Money always has been a subject of deep concern for religious leaders. In recent decades, however, this perennial concern has taken on a new urgency as a crisis situation is perceived. Financing American Religion brings together short, readable essays representing the best, most up-to-date research and thinking on the intersections of money and religion. Sociologists, historians, economists, and theologians ask who gives, how much, and why. They investigate how money moves and how it affects religious organizational behavior. And throughout they explore how attitudes toward money have altered over time. Religious leaders and scholars of American religion will welcome this much-needed volume.

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 The Authors Chapter 3 Chapter I. Individual Giving Chapter 4 1. Dean Hoge, Charles Zech, Patrick McNamara, Michael Donahue, Giving in Five Denominations Chapter 5 2. John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, Basic Trends in Religious Giving 1921-1995 Chapter 6 3. Calvin Pressley and Walter Collier, Financing Historic Black Churches Chapter 7 4. Laurence Iannaccone, Skewness Explained Chapter 8 5. Sharon Miller, The Meaning of Religious Giving Chapter 9 6. James Hudnut-Beumler, Historical Myths about Financing American Christianity Chapter 10 7. Robert Wood Lynn, Why Give? Chapter 11 8. Robert Wuthnow, The Crisis in the Churches Chapter 12 Chapter II. Congregations and Resources Chapter 13 9. Virginia Hodgkinson, Financing Religious Congregations: A National View Chapter 14 10. Dean Hoge and Loren Mead, Endowed Congregations Chapter 15 11. Daniel Conway, Clergy as Reluctant Stewards of Congregational Resources Chapter 16 Chapter III. Religious Organizations and Resources Chapter 17 12. Joseph Claude Harris, Financing Catholic Schools Chapter 18 13. Anthony Ruger, Financing Protestant Theological Schools Chapter 19 14. Sharon L. Miller, Financing Parachurch Organizations Chapter 20 15. Michael O'Neill, Religious Organizations in California Chapter 21 16. Kristen Gronbjerg and Sheila Nelson, Small Religious Nonprofits in Illinois Chapter 22 17. Ellen J. Benjamin, Philanthropic Institutions and the Small Religious Nonprofit Chapter 23 Chapter IV. Conclusion Chapter 24 18. John Mulder, Faith and Money: Theological Reflections on Financing American Religion Chapter 25 19. Mark Chaves, Financing American Religion