What’s a Congregation Worth?

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

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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

God of the Schizophrenic

Evangelism as Sacrament

A Beautiful Anger

Why We Love Amish Romances

Books to Note

Excerpt

Counterfeit Gospels

Review

The Gods of the Checkout Aisle

Poet Amena Brown Speaks the Truth in Rhythm and Rhymes

Wilson's Bookmarks

Carolyn Arends Contemplates Her Own Death, and Yours

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

News

Sweat Lodge Prayers

My Top 5 Books On Poverty

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

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

The book cover on a green background.

Review

First Comes Sex, Then Comes Gender

A new book acknowledges both categories as biblically valid—but insists on ordering them properly.

Blue and red snakes hissing at each other.

In Politics, Contempt Is a Common Tongue

Antisemitic, racist texts show the need for spiritual and character renewal.

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

Stephen Enada: Exposing a Silent Slaughter

Unpacking the crisis facing Nigeria’s persecuted Church

Detail from the painting Still-Life with a Skull by Philippe de Champaigne

The Strangest Enemy I’ll Ever Meet

Eric McLaughlin

Scripture speaks of death as an enemy Christ conquers—and the door through which we see God face to face.

Military families receive free food from a food bank

News

Government Shutdown Deepens Hunger Crisis

Harvest Prude in Maryland

When paychecks and SNAP distributions stop, the food pantry line grows.

Jonah and the whale

Jonah in an Age of Outrage

Michael LeFebvre

The prophet’s lesson is also ours: We must recover compassion for neighbor and enemy alike, or our words will be hollow.

Christian (left) and Muslim (right) women praying and studying in Iraq.

Grassroots Efforts Bring Together Diverse Sects in Iraq

Interfaith group uses projects and dialogues to push for greater religious freedom.

People worshipping in church.

Becoming Part of God’s Family

Carmen Joy Imes

Weekly participation in ordinary church life isn’t flashy, but it is radical.