By Jackie Jones

With black unemployment now above 15 percent, one would expect that black churches are suffering from their congregants’ declining finances, too.

But the news isn’t all grim for the Black Church.

While the current recession has forced blacks, along with other Americans, to cut back, previous studies have found that when money gets tight, giving to churches often increases because people hope for blessings in return.

While charitable giving overall fell 2 percent in 2008, religious giving reached $106.89 billion, up 5.5 percent over the previous year, according to Giving USA. Other studies show that African Americans, specifically, continue to commit a far larger portion of their giving to their churches than other groups.

According to a University of Georgia study by researchers Russell N. James III and Keely S. Jones, charitable giving rises with income, except for religious tithing. Exclusively religious tithers tend to be lower-income and less formally educated, but they continue to give.

“Yes, last year we saw a slight decline in the giving of offerings, but the faithful tithers remained consistent in their giving and all of our needs were met through the year,” said the Rev. Kenneth Irby, pastor of Turner Chapel, A.M.E. Church in Palmetto, Fla. “The first place to cut during tough financial times is not the tithe when there are so many other materialistic expenditures that can be reduced.”

Irby said that a lot of people misinterpret scripture to mean that tithing requires donors to give 10 percent of their pre-tax or post-tax income. But tithing, he said, is the “tithing of one’s time, talent and treasures as the basis of God’s financial plan for kingdom building.”

It’s not about cash, he said. Instead, it is about contributing in a variety of ways to grow prosperous in spirit as well as financially.

“This year alone, I have seen the miraculous power of Jehovah Jireh … make a way where there appeared to be no way for members of our congregation and for the local church,” Irby said. “As a believer, I must encourage my members to keep it up even in times of trial.”

There have been lots of trials for the Black Church. In addition to the obvious challenges that the recession and unemployment have imposed on itsd members, some churches that sought to focus on economic empowerment, through establishing credit unions and home-buying seminars, found they may have unwittingly help put some of their congregants in the hole as reports emerged that some banks aggressively targeted African Americans for subprime mortgages.

Construction has been put on hold for Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., which was expecting to be happily ensconced in a new, suburban mega-church building by now. Funding has run dry and after some delays, the church that bought the old building from Metropolitan has taken residency and Metropolitan holds services at a nearby school.

Earlier this year, T.D. Jakes, a notable Dallas-based pastor, laid off 40 staffers at Potter’s House, a mega-church that serves a congregation of more than 30,000. Jakes and other pastors told the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) News Service in April that membership was growing, but giving was down.

“We have probably experienced about a 30 percent decline—a significant, noticeable decline in the giving,” Pastor Levonzia Stevens Sr., senior pastor of the 700-member Hope Aglow Empowerment Center in Woodbridge, Va., told NNPA. “The people are trying to do what’s right in God’s eyesight. Unfortunately sometimes the pressures of normal bills cause individuals to make decisions that cut back on their giving. It’s been more noticeable over the last year.”

“Some churches have experienced a slight change in giving by the membership, but overall, folk still support the work of the church,” said the Rev. Susan Newman, a minister in Washington, D.C.

“Many designate what areas of the church’s ministry they want their tithes and offerings to support. This is done through designation on the offering envelope. Most Christian churches have a Stewardship Sunday or Pledge Sunday in the Fall of the year where members fill-out a pledge card stating what they intend or pledge to give on a weekly or monthly basis to support the church. The church trustees or stewards plan the annual budget and ministries based upon this,” she said.

“For some who are financially better off, it is easier to write a check to the church, thus fulfilling the giving of their money, but never give their time by volunteering to work in the outreach ministries of the church i.e., soup kitchens, homeless ministries, youth mentoring, etc.,” Newman said. “Others are always volunteering their ‘time and talents ’ but never give money, thus holding back their financial support of the church. There should be a balance in one’s giving to the church – time, talent, and treasure.”

So while things are tight for the Black Church, people still continue to see it as a place to which they can turn when they need help or need to go back to their foundations. The challenge is figuring out creative ways to ride out the storm.

“It’s a time when ministers can step up and deliver hope and faith,” said the Rev. Charlette Stokes Manning, a Unity Church minister in the Washington, D.C. area.

She noted that church membership is increasing and that the opportunities to support, encourage and set an example are there, and that the first thought about what defines success to the ministry should not always be monetary.

“A lot of people are turning to the church for revitalization, so does that mean we live a simpler life? Does that mean not living beyond our means? I recently spoke at a Unity church and was telling someone about it and they asked, ‘Did you have a good crowd?’ Well, what does that mean?” Manning asked.

She cited changes made by churches such as Renaissance Unity in Detroit, which has cut back to one service on Sundays to save money on utilities and now streams the service online for those who are unable to attend, but can mail in or make donations online.

“A lot of people don’t go to church because they don’t have the money and they don’t want to feel the shame. This isn’t new to our times,” Manning said.

“Many Christians struggle with the issue of tithing. In some churches tithing is over-emphasized. At the same time, many Christians refuse to submit to the biblical exhortations about making offerings to the Lord. Tithing/giving is intended to be a joy and a blessing. Unfortunately, this is sometimes not the case in the church today,” Newman said.

“We should rely more on our institutions instead of looking for gratification outside of ourselves,” she added. “I think the church needs to shift its beliefs from what is not happening and focus on what is happening.

“If you’re coming to church, come to be re-energized and revitalized and your minister doesn’t need to discuss your shortcomings,” Manning said. “If your church provides a monthly finance report you can see what’s coming in and what the needs are. But if you’re talking about what’s missing all you’re doing is programming your congregation into lack thinking.”

Jackie Jones is a career and fitness coach for those who want to get their lives in shape. www.jonescoaching.net.