If your church relying strictly on Sunday morning tithes and offerings to meet its operating budget, your financial model is under increasing strain.

In a recent conversation with Dr. Gerard Ruff, economic theologian Jamé Bolds outlined the demographic and macroeconomic realities facing today’s congregations—and why leaders must adopt a framework of Church Economics to thrive.

The Hard Reality: Macroeconomic Pressures on Giving

We are witnessing a structural shift in how churches are funded:

• Historical Decline in Religious Giving: Overall giving to religious organizations in the U.S. plummeted from 63% in 1983 to just 24% in 2023.

• Decreasing Donor Averages: Among evangelical donors, average annual contributions fell from $2,900 in 2021 to $2,500 in 2024—a $400 drop in just three years.