CARLOS MEDLEY
ow do Seventh-day Adventists in North America give today? What do the giving trends tell us about the future? How do Adventist giving patterns compare with those of other Protestant denominations?
These are just a few of the many probing questions that North American Division treasurer Juan R. Prestol explored when he reported to the NAD executive committee this past November. As NAD treasurer, Prestol is charged with overseeing the division's $79 million budget. He keeps a sharp eye on the financial health of the Adventist Church in North America.
Praising God for Bountiful Blessings
In his report Prestol praised God for the faithfulness of church members, who gave $707.8 million in gross tithe in 2002, a 3.3 percent increase from the year before and a favorable comparison with the increase in the 2002 consumer price index of 2.4 percent. Per capita tithe, the average amount of tithe by each member, rose 1.24 percent to $751.48.
Though tithe receipts for 2003 were not yet tabulated at presstime, Prestol expects another increase in gross tithe between 3.0 and 3.5 percent.
Despite the significant increases in tithe, however, Prestol voiced some concerns about giving trends. In an interview with the Review he noted that the world mission offerings, at $22 million (down 1.6 percent from the previous year), have been "flat" for several years.
And while gross tithe collected continues to increase, Prestol showed that the percentage increases have actually decreased in recent years. In the past decade gross tithe increased at rising percentage rates, from 3.2 percent (1996) to 5.3 percent (1997), 6.65 percent (1998), 7.1 percent (1999), and 7.7 percent (2000). However, since 2000 the percentage increases in tithe have fallen to 4.3 percent in 2001 and 3.3 percent in 2002.
Many can make a case that the North American economy has taken a significant downturn since 2000. In September 2000 the Dow Jones was at 11,200 and the NASDAQ at 4,234. At presstime the Dow Jones hovered at 10,000 and the NASDAQ was nearing 2,000. Since 2000 unemployment has risen sharply.
More Than Meets the Eye
While Prestol admits that the economy has a part to play in the changes, he believes other factors may contribute to the trends. Making it clear that Adventists are giving today, he posed an underlying question: How are they giving?
To illustrate his point, he said church members made significant contributions to Adventist ministries outside of traditional church channels. His research showed that Adventists gave at least $1,309,001,578 in tithe, mission offerings, local church funds, deferred giving (wills and bequests), and contributions to philanthropic and supporting ministries. Prestol emphasized the fact that his estimates are extremely conservative, not including funds given overseas in evangelistic projects and unreported offerings given to local congregations.
With a division membership of 974,271, the total given per capita amounts to $1,344 annually, or about 5 percent of the average net disposable income for North American families.
Prestol explained that Adventist baby boomers and other younger members support the church in different ways from their parents. He noted that as world mission offerings have declined, there's been a rapid growth in direct giving, in which contributions are channeled directly to ministries for specific projects with measurable objectives.
Declining world mission offerings pose potential problems in the future because, as supporting ministries initiate new work in new territories, there are fewer dollars to sustain the initiatives.
When asked if the shift in giving trends ultimately hurts the church in the future, Prestol says, "I'm concerned that this trend [of direct project giving] will seriously impact the church's ability to fund mission projects in the long term."
While I share Prestol's concern, I also share his thankfulness for church members who give sacrificially. As church leaders monitor giving trends, I know that God will provide them wisdom and insight to respond to the way Adventists give today.
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Carlos Medley is the news and online editor of the Adventist Review.
