By G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Correspondent Episcopal clergy are more knowledgeable about personal finances and more likely to live within their means than comparable peers in the general population, according to a survey released May 14 by George Washington University and the Church Pension Group (CPG). But researchers also identified disparities among clergy groups and … [Read more...] about Clergy: Good on Finances But Need Better Habits
finances
Doing More with Less
Pandemic Brings Financial Challenges for Churches By G. Jeffrey MacDonald Correspondent Collections down as much as 70 percent. Tenants struggling to pay church landlords. Steep drops in investment income that’s needed to pay monthly bills. Across the Episcopal Church, congregations are weathering effects of a financial storm that shows no signs of abating anytime … [Read more...] about Doing More with Less
Putting Treasure Where the Heart Is
Review by Kirsten Snow Spalding Faithful Investing: The Power of Decisive Action and Incremental Change Ed. by James Murphy Church Publishing, pp. 208, $19.95 As an Amazon Associate, TLC earns from qualifying purchases. For 50 years, some faith communities have employed socially responsible investment strategies as one way to engage in ministry. Others … [Read more...] about Putting Treasure Where the Heart Is
Well-Placed Charity
Shrewd Samaritan: Faith, Economics and the Road to Loving Our Global Neighbor By Michael Tessman Thomas Nelson, pp. 256, $26.99 Review by Michael Tessman On a recent visit to Washington D.C., with some extra time before my train, I sat on a park bench in Lafayette Square across from the White House. Apart from an amplified broadcast of one person’s take on the … [Read more...] about Well-Placed Charity
Council Hears Good Financial News
By Kirk Petersen Because of favorable budget surprises and a windfall from a land sale, the Episcopal Church finds itself flush with cash and will establish a prudent level of short-term reserves for the first time in years, according to presentations made to Executive Council. The council, which met Feb. 21-24 in Oklahoma City, also visited the memorial for the 1995 … [Read more...] about Council Hears Good Financial News
Membership and Money
The Anglican Consultative Committee’s standing committee has authorized a study of ACC membership and support. Members of the standing committee said the group will include primates, bishops, other clergy, and laity. The group will recommend how the ACC can better reflect the membership of Anglican churches across the world. The group is expected to make recommendations to … [Read more...] about Membership and Money
Forgive Us Our Trespasses?
marco/Flickr By Marcia Pally “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” What is it that we’re forgiving? As our various English translations have it, do we mean sins, trespasses, or debts? Debt covers both financial and non-financial owing, as in “mortgage debt” and “debt of gratitude.” Trespass points to property violations. Sin … [Read more...] about Forgive Us Our Trespasses?
Rochester Faces Crisis
By John Martin Downton Abbey held up a mirror to contrasting attitudes to shrinking finances. While some of their peers lived in denial and eventually had to give up their estates, the Crawleys stayed alert to financial realities and retained their historic home. Three years ago, three dioceses in the north of England (Bradford, Ripon, and Wakefield) faced acute financial … [Read more...] about Rochester Faces Crisis