The recession was a double-barrel blow to American congregations: directly hurting their budgets while also stretching them thin due to increased needs for counseling, emergency housing and other social services.
But the worst seems to be over, according to a report released Thursday (April 21) that found that one in 10 have begun to recover from the loss, and more than 40 percent are now stable or increasing financially.
The “Holy Toll” report, based on the 2010 Faith Communities Today national survey of more than 20 religious groups, found that more than half (57 percent) of U.S. congregations reported their income had declined due to the recession.