Protestant churchgoers in America have remained generous during difficult economic times. Despite the country being in an official recession for the past year, giving in 2008 was up an average of 4% over the previous year, according to a survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors by LifeWay Research.

Still, more than half of pastors interviewed said that the current economy was negatively impacting their churches. Only 7% of Protestant pastors say the economy was "very negatively" impacting their churches. Thirty percent said that the economy had made no impact on their churches.

LifeWay Research surveyed 1,000 Protestant pastors during February 2009. Respondents were asked how the economy was impacting their churches, how giving levels compared to budgets and what changes had taken place in their churches as a result of the economy.

Growth in offerings of 10% in 2008 was experienced by one in four churches. In contrast, 12% of churches saw their giving decline by 10% or more last year.

Source: LifeWay Research

 

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