| Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't Give Away More Money | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 37 reviews)
Sales Rank: 48035
Category: Book
Authors: Christian Smith, Michael O Emerson, Patricia Snell
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.5 x 1
ISBN: 0195337115
Dewey Decimal Number: 248.6
EAN: 9780195337112
ASIN: 0195337115
Publication Date: September 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Passing the Plate shows that few American Christians donate generously to religious and charitable causes -- a parsimony that seriously undermines the work of churches and ministries. Far from the 10 percent of one's income that tithing requires, American Christians' financial giving typically amounts, by some measures, to less than one percent of annual earnings. And a startling one out of five self-identified Christians gives nothing at all.
This eye-opening book explores the reasons behind such ungenerous giving, the potential world-changing benefits of greater financial giving, and what can be done to improve matters. If American Christians gave more generously, say the authors, any number of worthy projects -- from the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS to the promotion of inter-religious understanding to the upgrading of world missions -- could be funded at astounding levels. Analyzing a wide range of social surveys and government and denominational statistical datasets and drawing on in-depth interviews with Christian pastors and church members in seven different states, the book identifies a crucial set of factors that appear to depress religious financial support -- among them the powerful allure of a mass-consumerist culture and its impact on Americans' priorities, parishioners' suspicions of waste and abuse by nonprofit administrators, clergy's hesitations to boldly ask for money, and the lack of structure and routine in the way most American Christians give away money. In their conclusion, the authors suggest practical steps that clergy and lay leaders might take to counteract these tendencies and better educate their congregations about the transformative effects of generous giving.
By illuminating the social and psychological forces that shape charitable giving, Passing the Plate is sure to spark a much-needed debate on a critical issue that is of much interest to church-goers, religious leaders, philanthropists, and social scientists.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...
 an essential analysis of church giving January 6, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book addresses a matter that is a major area of denial. So many churches barely can meet their budgets and pay the b ilklks, and a sustantial number of parisioners seem to think that adequate financial support of their cjurch is no bi deal. Granted that we are i a bad economy, the stinginess in member giving is not new. This reviewer knows first hand that many think an archangel or leprechaun will appear at the church door with a crock of gold or a tub of money yo resolve all the money woes. THe book is in accord with the reality that only serious support and fiscal discipline will allow a given church to survive and prosper.
Useful and Enlightening December 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Emerson and Smith provide an excellent sociological overview of religious and charitable giving habits of American Christians, with particular insight as to why we don't give more. If you can remember that that's what this book is, it is both informative and helpful. But don't expect it to be more than it is.
Most Christian denominations in the U.S. give lip service to tithing as a celebration of God's good gifts. And not just in an effort to break even, either: tithing pays for the gospel outreach of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. So why do many congregations struggle just to keep the lights on and the mortgage paid?
Emerson and Smith, helped in one chapter by Patricia Snell, mix original research with over two decades of collated data to figure this out. The conclusions they reach, though tentative, are not simple magic bullets. They reach into the heart of American Christian culture and challenge us on ideas we take for granted.
Early chapters rely heavily on dense statistics, and are laced with laypersons' guides to actuarial concepts. These chapters are heavy on charts and graphs, and copiously end-noted. They can be kind of tough sledding. Later chapters build on these stats in an accessible, plain-English way. The second half of the book is much more user-friendly than the first half.
Some parts of the book, particularly Chapter Four and the Conclusion, offer pointers intended to help churches stimulate giving. These portions are somewhat heavy-handed and prescriptive, without recourse to scripture. The authors also admit these pointers aren't based on experience or experiment. Thankfully, the book comes bound with a postcard to let readers receive updates as the authors' research advances.
Reading this book may instill a healthy sense of "holy guilt" (why aren't I giving to my full extent?), but it is definitely not a book of theology. They scarcely quote scripture, and only mention God when it contributes to their reasoning. This is a sociological study, and if readers treat it that way, it will be both useful and enlightening.
Why American Christians Don't Give November 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As the pastor of an evangelical church, I regularly talk to missionaries, charity workers, and street people who despearately need money. Sometimes I am able to help them. Other times I am not. On the whole, my church is very generous, although we could probably give more. And I have the sneaking suspicion that other churches could do the same.
"Passing the Plate" by Christian Smith and Michael Emerson is a sociological study of "Why Americans Don't Give Away More Money," in the words of the subtitle. Sociologists of religion, which Smith and Emerson are, will find this a useful read for what it says about American Christian giving habits. But I enthusiastically recommend this book to Christian pastors, denominational leaders, and charitable organizations. It reveals both why American Christians don't give, and what can be done to encourage them to give more.
Smith and Emerson begin by noting how much money would be available on an annual basis if American Christians gave regular tithes (10% of their income) and occasional free-will offerings (over and above the tithe). Doing so would add an additional $133.4 billion to what American Christians already give. Again, that's on an annual basis. In addition to evangelism, church planting, Bible schools, and other traditional church activities, this money would adequately fund humanitarian causes such as eradicating malaria and polio, providing money for micro-enterprise loans, providing clean water, etc. Using similar statistics, Ron Sider has argued that if American Christians just tithed, they could fund the completion of the UN's Millennium Goals with private dollars.
Unfortunately, American Christians don't tithe. Twenty percent of American Christians give nothing at all. The mean average of pre-tax income given by American Christian households is 2.9%. The median gift, however, was about $200 or 0.62% of pre-tax income. This paltry giving comes in spite of the fact that American Christians generally have the resources to tithe, if they decide to, and in spite of the fact that most Christian traditions teach tithing.
Why, then, don't American Christians give more generously? Smith and Emerson advance a complex explanation based on five factors: (1) American Christians "have not seriously confronted and grappled with the theological and moral teachings of their traditions to give generously." (2) "Their churches settle for low expectations of financial giving." (3) They "lack a complete confidence in the trustworthiness of the churches and charitable organizations to which they do or would give money." (4) "There are few or no real consequences or costs to stingy, intermittent, or no giving." (5) They give "on an occasional and situational basis, not as a disciplined, structured, routine practice."
Smith and Emerson are practicing Christians, in addition to being sociologists of religion, so they offer a few tips for Christian leaders to increase generous giving. (1) Teach tithing. Tithing is already part of most Christian traditions in America, but it is not taught consistently. (2) "Live the Vision" rather than "Pay the Bills." Smith and Emerson strongly recommend laying out a holistic understanding of how money could be used to accomplish all the good things a church should be doing, from evangelism to humanitarian relief. Unfortunately, too many pastors are so concerned about paying the bills from week to week that they don't instill in their parishioners this larger vision of what could be done with more money.
So, to pastors, denominational leaders, and Christian charitable organizations, I say, "Read this book!" And to pastors I say, "Develop a sermon series, Bible study, or small group using biblical principles about money and the statistics provided by this book." Teach your people to give, and then use that money to do good both in American and around the world.
 Not for the ordinary layman November 24, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
As an ordinary lay member of a congregation, I found this book of only moderate interest. It's a sociological study of charitable giving -- comparing various Christian denominations with other groups. Some of the information is thought-provoking, but for the most part, the book will be of great interest only to church leaders. There's a large section on strategies to motivate people to give more money, especially directly to a church.
The authors make no pretense of being unbiased. Rather, they believe all Christians should tithe at least ten percent of their income.) The book includes an appendix that includes statements from various churches and faiths about tithing and giving, which I found of mild interest. The book is probably a good addition to a church library, and certainly would be of help to lay people in charge of pledge drives.
Long And Winding With No Real Destination. November 21, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
While I'm always up for a perspective or stance that I have yet to hear, I'm not too big on being lectured to and bored to death with numbers that are irrelevant to the point. That happens way too often in this book. Sure, it's an interesting book, but like one reviewer already said, this book is in search of an audience. I recommend taking a pass on this one.
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