Here’s how Black churches deal with the intersection of faith and finance.
Credit: Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash
This post was originally published on Defender Network
Is the Black Church focused on a spiritual mission or securing more money?
Many Black people asked that question after Pastor Marvin Sapp of The Chosen Vessel Church (Fort Worth) demanded that ushers lock the doors until attendees voluntarily made a collective offering of $40,000.
The Sapp incident raises questions about just how clear the general public is on Black Church finances.
For centuries, Black churches have played a central role in the social, political and economic lives of their congregants and communities. They have been able to do this largely because of the funding given by members.
But with Black Church membership or involvement (desirability) declining from 90% in 1996 to 74% today, according to Barna, a national database of spiritual indicators, where will the funds come from for the Black Church to honor its historic spiritual mission?
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