By Cynthia Woolever
Despite decades of membership decline, mainline Protestant denominations remain a major presence in the American religious landscape. Three mainline denominations (United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)) rank in the top ten largest denominations. Mainline denominations account for one-fourth of the top twenty-five denominations. In addition to the three named above, other large groups include the American Baptist Churches, the Episcopal Church, and the United Church of Christ.
While several of these denominations have experienced the highest rates of membership loss in recent years compared to other groups, the link between this trend and giving patterns is less clear. Worshipers who give 10% or more of income to their congregation make the greatest impact on the financial health of the local church. The proportion of tithers in the average mainline Protestant church (18%) falls far below the average for conservative Protestant churches (43%) but above that in the typical Catholic parish (11%).
The dynamics of internal church life vary among the three faith groups as well. Therefore, the characteristics of high-percentage-tithing mainline churches reveal different patterns related to giving.
The Accelerators in High-Percentage-Tithing Mainline Protestant Churches
More weekly attendees. In mainline Protestant churches where a larger proportion of worshipers attend weekly or more often, the percentage of tithers is higher. This pattern is consistent across all three faith groups. Which comes first—participation or giving? We don’t know. But those who participate more also tend to give more. Those who give more to the church, also tend to participate more.
More male attendees. Women are more likely to attend services alone, whether they are married or single. However, men more often come to services with their family. Congregations with higher percentages of worshiping families (and thus, more male attendees) have higher percentages of tithers.
Smaller churches. Larger churches face the “free rider” challenge—worshipers who enjoy the services or activities of the church but contribute little or nothing. The larger the mainline Protestant congregation, the bigger this problem can be. Smaller churches experience an advantage in the tithing pattern. Smaller churches typically have a greater percentage of tithing worshipers.
More theologically conservative worshipers. Across the three faith groups, theology makes a difference. In congregations where many worshipers describe themselves as theologically conservative, a higher percentage of worshipers report giving at the tithing level. It seems that beliefs are actually related to worshiper behavior!
Worshipers value the church’s focus on community care and social justice. Mainline Protestant worshipers, as a whole, value congregations that care about the local community. When churches make a commitment to their neighbors’ welfare and advocate for justice locally, their members’ finance those efforts through church giving. In congregations where many worshipers say they value this commitment by the church, a higher percentage of worshipers tithe.
Worshipers value Bible study or prayer groups. Some mainline Protestant congregations carry out strategic efforts to enhance the prayer life of their worshipers and encourage their Bible reading and study. When these programs and efforts are successful and worshipers report this as something they value in their congregation, the church also tends to have a higher percentage of tithers. Bible study and prayer reinforce the teachings about faithful giving.
A few local church features—more weekly attendees and worshipers who are theologically conservative—fuel high-percentage giving in congregations in almost any circumstance. But how worshipers’ values are related to giving patterns is closely tied to the traditions and practices of a congregation’s faith group identity. Catholic worshipers are motivated to give by different values than Protestant worshipers. Values make a difference!
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Posted by: supra vaiders | 11/04/2011 at 04:40 PM