1. Presentation Materials from Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money (OUP, 2007) © permission granted for use in not-for-profit public presentations by Christian Smith, Michael Emerson, and Patricia Snell

2. Explains how much American Christians do give in total financial charitable and religious contributions Explains how much American Christians do give in total financial charitable and religious contributions Explains how much money American Christians could give if they gave more generously Explains how much money American Christians could give if they gave more generously Explores why American Christians do not give more money than they do Explores why American Christians do not give more money than they do Passing the Plate

3. Keeps the analysis and argument focused— is hard for anyone to take ownership of “all Americans” Keeps the analysis and argument focused— is hard for anyone to take ownership of “all Americans” Maintains sharp contrast between official Christian teachings and actual practices Maintains sharp contrast between official Christian teachings and actual practices Why Christians Specifically?

4. Americans are more generous in voluntary financial charitable giving than most people in other (post) industrialized countries. Americans are more generous in voluntary financial charitable giving than most people in other (post) industrialized countries. Religious Americans are more generous in financial giving than non-religious Americans. Religious Americans are more generous in financial giving than non-religious Americans. = glass half full Context

5. However… Most American Christians turn out to be stingy financial givers Most American Christians turn out to be stingy financial givers When measured against the normative teachings of their own religious traditions When measured against the normative teachings of their own religious traditions Considering the financial resources American Christians have with which they could be generous Considering the financial resources American Christians have with which they could be generous = glass half (95%?) empty

6. Riddle: Why? Contemporary American Christians are among the wealthiest of their faith in the world today Contemporary American Christians are among the wealthiest of their faith in the world today Contemporary American Christians are among the most affluent single group of Christians in 2000 years of church history. Contemporary American Christians are among the most affluent single group of Christians in 2000 years of church history.

7. Earnings Self-identified Christians in the U.S. earned a total collective income in the trillions of dollars in 2005. Self-identified Christians in the U.S. earned a total collective income in the trillions of dollars in 2005. U.S. Christians who are members of churches earned a total income of more than $2 trillion in 2005. U.S. Christians who are members of churches earned a total income of more than $2 trillion in 2005.

8. How about committed Christians? U.S. Christians who attend church twice a month+ or who consider themselves “strong” or “very strong” Christians earned a total collective income of more than $2 trillion in 2005. U.S. Christians who attend church twice a month+ or who consider themselves “strong” or “very strong” Christians earned a total collective income of more than $2 trillion in 2005.

9. If Christians were a country… $2,000,000,000,000+ / year = more than the total GDP of any nation in the world, except the six richest: U.S., Japan, Germany, China, the UK, France. $2,000,000,000,000+ / year = more than the total GDP of any nation in the world, except the six richest: U.S., Japan, Germany, China, the UK, France.

10. Vast Giving Potential If … If … –(1) serious American Christians gave 10% of after-tax income –(2) 1/3rd of less-serious Christians gave 5% This group could generate a total of $133.4 billion a year for religious, charitable, and social service purposes—over and above what they currently give This group could generate a total of $133.4 billion a year for religious, charitable, and social service purposes—over and above what they currently give

11. Five Facts… Five Facts…

12. Fact #1 At least one out of five self-identified American Christians — 20 percent of all U.S. Christians — gives literally nothing to church, para-church, or non-religious charities. At least one out of five self-identified American Christians — 20 percent of all U.S. Christians — gives literally nothing to church, para-church, or non-religious charities.Zilch.

14. Source: General Social Survey, 1996. Note: Includes giving to health, educational, religious, human service, environmental, public benefit, recreational, arts, cultural, humanities, work-related, political, youth, private community foundation, or international or foreign charities or purposes; does not include informal giving to needy relatives or neighbors.

15. Fact #2 The vast majority of American Christians give very little to church, para-church, or non-religious charities. The vast majority of American Christians give very little to church, para-church, or non-religious charities. The MEDIAN (midpoint) dollars given by U.S. Christians is a mere.62 percent of the median Christian income ($200 given of $32,500 earned) The MEDIAN (midpoint) dollars given by U.S. Christians is a mere.62 percent of the median Christian income ($200 given of $32,500 earned)

17. Fact #3 American Christians do not give their dollars evenly among themselves but, rather, a small minority of generous givers contributes most of the total Christian dollars given. American Christians do not give their dollars evenly among themselves but, rather, a small minority of generous givers contributes most of the total Christian dollars given.

18. Figure 4: Percent of Total Dollars Contributed by All Christians Grouped in Five Percentiles by Increasing Levels of Generosity Source: General Social Survey, 1998.

19. Figure 5: Percent of Total Dollars Contributed by Regularly Church- Attending and Self-Described “Strong” or “Very Strong” Christians Grouped in Five Percentiles by Increasing Levels of Generosity Source: General Social Survey, 1998.

20. Fact 4 Higher income- earning American Christians—like all Americans—give little to no more money as a percentage of household income than lower income earning Christians Higher income- earning American Christians—like all Americans—give little to no more money as a percentage of household income than lower income earning Christians

21. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2000.

22. Source: Giving and Volunteering in the United States, 2001.

24. Source: General Social Survey, 1998.

26. Fact #5 Despite a massive growth of real per capita income over the 20th Century, the average percentage share of income given by American Christians not only did not grow in proportion but actually declined slightly during this time period. Despite a massive growth of real per capita income over the 20th Century, the average percentage share of income given by American Christians not only did not grow in proportion but actually declined slightly during this time period.

27. Table 12: Giving Per Church Member as a Percent of Income in 11 Protestant Denominations, and U.S. Per Capita Inflation-Adjusted Income 1921-2003 The 11 denominations analyzed are American Baptist (Northern), Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, The Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (and subsidiaries that merged), Moravian Church in America, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Reformed Church in America, Southern Baptist Convention, United Church of Christ (and subsidiaries that merged), United Methodist Church (and subsidiaries that merged).

28. Figure 13: U.S. Catholic Religious Giving as a Percent of Income, 1963-1998 Source: Greeley and McManus 1987, Hart 1990, GSS 1998, Independent Sector 1994. Note: Years not to scale.

29. Fact #6 The vast majority of the money that American Christians do give to religion is spent in and for their own local communities of faith — little is spent on education, development, missions, or poverty relief outside of local congregations, particularly outside the U.S., in ways that benefit people other than the givers themselves. The vast majority of the money that American Christians do give to religion is spent in and for their own local communities of faith — little is spent on education, development, missions, or poverty relief outside of local congregations, particularly outside the U.S., in ways that benefit people other than the givers themselves.

30. Figure 14: Financial Expenditures of U.S. Religious Congregations in 1996 Source: Independent Sector, 1996.

31. Figure 15: Financial Expenditures of U.S. Religious Congregations in 1986 Source: Independent Sector, 1987.

32. Q: How to explain this lack of financial generosity by U.S. Christians?

33. Passing the Plate examines the best available empirical evidence to evaluate 9 different hypotheses seeking to explain the relative lack of financial generosity by contemporary American Christians.

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