Study of COVID-19 Impact on U.S. Baptist Church Giving

This document is a study examining the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. Baptist church giving, specifically focusing on non-Southern Baptist Convention churches. The study aims to understand how church attendance and giving patterns have changed since the onset of the pandemic. It tests three hypotheses regarding attendance, church size, and the adoption of digital donation methods. Key findings indicate a modest initial drop in giving, which returned to pre-pandemic levels, although real terms show an erosion in purchasing power. The study also reveals that the number of donors decreased significantly during the pandemic, raising concerns about long-term sustainability. However, average per donor giving increased notably. The methodology involved analyzing five years of giving data from 949 Baptist churches across the U.S., providing insights into regional differences and trends in digital giving adoption. The results highlight the complexities of church giving dynamics in the wake of COVID-19.