Donations Down at Many U.S. Churches, Some Face Foreclosure

If the last time the offering plate passed by you in church and you just tapped it -- or simply handed it to the person next to you -- apparently you're not alone.

A new study from Christianity Today International says donations were down at nearly 40% of Christian churches in America in 2009.

"For the first time in consecutive years there is a notable decline for a significant number of churches," Matt Branaugh, one of the report authors, told AFP.

The survey, called the "State of the Plate," looked at 1,000 churches, including Evangelical, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran as well as some Catholic congregations.

The report says that the churches with the biggest declines in tithes and offerings were "megachurches" with 2,000 to 5,000 members on an average Sunday, along with many churches out West, including places of worship in California, Washington and Oregon.

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Black Spiritual Leaders

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders
People around the world look to pastors, preachers, bishops and reverends for spiritual guidance and inspirational nourishment. In the black community, popular clergymen such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Rev. Al Sharpton are held in high esteem and have much influence over congregations and countless followers alike. Take a look at them and other influential black spiritual leaders.

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Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop T.D. Jakes, The Potter's House
AGE: 51 HOMETOWN: South Charleston, West Virginia ABOUT HIM: The entrepreneur and chief pastor of the The Potter's House, a 30,000 member non-denominational megachurch church in Dallas. FACTOID: Jakes, who was named among America's "Top 10 Religious Leaders" by 'Time' magazine, has recorded Grammy- and Dove Award-nominated music projects. He also produced the movies 'Woman Thou Art Loosed' and 'Not Easily Broken.'

Black Spiritual Leaders

Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ
AGE: 67 HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ABOUT HIM: For 36 years, Wright was the Senior Pastor of the Chicago megachurch -- which boasted around 8,500 members. Controversial remarks made during his sermon shed negative light on the popular church, and one of its most well known parishioners: Illinois Senator and U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. FACTOID: Named one of 'Ebony' magazine's top 15 preachers, Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Lincoln University, Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Juanita Bynum, televangelist
AGE: 49 HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HER: A former beautician, flight attendant and drug abuser, Bynum transformed herself into one of the most popular celebrity clergywomen after being introduced to the masses by Bishop T.D. Jakes. With a highly rated TBN show and a thriving television ministry, she gained national attention in 2007 when her estranged husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks, III, allegedly attacked her in a hotel parking lot. FACTOID: Bynum, a best-selling recording artist and author, has crossed over into entertainment. In 2008, she starred on episodes of the hit ABC Family network TV series 'Lincoln Heights' and will also appear in the big movie adaptation of the off-Broadway musical 'Mama I Want To Sing,' alongside Ciara, Lynn Whitfield and Patti LaBelle.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Eddie L. Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist
HOMETOWN: North Carolina ABOUT HIM: He first served as pastor in 1987 for a congregation consisting of just more than 300 members. Now the Lithonia, Georgia-based megachurch's membership has totaled to over 30,000 members. FACTOID: Long has authored numerous books, including 'What a Man Wants, What a Woman Needs' and 'The Blessing in Giving.' The bishop is also featured on rapper Ludacris' latest album, 'Release Therapy,' and appeared on the hit Bravo reality show, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.'

Black Spiritual Leaders

Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network
AGE: 54 HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York ABOUT HIM: Mostly recognized as a staunch civil rights activist for people of color, the former James Brown tour manager is the founder the National Action Network, a nonprofit, civil rights organization with over 40 active chapters nationwide. FACTOID: A 2004 U.S. Presidential candidate, the divorced father of two daughters has written a memoir (with Karen Hunter) hosted his own TV show (on TV One) and nationally syndicated radio program.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Noel Jones, City of Refuge Church
AGE: 57 HOMETOWN: Spanish Town, Jamaica ABOUT HIM: In 1994, Bishop Jones founded Noel Jones Ministries (NJM), formerly known as Jesus Alternative Ministries, in an effort to address religion's inability to offer real relevance to the changing climate of the times. His Gardenia, California-based church boasts 7,000 members. FACTOID: One of seven children born to Bishop Robert and Marjorie Jones, Bishop Jones attended St. Jago High School and went on to attain a B.S. in Theology from Aenon Bible College. He is the younger brother of entertainer Grace Jones.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Jamal Harrison Bryant, The Empowerment Temple
ABOUT HIM: Bryant founded Baltimore's Empowerment Temple in April 2000, which became the fastest growing church in the A.M.E. denomination with over 11,000 members. Prior to his role as pastor, he served as director of the NAACP's youth and college division. FACTOID: Despite dropping out of high school, Bryant later obtained a GED and went on to further his education, receiving a degree from Morehouse College, a masters of divinity from Duke University and doctorate in ministry. Today, his 'Power for Life' broadcast is heard weekly across the United States, the Caribbean, England and throughout the continent of Africa.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Pastor Cynthia Hale, Ray of Hope Christian Church
HOMETOWN: Roanoke, Virginia ABOUT HER: Hale is the founding and senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, which has an active membership of 5,000 and an average of 1,500 in worship each Sunday morning. FACTOID: In 2004, Hale established a mentorship program to assist in the spiritual as well as practical development of pastors and church leaders. She has been recognized by Ebony magazine as one of the greatest black women preachers in America.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Larry Trotter, Sweet Holy Spirit Church
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HIM: Since 1981, Trotter has expanded his congregation at The Windy City's Sweet Holy Spirit Church from 22 members to over 5,000. FACTOID: In addition to his preaching ministry, Trotter is also an accomplished musician who was nominated for a Stellar Award in 2003 for his rendition of 'Jesus is the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me.'

Black Spiritual Leaders

The results of this survey undoubtedly reflect that the economy is taking a toll on many individuals and families across the country -- and that includes Christians and non-Christians alike.

But the survey also notes that 45% of churches actually increased their budgets set aside to help people in need. So even though donations were down at roughly four out of 10 churches, the flip side of that is that church giving was either at the same level or increased at six out of 10 churches.

My Inside Look at the Church

The state of the financial affairs of churches and church membership is of serious importance to me. Not just because I'm a Christian; but also because as an individual, and as a Money Coach, I recognize that the church provides so much emotional, spiritual, social and yes, financial support to countless people during both troubled times and good times too.

I personally witnessed a lot of generosity -- in matters economic and non-economic -- from church leaders and their members across the U.S. in 2009, when my husband and I launched The Zero Debt Tour.

The Zero Debt Tour is a nationwide financial literacy initiative in which I go across the country giving free financial workshops, and also providing to attendees free copies of my New York Times best-selling book, Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.

Since this financial literacy effort is directed at non-profits, and represents one of my ways of giving back, my husband and I initially focused our efforts on churches as the venues for my financial seminars, an increasingly common trend. The results were overwhelming, in more ways than one.

Not only did we meet many thousands of people -- at churches in L.A., Houston, Atlanta, Newark, NJ and more -- but we also found that church families are often not unlike our own individual families: some are healthy and thriving, while others are just hanging on, simply trying to hold it together.

In the process of preparing for the tour and doing print and television interviews about it, I learned that because of the economic downturn, many churches are actually experiencing a surge in attendance. People were joining churches or coming back to their faith and their roots as a way to cope with all the economic, personal and societal pressures they're facing. At some of those churches experiencing a fresh wave of attendance, there was actually an uptick in giving. At others, giving was down.

Unfortunately, I also discovered that not a few churches across the country were struggling badly, with their very buildings on the brink of foreclosure. Thankfully, this was not the case for any of the churches I visited on the tour.

But the fact that there are churches facing foreclosure really rattled me -- mainly because I would hate to see the loss of these places of worship and institutions that for so many represent a cornerstone of their lives and communities.

What has your overall church experience been like lately? Also, have you been giving more, less or the same to your church? And do you have a sense of whether tithes and offerings are generally up or down in your place of worship?

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Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has also been featured in top newspapers including the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times bestseller, 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'