News T
By the staff of The Lutheran, ELCA News Service and Religion News Service
Congregations slowly recovering from the recession
he worst of the Great Recession seems to be over for American congregations, according to a recent report that found that 1 in 10 have begun to recover from their loss, and more than 40 percent are now stable or increasing financially. The Holy Toll report, based on the 2010 Faith Communities Today national survey of more than 20 reli- gious groups, found that more than half (57 percent) of U.S. congre- gations reported their income had declined due to the recession. Researcher David A. Roozen of the Hartford [Conn.] Institute for Religion Research said larger congregations seem to be recovering more easily as endowments and investment income rebound, and as more members are able financially to help them grow their way out of deficits. His theory echoes that of the State of the Plate report by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and Christianity Today Internation- al’s church management team, which found smaller churches had suffered a disproportionate drop in giving last year.
Roozen’s survey, based on data from more than 11,000 congrega- tions, found the recession had hurt congregations across the spectrum, surprising researchers who “almost always find differences” between evangelical and mainline Protestant churches. Nine percent of congregations said
For the record
According to the Office of the Sec- retary, 466 congregations withdrew from the official roster of ELCA
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www.thelutheran.org
the recession had prompted layoffs or furloughs, and more than a quar- ter of congregations reported salary freezes or reductions. With some 350,000 congre-
gations in the U.S. employing about 1.5 million clergy and other staff, that translates to more than 500,000 people who lost jobs or had their salaries reduced, and about 50,000 prospective employ- ees who weren’t hired, according to the report.
At the same time, congrega-
tions had to ramp up outreach ser- vices due to the recession’s toll on local communities. Nearly half of all congregations experienced an increase in requests for cash assis- tance, and nearly 1 in 4 received moderate to major increases in requests for emergency housing. Even congregations that have recovered from the recession are still struggling with a general eco- nomic downturn for America’s religious organizations. From 2000 to 2008—before the recession— congregations reporting “excellent financial health” had dropped from 31 percent to 19 percent; the num- ber is now about 14 percent. Meanwhile, congregations reporting financial difficulty more than doubled, to nearly 20 percent, in the past decade.
Religion News Service
for disaffiliation and the Office of the Secretary receives notification from the applicable synod. The number of congregations taking votes to leave the ELCA was still being tallied at presstime. Most of the actions came in reaction to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly’s votes on sexuality.
Jesuit is House chaplain A Jesuit priest was sworn in as the 60th chaplain of the House of Rep- resentatives in May, the first member of his order and the second consecu- tive Roman Catholic priest to serve the legislative body. As chaplain, Patrick Conroy is in charge of open- ing legislative sessions with prayer, coordinating guest chaplains, coun- seling members of the House com- munity, and arranging memorial ser- vices, weddings and funerals. Conroy was selected by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who consulted with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Both are Roman Catholics.
Joplin church ‘looking forward’
congregations from Aug. 14, 2009, until May 31, 2011. Congregations withdraw from the roster when they complete the constitutional process
Members of Peace Lutheran Church, Joplin, Mo., are still in shock but “looking forward to what can be done and where God will lead us,” said William R. Pape, interim pastor. A May 22 tornado destroyed Peace’s building and about six of its families’ homes were ruined or damaged. The ELCA will be involved with long- term recovery, volunteer coordina- tion, construction and case manage- ment in Joplin. An initial $25,000 grant was issued to Lutheran Family and Children’s Services for relief. To help, pray and send checks (write “U.S. Severe Storms” in the memo line) to ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300; give by credit card at 800-638-3522; or online at www.
elca.org/disaster/storms.
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