The State of Church Giving through 2020 Figure 21
The per capita GDP in the world increased from $625 in 1700 to $5,709 in 1998, whereas in the US, it surged from $527 in 1700 to $27,331 in 1998, in 1990 inflation-adjusted dollars.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (PRWEB)
May 23, 2023
According to the latest edition of The State of Church Giving through 2020 by empty tomb, church member giving as a percentage of income is declining, extending back to 1968. To counter this trend, a theology for an age of affluence is required.
There is potential for churchgoers to increase donations, despite the downward trend. The book explains that a broader vision is necessary for the affluence spreading since 1820 in the US.
Other notable findings of this edition include the decline in church membership as a portion of the US population paired with the decline in giving. The decrease is observed across theological lines. While more money has been given, incomes have increased faster, which means that the dollar amount given is a smaller fraction of the available income. The majority of this dollar amount is used for operations within the congregation rather than international mission outreach in congregations that only give two cents of every donated dollar to the denomination.
However, young people and youths who reportedly give 81% of their money to church and religious organizations suggest that religious settings offer extensive philanthropy education to young people. The church has high potential to make use of its broad-based constituency to convey positive messages.
The authors believe churchgoers can make the most of their potential for good. Churches have efficient communication systems and delivery networks to disadvantaged areas of the world. Moreover, Churches have a transparent framework that encourages members to use their resources to help others, which is backed by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey data for 2020.
However, the authors note a disconnect between practice and potential, explaining that it can be resolved by adopting a theology for an age of affluence. The new book extensively explores the changes in society, church, and people’s interests as people have become increasingly affluent and the problems that have arisen due to the lack of a theology for an age of affluence offered by the church. The authors suggest that church leaders need to come up with a positive agenda for the affluence that overwhelms U.S. society today, including church members, since 1820.
The authors offer eight topics for consideration built on a verse, including “Believe Jesus” (John 14:12); “More than consumers” (Romans 12:2); and “Created for a Purpose” (Eph. 2:8-10) to reinstate interest in the church. They encourage church leaders to tap their members’ potential resources shared in the name of Jesus through current delivery structures to increase child survival rates.
The State of Church Giving through 2020: A Theology for an Age of Affluence is the 32nd edition of the empty tomb series. To purchase the book, contact Wipf and Stock at (541) 344-1528 or info@wipfandstock.com.
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