What’s a Congregation Worth?

A look at whether a congregation adds economic value to its community.

Download a PDF of this article here

Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Previous articles related to church life and money & business include:

Should Congress Change Pastors' Housing Allowances? | The current tax code excludes the rental value of a home from pastors' taxable income. (March 28, 2011)

Are American Evangelicals Stingy? | Observers discuss whether Christians are generous enough with their money. (January 31, 2011)

How Evangelicals Give | Church members' giving is decreasing in the recession, especially as a percentage of income. (January 31, 2011)

CT previously spotlighted Christian names, how evangelicals give, evangelical vs. mainline politics, today's pilgrims, President Obama's faith, the future(s) of missions, health-care reform, Africa, American Idol, Haiti, Robert Park, persecution, Supreme Court and crosses, international religious liberty advocates, and church violence.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

April

Christianity Today April, 2011

Cover Story

Proselytizing in a Multi-Faith World

Ed Stetzer

God of the Schizophrenic

David Weiss

Evangelism as Sacrament

Owen Strachan

A Beautiful Anger

Linda Falter

Why We Love Amish Romances

Eric Miller

Books to Note

Excerpt

Counterfeit Gospels

Trevin Wax

Review

The Gods of the Checkout Aisle

Todd C. Ream

Poet Amena Brown Speaks the Truth in Rhythm and Rhymes

Mark Moring

Wilson's Bookmarks

John Wilson

Carolyn Arends Contemplates Her Own Death, and Yours

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

News

Sweat Lodge Prayers

Trevor Persaud

My Top 5 Books On Poverty

Brian Fikkert

Editorial

An Everyday Scandal

A Christianity Today Editorial

News

Rehab Revival: Evangelism Among Addicts Seeing Success

Bill Yoder in Moscow

An Improbable Alliance

Chuck Colson & Timothy George

News

Tough Calling in Africa

Ruth Moon in Niger

News

Pushing Back the Desert: Niger's Christians Get Creative for Daily Bread

Ruth Moon in Niger

Readers Write

News

Exit Visa: Iraqi Christians Look for Safe Haven

Ruth Moon

News

Thanksgiving Question Nearly Deports Tortured Christian

What Christian Novel Should Be Made Film?

Roy Anker, Steven D. Greydanus, and Barbara Nicolosi

News

Quotation Marks

Compiled by Ted Olsen

Two Peoples Separated by a Common Revelation

Multi-Faith Matters

News

Go Figure

Compiled by Ted Olsen

News

Borders' Bankruptcy Affects Christian Orgs, Pregnancy Center Signs Violate Free Speech & More News

News

Should Congress Change Pastors' Housing Allowances?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

Review

Rob Bell's Bridge Too Far

Our Latest

A CT magazine cover and an image of women in church.

Considering Both Sides of Church Divisions

Daniel Silliman

CT hosted debates about the charismatic movement and women’s ordination.

Three book covers on a gray background.

Review

The Forgotten Founding Father

Thomas S. Kidd

Three history books to read this month.

A baby wearing a tall American flag hat.

The Bulletin

Birthright Citizenship, War’s Moral Hazards, and Can Literature Save Men?

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll, and Russell Moore

Supreme Court considers citizenship at birth, war in Iran compels us to number our days, and the importance of reading.

Jennie-Allen-The-Lie-You-Don't-Know You- believe

The Russell Moore Show

Jennie Allen on ‘The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe’

A bonus episode with bestselling author and friend, Jennie Allen.

$An image of Jesus helping a woman, with a glitchy computer texture and binary code.$

The Math Behind Christ’s Care for Our Flourishing

Bruce Wydick

I was curious about how Jesus allotted his time on earth—and what Christians could learn from it.

Interwoven pieces of paper with illustrations of the body.

Communion, Sex, and God’s Created Order

Kyle Wells

Our bundled partisanship misses Scripture’s focus on the body.

A photo of Benjamin Watson at mic with the title of the podcast The Just Life overlaid on the image

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Dr. Eric Mason: Why Biblical Justice is Spiritual Maturity

How knowing our history aids in achieving true restoration.

Analysis

Q&A: Some Israelis See Esther’s Story in the Attacks on Iran

The Bulletin with Yossi Klein Halevi

Journalist Yossi Klein Halevi speaks to CT about Jewish reflections on the US and Israel-led war.