Church Giving in the Future

2013/04/23 By Leave a Comment
LJ Money

The Spring 2013 edition of Leadership Journal focuses on money, emphasizing how congregations can fund ministries in ways that are consistent with their DNA.  While many articles within this edition's pages offer considerable practical insight two that consider the longer term are of particular note. In "Why I Won't Give to Your Church," Robert Jewe explains why as a 23-year-old he may hesitate to fund congregational ministry and mission (p.37).  His honest appeal requests that churches Read More …

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Religious Taxes

2012/10/03 By Leave a Comment
religious taxes

A week ago today, Germany’s top administrative court sided with Roman Catholic bishops by upholding the longstanding practice of allowing the Catholic Church to deny full access to the church to German believers who refused to pay a special church tax.  Under the current system registered Catholics, Protestants and Jews pay a monthly tax to the government, and the government distributes those funds to the appropriate religious communities. With this system, the tax provides the most Read More …

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Who Are Americans?

2012/08/30 By Leave a Comment
scale

In the Sunday paper, I encountered a half-page AP article written by Calvin Woodward and Christopher S. Rugaber that offers incredible insight into our changing nation.  Consider these facts: Closer Together: Cities and closely surrounding suburbs are growing faster than farther-off suburbs for the first time in over 20 years Less Mobile: Mobility (defined by the percentage of population that moved in the last year) is at lowest it has been since the Census Bureau started tracking it 60 Read More …

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1 in 2 Americans = Low Income

2011/12/18 By Leave a Comment
income

Over the last few days I have encountered many people talking about the same data but using very different language to do so.  Some examples of what I have encountered include: 50% of Americans are now living in poverty The middle class is on its collective deathbed - people are now either wealthy or in poverty Half of the country receives food stamps or some other form of government assistance While each of these statements is false, many who proudly make the claims do so loudly Read More …

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