A new report from the Barna Group asks the question, “How has the downturn affected churches and congregations?”
Like many other sectors, pastors and church executives admit that churches are feeling the results of the economic pinch, though for most congregations ihas not been severe so far. Overall, 57% of pastors said the economy has negatively impacted their church over the last year. Still, only 8% of leaders said the effect was “very negative.” About one-third of leaders (35%) describe their churches as unaffected by the economy, while one of 11 churches (9%) defied the odds and described the last year as financially positive.
This is the first in a series of articles on the economy and the church, which are scheduled as follows.
- Part 1 | Congregational Budgets (January 11, 2010)
- Part 2 | How Churches Have Adapted (January 25, 2010)
- Part 3 | Giving and Donations (February 8, 2010)
For a good list of Lutheran resources on stewardship, follow this link to Lutheran Mission
Franz Friday 
