After politics, money is probably the most sensitive topic in religion, and one that gets much less media coverage than many other issues. Yet money is also the fuel that runs religion in the United States, and donating is a basic tenet of every religious tradition. How much believers donate to their faith communities, or to charity, and why, is only beginning to be studied in depth.
Reporting the details is challenging; government rules do not require many religious organizations to give public access to their records. Yet religious giving has profound implications for society, and studies show that American believers are making more money than ever but donating proportionally less than ever to churches and religious institutions and charities. On top of that, a greater share of those donations is going to support individual churches themselves rather than missions beyond their walls.
There are other developments that make this topic especially timely. For example, the IRS has issued new rules for the current tax year that will require proof of how much worshippers put into the collection plate. Also, churches are experimenting with new ways to boost donations, including automatic deductions from bank accounts and debit card swipers on site. And news that the Senate Finance Committee is investigating six prominent big-money Christian ministries has put an unprecedented spotlight on financial scandals brewing across the country. Many of these ministries embrace the so-called “prosperity gospel” that appears to be enjoying a renaissance among American churchgoers. (See ReligionLink’s prosperity gospel edition.)
This edition of ReligionLink provides ample resources to help journalists report on financial giving – why people give, how much they give, and trends over time.
Why it matters
While religious believers often talk about most any topic related to their faith, money is rarely one of them. But the amount Americans donate makes it a topic too big to ignore. Studies estimate that Americans donate upwards of $100 billion to religious organizations and causes each year. That is an enormous sum, and it shows that religion remains the chief impulse behind charitable giving.
OVERVIEW
In general terms, studies show that American believers are making more money than ever but are donating proportionally less than they ever have to their church or to religious charities and institutions. Moreover, a greater share of those donations is going to support the congregant’s own house of worship, rather than benevolences, the term used for money that funds overseas religious work or other missions beyond the walls of a single church.
The leading researchers on church giving are John L. Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle of empty tomb inc., based in Champaign, Ill. Their studies tend to focus on Protestant denominations, which voluntarily provide the most detailed financial data. But empty tomb data does appear to hold true for many other denominations, and they collect some data on other church groups, including Roman Catholics.
The Ronsvalles’ most recent research was released in October 2007 in the 17th annual edition of their book, titled in this version The State of Church Giving Through 2005. Some of the key findings are also on their Web site. A roundup of the empty tomb’s findings from the previous year can be found in this Religion New Service story, posted by The Baptist Standard.
Interpreting the data is, of course, the nub of all debates on this topic. Some argue that Americans are more materialistic and less attached to their churches than in the past; they buy more things and donate less. Other experts say that religion has grown more local than ever: Worshippers are more concerned with supporting their own congregation and are alienated from the wider denomination, if they are even part of a national or international faith group. Others say that economic uncertainty, rising costs and other financial stresses are leading Americans to withhold more from the offering plate.
Research from the Faith Communities Today 2005 survey from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research found that 57 percent of congregations report that their financial situation is good or excellent. That was a notable drop since 2000, when 66 percent of congregations said their situation was good or excellent.
Journalists reporting on religious giving should keep several factors in mind. One is that most research focuses on Christian churches, largely because the large number of Christian denominations and their systematic approach to data collection provide enough information to draw sustainable conclusions. Many other faiths tend to be smaller and thus more difficult to research. Also, many (such as Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs) include a large number of relatively recent immigrants who may be reluctant to provide financial statements. At the synagogue level, Judaism is generally characterized by a system of annual dues for membership (which grew out of prohibitions on handling money on the Sabbath, when communal worship takes place). Jews donate in other ways as well, but there is little data comparable to the Christian tradition of passing the collection plate. Contact local and regional Jewish federations for information on Jewish fund raising.
Non-Christian faiths do have important and long-standing traditions of giving, and these merit exploration even if a quantitative picture of giving is elusive.
National sources
ORGANIZATIONS
• The Hartford Institute for Religion Research tracks financial trends in the religious sector through its Faith Communities Today survey. A 2006 FACT publication, “Insights into Financial Giving” (a summary is online in a PDF format), provides an invaluable overview of charitable and church giving along with resources and experts. The report also provides a summary of different religious groups’ teachings on giving. David A. Roozen is director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. He can speak about trends in denominational giving. Contact 860-509-9546, roozen@hartsem.edu.
• Resources for American Christianity is a Web site funded by the Lilly Endowment that “seeks to assist leaders and participants in Christian communities, scholars and other interested publics in better understanding the impact, trends and trajectories of Christianity in American society.” Under the “Economics” category, the site has a series of excellent studies, papers and experts. They are under sub-headings that include: Church Finances, Giving, Materialism, Stewardship, Wealth and Work.
• The empty tomb inc. report from October 2007 is summarized and analyzed in a media section on the group’s Web site. This year’s report included details on regional differences in charitable and religious giving. Read an Oct. 12, 2007, Religion News Service story, “Southerners give more to religious organizations”, posted by The Baptist Standard. John L. Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle founded empty tomb inc. and are the leading researchers of patterns and trends in religious giving in the United States. Contact 217-356-9519, research@emptytomb.org.
• The Yearbook of American& Canadian Churches is published annually by the National Council of Churches in the USA and contains detailed financial data from most denominations. The data is self-reported. A sample of the financial tables from the 2002 edition is posted. The Rev. Eileen W. Lindner is deputy general secretary for research and planning at the NCC and editor of the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Contact 212-870-2333, elindner@ncccusa.org.
• Generous Giving Inc. is an evangelical ministry and foundation based in Chattanooga, Tenn., that seeks to encourage stewardship and financially sound practices among Christians. The group’s Web site includes a page of “Statistics & Trends” that provides data and context for this issue. Daryl Heald is a former commercial real estate broker who helped launch Generous Giving, “a ministry working to motivate Christians of all income levels toward greater biblical generosity.” Heald is an elder at Lookout Mountain (Tenn.) Presbyterian Church and lives in Lookout Mountain, Ga. Contact daryl@generousgiving.org or through todd@generousgiving.org.
• Giving USA of Glenview, Ill., is the leading foundation dedicated to promoting overall philanthropy and ethical standards for charitable organizations. In its most recent annual survey, using data from 2006, Giving USA reported that Americans gave more than $295 billion to the nation’s 1.4 million charitable and religious organizations, with the largest single share—almost one-third—going to the religious sector. Giving USA includes “in kind” as well as cash donations, which is why their overall donation figure is higher than those of other groups, such as empty tomb inc. Contact Sharon Bond, 847-375-4836, sbond@connect2amc.com, or info@givinginstitute.org.
• The International Catholic Stewardship Council is a leading organization promoting increased stewardship in the Catholic Church. Research has shown that on average, Catholics tend to put less than Protestants — perhaps half as much — in the weekly collection plate. The ICSC, based in Washington, is stepping up efforts to encourage giving. The group has an annual report on collections at the diocesan level. Contact Katharine Daragan at 202-289-1093 ext. 104, kdaragan@catholicstewardship.org.
• FADICA (Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities Inc.) is a Washington, D.C.-based consortium of private charitable foundations and individual donors who try to foster stewardship and religious philanthropy. The organization has become increasingly interested in stewardship issues in recent years. Francis J. Butler is president. Contact 202-223-3550, info@fadica.org.
• The National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management is a Catholic organization founded in 2005 out of concerns over financial mismanagement uncovered during the sexual abuse crisis. The NLRCM says its mission “is to promote excellence and best practices in the management, finances and human resources development of the Catholic Church in the U.S. by greater incorporation of the expertise of the laity.” Kerry A. Robinson is executive director. Contact 202-223-8962, Kerry.Robinson@nlrcm.org.
• The Material History of American Religion Project was a Lilly-funded program, based at Vanderbilt University, that ran from 1995-2001. The program produced a series of papers and books on the topic of believers and money, and it still maintains a useful Web site with links to programs and participants.
• The Lake Institute on Faith and Giving is a public forum for exploring connections between faith and philanthropy. It is part of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Contact director William G. Enright, 317-278-8930, wenright@iupui.edu.
• The National Center for Charitable Statistics, based in Washington, D.C., is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. It is a program of the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute. Contact Thomas H. Pollak, program director, 866-518-3874, tpollak@ui.urban.org.
• Independent Sector is a leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It published the 2001 study “Giving and Volunteering in the United States.” and posts links to recent studies on giving and volunteering. Contact Patricia Nash Christel, vice president of communications and marketing, 202-467-6132, patricia@independentsector.org, for sources.
• Wall Watchers is a evangelical-oriented ministry that encourages financial accountability and increased stewardship among Christian churches and organizations. Founded in the 1990s, Wall Watchers expanded with two adjunct groups: The Good Steward, described as “an educational web site aimed at helping and equipping people to become better stewards”; and MinistryWatch, which aims to provide “the donating public with access to organizational and financial profiles on 400 of the largest Christian ministries in the United States.” Contact Wall Watchers founder and president, Howard “Rusty” Leonard, 866-364-9980, info@wallwatchers.org.
• The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability was formed in 1979 in response to a wave of church financial scandals. Based in Winchester, Va., the ECFA has 2,000 member evangelical Christian organizations that adhere the ECFA principle, or Standards of Responsible Stewardship, which “focus on board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fund-raising, and proper use of charity resources.” Contact ECFA president Kenneth Behr, 540-535-0103, information@ecfa.org.
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy covers the nonprofit world. Contact Michael Solomon, director of communications, 202-466-1755, press@philanthropy.com, for sources. He also will give journalists passwords to gain access to the magazine web site, and its facts and figures area.
• Philanthropy Journal covers nonprofits. Contact Todd Cohen, editor and publisher, 919-573-4642, tcohen@ajf.org.
EXPERTS
• James K. Kelley is director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina and president of the board of directors of the International Catholic Stewardship Council. Kelley is the author of “Stewardship Manual: A Guide for Individuals and Parishes Developing Stewardship as a Way of Life” and the book Sustaining and Strengthening Stewardship. Contact 704-370-3301, chancery@charlottediocese.org.
• Robert J. Wuthnow is a professor of the sociology of religion at Princeton University and director of the Center for the Study of Religion. He wrote The Crisis in the Churches: Spiritual Malaise, Fiscal Woe. Contact 609-258-4742, wuthnow@princeton.edu.
• Dean R. Hoge is a professor emeritus of sociology at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a leading expert on money and giving in Catholicism and other denominations. Publications he has authored or contributed to include Money Matters: Personal Giving in American Culture and More Money, More Ministry: Money and Evangelicals in Recent North American History. Contact 202-319-5944, hoge@cua.edu.
• Abdullah Saeed is a professor of Arab and Islamic studies and director of Centre for the Study of Contemporary Islam at the University of Melbourne in Australia. He has written widely on the role of money in Islam. Contact 011-61-3-8344-5990, a.saeed@unimelb.edu.au.
• Leslie S. Kawamura is professor of Eastern religions in the department of religious studies at the University of Calgary. He has written about the role of money in Eastern religions. Contact 403-220-3073, kawamura@ucalgary.ca.
• Charles Zech is an economics professor at Villanova University and director of the Center for the Study of Church Management, Villanova School of Business. He is a leading authority on finances in the Catholic Church. Contact 610-519-4371, charles.zech@villanova.edu.
• Mark A. Noll is a professor of American religious history at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. He has written about the tradition of religious giving in American history. Contact 574-631-7574, Mark.Noll.8@nd.edu.
• Paul G. Schervish is a director of the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy and a sociology professor at the college in Chestnut Hill, Mass. He directed the studies “The Moral Biography of Wealth: Philosophical Reflections on the Foundation of Philanthropy,” “The Contradictions of Christmas: Troubles and Traditions in Culture, Home, and Heart,” and “The Emerging Material and Spiritual Determinants of Charitable Giving by Wealth Holders.” Contact 617-552-4070, paul.schervish@bc.edu.
• For more sources, see ReligionLink’s edition on “Exploring altruism: What makes people help others?”.
Background
• Read an Aug. 1, 2007, Christian Science Monitor story about churches turning to electronic giving options.
• Read a June 30, 2007, Dallas Morning News story about ethical and theological questions surrounding electronic giving at churches.
• Read a March 12, 2007, Religion News Service story, “Churches Opt for Credit Cards as IRS Demands Receipts,” about how credit cards can help churches collect more from members. It’s posted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
• Read a Jan 10, 2007, Religion News Service story, “New IRS Rules Demand Receipts for Church Donations,” posted by the Roundtable on Religion & Social Welfare Policy.
Regional sources
• Peter Dobkin Hall is a lecturer in public policy at the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. He is an expert in the history of religious philanthropy in America. Contact 617-495-5117, pd_hall@harvard.edu.
• Paul G. Schervish is director of the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. He is an expert on American traditions of giving. Contact 617-552-4070, paul.schervish@bc.edu.
• Jonathan D. Sarna is the Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and director of its Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program. He is author of American Judaism: A History and can talk about Jewish attitudes and practices on religious donations and charity. Contact 781-736-2977, sarna@brandeis.edu.
• Ronald J. Sider is on the faculty at Palmer Theological Seminary and director of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Eastern University in Wynnewood, Pa. He is an outspoken thinker for evangelical progressives and is author of The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World? Contact 484-384-2974, rsider@eastern.edu.
• Sharon L. Miller is associate director of the Center for the Study of Theological Education at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. She is a sociologist of religion who specializes in evaluation research and data analysis. Miller co-edited a collection of essays on religious giving titled Financing American Religion. Contact 212-662-4315, slm@auburnsem.org.
• Ahmad S. Dallal is an associate professor in the department of Arabic and Islamic studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He authored a 2004 article, “The Islamic Institution of Waqf,” in Islam and Social Policy, on the Islamic practice of religious endowments. Contact 202-687-5743, asd6@georgetown.edu.
• Mark Alan Chaves is a sociologist of religion at Duke University in Durham, N.C. He writes extensively on congregational life in America and co-edited a collection of essays on religious giving titled Financing American Religion. Contact 919-660-5783, mac58@soc.duke.edu.
• Timur Kuran is a professor of economics and political science and Gorter Family Professor in Islam and the Social Sciences at Duke University in Durham, N.C. His expertise is Islam and economics. Contact 919-660-1872, t.kuran@duke.edu.
• James Hudnut-Beumler is dean of the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and a professor of American religious history. He has written widely on American believers and money. His latest book, published in 2007, is In Pursuit of the Almighty’s Dollar: A History of Money and American Protestantism. Contact 615-343-3960, james.hudnut-beumler@vanderbilt.edu.
• David Schroeder is a psychology professor at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock who has explored whether the motivations for helping other are egoistic or altruistic. He co-wrote The Psychology of Helping and Altruism: Problems and Puzzles. Contact dave@uark.edu.
• Steven Jacobs is a professor of religious studies and holds the Aaron Aronov Chair of Judaic Studies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He can comment on altruism as a scholar of modern Jewish thought and from a post-Holocaust perspective. Contact 205-348-0473, sjacobs@bama.ua.edu.
• Roger J. Nemeth is a sociology professor at Hope College in Holland, Mich. He has written about finances and congregations, including an essay, “The Religious Basis of Charitable Giving in America: A Social Capital Perspective” for the volume Religion, Social Capital and Democratic Life. Contact 616-395-7964, nemeth@hope.edu.
• Stephanie Clintonia Boddie is an assistant professor at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. She specializes in the role of religious congregations in providing community services. Contact 314-935-9449, sboddie@wustl.edu.
• Michael David Bonner is a professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He has written on money and Islam, including the entry “Wealth” in the Encyclopedia of the Qur’an. Contact 734-647-0093, mbonner@umich.edu.
• Charles McDaniel teaches at the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Dawson is author of the 2007 book God and Money: The Moral Challenge of Capitalism, and he writes and teaches on “the developmental parallels between Muslim economic thought and Christian economic ideas as they evolved over the course of Western history.” Contact 254-710-1510, Charles_McDaniel@baylor.edu.
• Craig Blomberg is a distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary in Colorado and author of Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions. Contact 303-762-6897, craig.blomberg@denverseminary.edu.
• Gregory Schopen is a professor of South Asian Buddhism in the department of Asian languages and cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles. He has written on the role of money in Buddhism, especially in India. Contact 310-794-4411, schopen@humnet.ucla.edu.
• Alicia McNary Forsey is a research professor at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Calif. She authored an essay, “Attitudes About Money in Theological Schools.” Contact 510-845-6232, cyoung@sksm.edu.
