Items of Interest May 14, 2012 Issue

Giving rebounding for churches

“Study shows giving finally rebounding for majority of churches” www.stateoftheplate.info (Annual Research). March 27, 2012.

Churches suffered from plummeting donations after the recession began in 2008. But in the past year, a majority of congregations experienced giving increases because of a better economy, higher attendance, and more church teaching on giving. . . .

The fourth annual “State of the Plate” constituency survey of more than 1,360 congregations revealed that 51 percent of churches saw giving increase in 2011, up from 43 percent in 2010 and 36 percent in 2009. . . . 

The survey was a collaborative research project sponsored by MAXIMUM Generosity (MAXIMUMgenerosity.org), Christianity Today (christianitytoday.org), publisher of Church Finance Today and Leadership Journal, and ECFA (ecfa.org). The survey asked pastors, staff, and leaders of all church sizes, theological leanings, and regions to report on their church giving, budgeting, and generosity initiatives, as well as programs to help families negatively affected by the economy.