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• World Vision's budget fell short by $2 million in 2002, said Brian Peterson, communications director. "With increased worldwide crises come increased needs," Peterson said. World Vision, with 835 paid staff, laid off nine people last year and seven more this year.

The sagging economy is not the sole reason donations are down, says Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of empty tomb, inc., which tracks church giving.

Ronsvalle is the coauthor of The State of Church Giving through 2000, a comprehensive study that begins in 1968. "If giving reflects the economy," she said, "then why didn't the study show giving going up when the economy was good?"

The empty tomb study shows that in the year 2000, church members in eight mainline denominations gave an average of 3.2 percent, while church members in eight evangelical denominations gave an average of 4.1 percent. Overall giving among members in twenty-seven denominations was 2.6 percent.

Scott Preissler, president of the Christian Stewardship Association, believes many donations moved elsewhere. "Look at all the money that went to New York City after September 11," Preissler said. "The Red Cross and Salvation Army were flooded with donations."

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April (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47