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Passing the Plate: Why Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t American Christians Don’t Give Away More MoneyGive Away More Money

(OUP, 2007)(OUP, 2007)

© permission granted for use in not-for-profit public © permission granted for use in not-for-profit public presentations presentations

by Christian Smith, Michael Emerson, by Christian Smith, Michael Emerson, and Patricia Snelland Patricia Snell

Explains how much American Christians do give Explains how much American Christians do give in total financial charitable and religious in total financial charitable and religious contributionscontributions

Explains how much money American Christians Explains how much money American Christians could give if they gave more generouslycould give if they gave more generously

Explores why American Christians do not give Explores why American Christians do not give more money than they domore money than they do

Passing the PlatePassing the Plate

Keeps the analysis and argument focused— is Keeps the analysis and argument focused— is hard for anyone to take ownership of “all hard for anyone to take ownership of “all Americans”Americans”

Maintains sharp contrast between official Maintains sharp contrast between official Christian teachings and actual practicesChristian teachings and actual practices

Why Christians Specifically?Why Christians Specifically?

Americans are more generous in voluntary Americans are more generous in voluntary financial charitable giving than most people in financial charitable giving than most people in other (post) industrialized countries.other (post) industrialized countries.

Religious Americans are more generous in Religious Americans are more generous in financial giving than non-religious Americans.financial giving than non-religious Americans.

= glass half full= glass half full

ContextContext

However…However…

Most American Christians turn out to be stingy Most American Christians turn out to be stingy financial giversfinancial givers

When measured against the normative teachings When measured against the normative teachings of their own religious traditions of their own religious traditions

Considering the financial resources American Considering the financial resources American Christians have with which they could be Christians have with which they could be generous generous

= glass half (95%?) empty= glass half (95%?) empty

Riddle: Why? Riddle: Why?

Contemporary American Christians are among the Contemporary American Christians are among the wealthiest of their faith in the world todaywealthiest of their faith in the world today

Contemporary American Christians are among the Contemporary American Christians are among the most affluent single group of Christians in 2000 most affluent single group of Christians in 2000 years of church history. years of church history.

EarningsEarnings

Self-identified Christians in the U.S. earned a total Self-identified Christians in the U.S. earned a total collective income in the trillions of dollars in collective income in the trillions of dollars in 2005. 2005.

U.S. Christians who are members of churches U.S. Christians who are members of churches earned a total income of more than $2 trillion in earned a total income of more than $2 trillion in 2005.2005.

How about committed Christians? How about committed Christians?

U.S. Christians who attend church twice a U.S. Christians who attend church twice a month+ or who consider themselves “strong” or month+ or who consider themselves “strong” or “very strong” Christians earned a total collective “very strong” Christians earned a total collective income of more than $2 trillion in 2005. income of more than $2 trillion in 2005.

If Christians were a country… If Christians were a country…

$2,000,000,000,000+ / year = more than the $2,000,000,000,000+ / year = more than the total GDP of any nation in the world, except the total GDP of any nation in the world, except the six richest: U.S., Japan, Germany, China, the UK, six richest: U.S., Japan, Germany, China, the UK, France. France.

Vast Giving PotentialVast Giving Potential

If …If …– (1) serious American Christians gave 10% of after-tax (1) serious American Christians gave 10% of after-tax

incomeincome– (2) 1/3rd of less-serious Christians gave 5%(2) 1/3rd of less-serious Christians gave 5%

This group could generate a total of This group could generate a total of $133.4 $133.4 billionbillion a year for religious, charitable, and social a year for religious, charitable, and social service purposes—over and above what they service purposes—over and above what they currently givecurrently give

Five Five Facts…Facts…

Fact #1Fact #1

At least one out of five At least one out of five self-identifiedself-identified American American Christians — 20 percent of all U.S. Christians — Christians — 20 percent of all U.S. Christians — gives literally nothing to church, para-church, or gives literally nothing to church, para-church, or non-religious charities. non-religious charities.

Zilch. Zilch.

Table 1: Self-Reported Financial Giving by U.S. Religious Types (Percents) All U.S.

Percent

Giving $0 in Previous

Year

Percent of Income Given

by Average (Mean) Giver

Percent of Mean Dollars

Given by Median Givera

Gives

Less than 2 Percent of

Income

Gives

10 Percent or More of Income

Christians 22.1 2.9 13.6 71.7 9.4 Protestants 19.2 4.1 13.5 63.9 12 Fundamentalist 11.5 6.2 29.6 40.4 17.6 Evangelical 4.4 8.2 29.8 36.4 27.3 Mainline 12.6 4.6 18.5 59.1 13.6 Liberal 19.8 2.7 17.3 68.4 11.2 Other 24.4 3.1 10.6 75 7.5 Catholics 28.2 1.8 13.7 80.8 4.4 Non-Christian 9.4 3.3 24.7 69 13.8 Non-Religious 50.5 .7 <1 89 .6 Regularly Attendingb

Christians 4.5 6.2 27.7 44.7 17.9 Protestants 3.2 7.4 34.3 37 22.5 Fundamentalist 5.6 8.3 54.3 21.9 21.9 Evangelical <1 9.5 36.9 28.3 30.2 Mainline 3.8 7.1 28.1 40 22 Liberal 7.5 5.2 55.8 36.8 23.7 Other 1.5 7.1 23.2 47.7 16.9 Catholics 7.8 3.7 30.9 55.9 7.8 Source: General Social Survey, 1998. Notes: aThe result of dividing the median (average denoted as numerically middle position among all Christians) dollars given by U.S. Christians by the mean (average calculated by summing all dollars and divided by total number of Christians) dollars given by U.S. Christians, showing how the median reveals much lower levels of giving than do means. bRegularly attending is defined as attending religious services two to three times per month or more often.

3540

52

3438

26

17

34 34

40

31

46

30

1714

3734

27

Figure 2: Percent Contributing No Money or Property to Charitable Purposes, by Religious Group

Source: General Social Survey, 1996. Note: Includes giving to health, educational, religious, human service, environmental, public benefit, recreational, arts, cultural, humanities, work-related, political, youth, private community foundation, or international or foreign charities or purposes; does not include informal giving to needy relatives or neighbors.

Fact #2Fact #2

The vast majority of American Christians give The vast majority of American Christians give very little to church, para-church, or non-religious very little to church, para-church, or non-religious charities. charities.

The MEDIAN (midpoint) dollars given by U.S. The MEDIAN (midpoint) dollars given by U.S. Christians is a mere .62 percent of the median Christians is a mere .62 percent of the median Christian income ($200 given of $32,500 earned)Christian income ($200 given of $32,500 earned)

Table 1: Self-Reported Financial Giving by U.S. Religious Types (Percents) All U.S.

Percent

Giving $0 in Previous

Year

Percent of Income Given

by Average (Mean) Giver

Percent of Mean Dollars

Given by Median Givera

Gives

Less than 2 Percent of

Income

Gives

10 Percent or More of Income

Christians 22.1 2.9 13.6 71.7 9.4 Protestants 19.2 4.1 13.5 63.9 12 Fundamentalist 11.5 6.2 29.6 40.4 17.6 Evangelical 4.4 8.2 29.8 36.4 27.3 Mainline 12.6 4.6 18.5 59.1 13.6 Liberal 19.8 2.7 17.3 68.4 11.2 Other 24.4 3.1 10.6 75 7.5 Catholics 28.2 1.8 13.7 80.8 4.4 Non-Christian 9.4 3.3 24.7 69 13.8 Non-Religious 50.5 .7 <1 89 .6 Regularly Attendingb

Christians 4.5 6.2 27.7 44.7 17.9 Protestants 3.2 7.4 34.3 37 22.5 Fundamentalist 5.6 8.3 54.3 21.9 21.9 Evangelical <1 9.5 36.9 28.3 30.2 Mainline 3.8 7.1 28.1 40 22 Liberal 7.5 5.2 55.8 36.8 23.7 Other 1.5 7.1 23.2 47.7 16.9 Catholics 7.8 3.7 30.9 55.9 7.8 Source: General Social Survey, 1998. Notes: aThe result of dividing the median (average denoted as numerically middle position among all Christians) dollars given by U.S. Christians by the mean (average calculated by summing all dollars and divided by total number of Christians) dollars given by U.S. Christians, showing how the median reveals much lower levels of giving than do means. bRegularly attending is defined as attending religious services two to three times per month or more often.

Fact #3Fact #3

American Christians do not give their dollars American Christians do not give their dollars evenly among themselves but, rather, a small evenly among themselves but, rather, a small minority of generous givers contributes most of minority of generous givers contributes most of the total Christian dollars given.the total Christian dollars given.

Figure 4: Percent of Total Dollars Contributed by All Christians Grouped in Five Percentiles by Increasing Levels of Generosity

Source: General Social Survey, 1998.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

LowestGivers

FivePercentile

Groups

HighestGivers

Figure 5: Percent of Total Dollars Contributed by Regularly Church-Attending and Self-Described “Strong” or “Very Strong” Christians

Grouped in Five Percentiles by Increasing Levels of Generosity

Source: General Social Survey, 1998.

0

10

20

30

40

50

LowestGivers

FivePercentile

Groups

HighestGivers

Fact 4Fact 4

Higher income- earning American Christians—like Higher income- earning American Christians—like all Americans—give little to no more money as a all Americans—give little to no more money as a percentage of household income than lower percentage of household income than lower income earning Christiansincome earning Christians

2.3

1.7

1.3 1.4

0.95 0.911.2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

<$10,000 $10,000-19,999

$20,000-29,999

30,000-39,999

$40,000-49,999

$50,000-69,000

$70,000+

Household Income Categories

Figure 7: Percent of Household Income Given to Religious Organizations by Income Level,

All Americans

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2000.

40

30 3027 27

0

10

20

30

40

<$25,000 $25,000-49,999

$50,000-74,999

$75,000-99,000

$100,000+

Household Income Categories

Figure 8: Percent of U.S. Households Giving More than 3 Percent of Income, by

Household Income Level

Source: Giving and Volunteering in the United States, 2001.

4.2

3 3 2.7 2.7

0

1

2

3

4

5

<$25,000 $25,000-49,999

$50,000-74,999

$75,000-99,000

$100,000+

Household Income Categories

Figure 9: Percent of Household Income in Total Charitable Giving by Income Level,

Contributing Households Only

Source: Giving and Volunteering in the United States, 2001.

0123456789

10

$0-12,499 $12,500-29,999

$30,000-39,999

$40,000-59,999

$60,000-89,999

$90,000+

Household Income Categories

Figure 10: Charitable Giving as a Percent of Household Income by Income Level, U.S. Christians

Source: General Social Survey, 1998.

5.5

4.2

3.13.6

3.2

5.7

01234567

$0-12,499

$12,500-29,999

$30,000-39,999

$40,000-59,999

$60,000-89,999

$90,000+

Household Income Categories

Figure 11: Charitable Giving as a Percent of Household Income by Income Levels, Giving U.S. Christians (Non-Givers Excluded)

Source: General Social Survey, 1998.

Fact #5Fact #5

Despite a massive growth of real per capita Despite a massive growth of real per capita income over the 20th Century, the average income over the 20th Century, the average percentage share of income given by American percentage share of income given by American Christians not only did not grow in proportion but Christians not only did not grow in proportion but actually declined slightly during this time period. actually declined slightly during this time period.

Table 12: Giving Per Church Member as a Percent of Income in 11 Protestant Denominations, and U.S. Per Capita

Inflation-Adjusted Income 1921-2003

The 11 denominations analyzed are American Baptist (Northern), Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, The Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (and subsidiaries that merged), Moravian Church in America, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Reformed Church in America, Southern Baptist Convention, United Church of Christ (and subsidiaries that merged) , United Methodist Church (and subsidiaries that merged).

Figure 13: U.S. Catholic Religious Giving as

a Percent of Income, 1963-1998

0

1

2

3

1960 1963 1968 1974 1975 1982 1984 1987 1988 1989 1991 1993 1998

Source: Greeley and McManus 1987, Hart 1990, GSS 1998, Independent Sector 1994. Note: Years not to scale.

Fact #6Fact #6

The vast majority of the money that American The vast majority of the money that American Christians do give to religion is spent in and for Christians do give to religion is spent in and for their own local communities of faith — little is their own local communities of faith — little is spent on education, development, missions, or spent on education, development, missions, or poverty relief outside of local congregations, poverty relief outside of local congregations, particularly outside the U.S., in ways that benefit particularly outside the U.S., in ways that benefit people other than the givers themselves.people other than the givers themselves.

Figure 14: Financial Expenditures of U.S. Religious Congregations in 1996

Direct Assistance to Individuals

1% Donations to Other Organizations

3%

Denominational Giving8%

Property Improvements and Acquisitions

13%

Operating Expenses71%

Savings4%

Source: Independent Sector, 1996.

Figure 15: Financial Expenditures of U.S. Religious Congregations in 1986

Operations (Salaries, Benefits, Supplies, etc.)

75%

Denominational Contributions

11%Facilities Construction and Improvements

8%

Donations to Other Organizations

4%

Direct Assistance to Individuals

2%

Source: Independent Sector, 1987.

Q: How to explain Q: How to explain this lack of this lack of

financial generosity by U.S. financial generosity by U.S. Christians?Christians?

Passing the PlatePassing the Plate examines examines the best available empirical the best available empirical evidence to evaluate 9 evidence to evaluate 9 different hypotheses seeking different hypotheses seeking to explain the relative lack of to explain the relative lack of financial generosity by financial generosity by contemporary American contemporary American Christians.Christians.

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