I have seen so far are businesses pretending to be churches. Bernie Madoff is laughing his heart out over the irony.
Mark,
i know the Church has endured some BAD TIMES in recent years… but i think there are two things everyone is overlooking. 1 is The Church is made up of men and women… like u… and me! Its flawed right from the beginning. The Church should be viewed not like a PALACE full of Kings and Queens with NO DIRTY LAUNDRY… but more like a hospital treating for the sick, the wounded, the broken hearted, thise who by human standards REALLY NEED HELP! Now, lets see how? Open on Sunday? lights, phones, rent or mortgage, minimal staff still requires some form of income to be available to serve, bulletins, class room curriculums for marriage classes, parenting classes, drug and alcohol recovery programs… we feed the hungry… at our Church. We have a homeless shelter on nights below 40 degrees. every Tuesday they eat, get hair cuts, take a warm shower and get clean underware, socks and shoes if their are worn out. Bibles are given away, widows come up short from time to time and we assit with car repairs, broken plumbing etc… add to that low income families struggling to stay afloat… they too need help from time to time paying for the unseen flat tire, water pump etc… now, how Mark. How could we do such with no income? If the Church is NOT THERE for the needy, who will be? our Government? HEAVEN FORBID! sadly, SOME Churches do take advantage… so do some car lots, some drug stores, some realtors, and some bankers… so, are ALL BAD? you tell me, i bet you are employed… and service some need in society. Can you be trusted 100% of the time? do you ALWAYS tell the truth Mark? if not, you too would be considered a liar, and a thief by your standards. we ALL NEED GRACE. Even the bad guys of which i am sure your not one! Dont be hard hearted… Gove and let God be your rewarder!
What Mark said.
Where did this idea of tithing come from?
A real christian church must be careful with God’s money provided by faithful followers of Christ who love the Lord more that they love money and who bring the tithe and offering so others may be saved.
In order to be careful with the money they look at metrics to see if they are doing the right things. These metrics, simplified, include the number of people being saved, church attendance, and unfortunately cash flow. The cash flow is not the focus but needs to be watched so they do not overspend. Cash flow is not the measure of a church’s value – People coming to Christ is – Lives being saved. Cash flow helps point to the areas in the Church where people need to pray about, looking for guidance and wisdom.
I have never seen any non-profit organizations which does not evaluate their finacials.
Tithing comes from both the old and new testiment.
Really?
I’ve heard tithing described as a command that Christians must follow.
I would have though a person would give as, when and as much as they feel moved to by the spirit.
When congregants see a big-spending pastor who faces no chance of layoff–who is not affected with price increases because the church pays everything for him–when his good ole boys keep the finances of the church a secret–when those who question finances are made to feel intrusive—it is no wonder that the offerings are down and that is because the people are wise. God certainly wants us to be wise with where we place His money and not giving to a secret-keeping church is just pure discernment. People give to places they trust. The average Christian does not trust the handling of the money, and isn’t that sad? Sad, but true.