Ministry News
Tithing Declines With Economy
- Details
- Monday, 16 May 2011 21:01
A new Barna Group study reveals how the economic duress of recent years as affected Americans' charitable giving.
In the study, released May 10, 77 percent attested to being personally touched by the nation’s financial difficulties. About one-quarter (28 percent) indicated they have been affected in a “major way.”
Following the economic crisis of late 2008, 20 percent of Americans reduced their giving to churches and religious organizations, and 31 percent downsized giving to other nonprofits. Fourteen months later saw a slight improvement in giving trends, but the latest research from Barna, conducted in April 2011, indicates that the numbers of reticent church givers are still hovering at 30 percent. While for the last decade, between 5 and 7 percent of Americans tithed, this number has dropped to 4 percent of the adult population in 2011—significantly lower than last year’s rate of 7 percent.
“The economic downturn influenced donations later than it affected other aspects of our spending,” noted David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group. “Once it kicked in, though, donors have cut back significantly in their giving to churches and nonprofits. Now, even as the economy shows some signs of improvement, donors are still reluctant to return to their previous levels of generosity. They may be less shell-shocked than 15 months ago, but they are still cautious."
Kinnaman suggested that, rather than attempting to get their financially struggling members to increase their giving, churches and nonprofits with the most effective response to the downturn are those that have "reduced their operating costs without undermining their impact, enabling them to remain effective with less revenue." A diminished capacity for programming and building campaigns has led churches to instead invest in relationships and be creative in serving one another in the midst of financial stress.
— The Barna Group
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Comments
I think it is really difficult to give a large sum of your income to "institutions" rather than a relational body of believers you are committed to. We have become too distant from God, and as a consequence from one another. We have neither the desire or tolerance for fellowship in the Spirit, because it requires something of us we are unwilling to bear. At it's most fundamental level, we refuse to be identified with God's will because we have preferred our own. A man cannot serve two masters indeed.
May we find grace to endure the suffering and patience required to bear his likeness in the unity of the Spirit in Christ. Then we will bear one anothers' burden's with joy knowing he is able to make all grace abound.
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I am only saying, how much of our stance on this is cultural sensitivity? God haters and church haters angry at the church, the easy target... their money? The Scripture tells us to exhort, correct, and rebuke (2 TIm) yet it is more Exhort, exhort, exhort else the church will leave. Why should they stay when they can go anywhere else and be free not to change. The teaching of the end of tithe is inferred, not scriptural.
Excellent summation. This is the basis of our teaching on giving at the church I founded. We even went one step further by not taking up an offering during services. People are encouraged to simply bring their offering [gifts] to one of the two baskets that are available. Those who do do so before the service even starts.
God doesn't want 10% of our money...He wants 100% of our hearts and generosity. The NT speaks of giving in numerous places. Giving not under compulsion (Law) but giving out of a thankful and compassionate heart..
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