Lifeway Survey: 54% of Pastors Say Economy Is Hurting Their Churches

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. —

More than half of U.S. Protestant pastors say the economy is hurting their congregations, according to a Lifeway Research survey released this week. Fifty-four percent reported a negative impact, up from 49% in 2025 but below the 66% recorded in 2024.

Thirty-six percent of pastors said the economy is having no effect on their church, and 8% said the effect has been positive. Seven percent described the impact as very negative.

Giving has largely stalled once rising prices are counted. The average church saw giving rise 1.24% over 2025, while the median church saw no change, according to the report. The Consumer Price Index was up 3.7% as of September.

The strain is not spread evenly. Eighty-two percent of African American pastors reported a negative economic impact, and 47% of them said giving is down. Mainline pastors reported negative effects more often than evangelicals, 66% to 47%. Churches with fewer than 50 in attendance were among the most likely to report declines in giving, at 31%, while 51% of churches with 250 or more in attendance saw giving increase.

Half of pastors said giving is about where they budgeted, 25% said it is below budget and 23% said it is above. Methodist pastors, at 33%, and pastors in the South, at 30%, were more likely to report shortfalls.

“Pastors hear the needs and problems of people in their congregations every week,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. He noted that churchgoers often give an extra gift at Christmastime.

The phone survey of 1,004 Protestant pastors was conducted Sept. 8-30, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. Lifeway compares the results with pastor surveys going back to 2009. The report was written by Aaron Earls of Lifeway Research and carried by Baptist state papers including The Pathway.