Recession lessens collections at some churches


By JOEL ANDERSON

TheNewsOutlet.org

Nothing is safe during a recession. Not even the house of God.

Coupling a down economy with a falling population has been a struggle for many — but not all — Mahoning Valley churches.

“What we’ve noticed is that given the economic times we live in — and the place we live in — that our giving, at least our Sunday offertory, has been kind of flat,” said the Rev. John Jerek, vicar for clergy at the Diocese of Youngstown.

“It hasn’t really increased, certainly not the way it would have probably 10 years ago,” Father Jerek added.

From 2008 to 2010, St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in Boardman has seen a steep drop in offerings. In September 2008, the church brought in nearly $53,000. In 2010, the sum dropped to $40,000.

It’s a Valley problem, but it’s also a national issue, said Sharon Kent, the office manager for St. Luke’s.

“Our frustration with the changing times is also shared with many churches in the Diocese of Youngstown and across the United States,” she said.

There is one religion that doesn’t have to worry about tithing and offerings.

Those practicing the Jewish faith are required to pay dues in order to be part of a synagogue. The Congregation Rodef Sholom website lists a yearly family membership at $875 and a single membership at $504. These can be paid yearly or in installments. The synagogue is in Youngstown.

This isn’t a financial model that appeals to other churches, however.

“If I were to suggest this to the pastor, he would throw me out of the church,” Kent said.

A recent Faith Communities Today survey measured many aspects of church health. The study was the work of David A. Roozen, director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford, Conn.

The results showed mainstream church populations are growing older, are not appealing to young people, their offerings are on the decline and are less healthy than minority churches.

According to FACT, 80 percent of American congregations were hurt by the recession. From 2008 to 2010, nearly 9 percent annually had some kind of financial troubles. That compares with the 2000 to 2005 results, which showed a decrease of 4 percent annually.

Kent sees this decline in her church, too. “This is “being discussed at practically every meeting,” she said.

Holy Family Parish in Poland said its offerings haven’t been affected by the recession, however. Susan Bradshaw, Holy Family Parish’s bookkeeper, said the church has been doing rather well.

“Our numbers have only gone down 1.16 percent between 2009 and 2010,” she said.

The survey also says the number of congregations trying innovative worship services increased, but the effort had little effect. To be more contemporary, praise bands were introduced to many congregations.

Black churches have seen similar patterns that are reflected in the survey. At Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church on Youngstown’s South Side, the Rev. C. Shawn Tyson said his giving at the church has been on an increase.

“Our church offerings have been within the 5 percent range of where they were before the recession hit,” he said. The Rev. Mr. Tyson said he was shocked to see such stability in the Valley when it was not the reality in his former city of Indianapolis.

“I used to be a preacher in Indianapolis, and that church was on a downturn between 2008 and 2009. I was surprised to see things on an upswing in Youngstown,” he said.

The Rev. Kenneth Simon, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church on the South Side, has seen similar patterns.

“Our offerings have stayed the same. There’s been a slight decrease with the economy, but our members are still able to give,” the Rev. Mr. Simon added.

While it may seem odd to see a rock band in a church, Jeff Crouse, musical director at Common Ground Community Church in North Lima, said that shouldn’t be the case.

“We play some contemporary music, but we also play the older hymns – but we give them a different feel. And we haven’t had much resistance from the older members,” he said.

Crouse said his church also uses programs, such as Goodness Grows, to help encourage more church involvement.

“Common Ground was built [on the site of the former] Mellinger’s Nursery and we kept the greenhouses. So now we teach urban kids how to grow food.”

Kent says another way to fill pews and plates is by listening.

“We’re really trying to bring in some of the high school- and college-age kids. We listen to their concerns and what they would like changed in the church,” she said. “It’s not all about the money. It’s the journey through life.”

Fewer people are on that journey, however.

The second-largest and fastest-growing affiliation is called the “nones.” This group, which responded as having no affiliation, is impacting all churches including the No. 1 affiliation, the Roman Catholic Church.

According to the study, the average membership in a congregation dropped from 130 to 108 during the decade. In 2000, average attendance was 42.2 percent. In 2010, that number rose to 48.9 percent.

Carolyn Funk, financial secretary at First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, said her church reflects this trend, with about 80 people per Sunday, many of them older.

“When I started coming to this church 10 years ago, there were four little old women who sat in the fourth pew from the front. Now they’re all gone,” she said. “We only have one child in the church now.”

View the survey at www.faithcommunitiestoday.org.

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