In a Religion News Service article appearing on Crosswalk, Kirsten Campbell discusses the double bind that can hit churches in hard economic times:
For faith-based organizations, widespread economic woes might seem to have the potential to create a complicated situation: At the same time that more people may call upon them for assistance, those who routinely provide funding to charitable groups may be less able to respond.
Historically, however, church-member giving doesn’t necessarily decline in a recession, according to empty tomb, inc., an Illinois-based research group that studies religious giving. This “probably has to do with the fact that churches are generally seen as the layer immediately beyond the family in terms of responsibility, accountability, relationships,” explained Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of empty tomb.