The National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices (NSCEP) examines congregations’ theological, cultural, and practical orientations toward money. To date, much about congregations’ economic practices are simply unknown. Most research on charitable giving, particularly faith-based giving, has focused on individuals (the givers) rather than institutions (the recipients of the giving).

The NSCEP report provides a deeper understanding of how congregations’ receive, manage, and spend their financial resources.

Produced by

Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Funded by

Lilly Endowment, Inc.

AUTHORS

David P. King

David P. King

IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

David P. King

Brad R. Fulton

Indiana University, O’Neill School of Public and Environment Affairs

David P. King

Christopher W. Munn

IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

David P. King

Jamie L. Goodwin

IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

RESEARCH TEAM

David P. King

Dr. David P. King

Study Co-Director

David King is a professor at Indiana University and director of Lake Institute. He earned a Ph.D. from Emory University with a specific focus on American religious history. David is also an ordained minister with over 10 years of experience serving local congregations.

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David P. King

Dr. Brad R. Fulton

Study Co-Director

Brad Fulton is a professor at Indiana University. He earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Duke University with a specific focus on the role of congregations in society. Brad also has over 15 years of experience working as a campus minister.

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David P. King

Dr. Christopher W. Munn

Postdoctoral Researcher

Chris Munn is a sociologist and postdoctoral researcher at IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Author of several papers on racial inequality, social capital and racially diverse religious networks, Munn’s work uses social network analysis to examine how interracial relations matter for social inequality.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

David P. King

Nancy T. Ammerman

Professor of Sociology of Religion, Boston University

Director of the Finding Religion in Everyday Life Project

David P. King

Mark Chaves

Professor of Sociology, Religious Studies, and Divinity, Duke University

Director of the National Congregations Study

David P. King

Rick Dunham

Chief Executive Officer, Dunham+ Company

Chair of Giving USA Board

David P. King

Korie L. Edwards

Associate Professor of Sociology, THE Ohio State University

Director of the Religious Leadership and Diversity Project

David P. King

Mary L. Gautier

Senior Research Associate, Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Georgetown University

Director of the U.S. Parish Life Study

David P. King

Gerardo Marti

Professor of Sociology, Davidson College

Director of The Latino Protestant Congregations Project

David P. King

Patricia Snell Herzog

Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice

Co-Director of the Center for Social Research, University of Arkansas The Science of Generosity Project

David P. King

Scott Thumma

Director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research

Director of Faith Communities Today Study (FACT)

ENDORSERS OF THE NATIONAL STUDY OF CONGREGATIONS’ PRACTICE (NSCEP)

Mark Galli, Editor in Chief

Christianity Today

Peter Marty, Publisher

The Christian Century

Dr. Leith Anderson, President

National Association for Evangelicals

Dan Busby, President

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

Phillip Martin, CEO

The Church Network

Dr. Warren Bird, Director of Research

Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA)

Dr. Ed Stetzer, Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism

Wheaton College

Dr. Mark Labberton, President

Fuller Theological Seminary

Bishop George E. Battle Jr., Senior Bishop

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

Kerry Alys Robinson, Global Ambassador

Leadership Roundtable

Kim Smolik, CEO

Leadership Roundtable

Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, General Secretary

Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

Dr. David Emmanuel Goatley, Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Lott Carey Global Missional Community

Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship and Connectional Ministries

United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Clayton L. Smith, Executive Pastor for Generosity and Stewardship, Emeritus

United Methodist Church of the Resurrection

Rev. Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor

United Methodist Church of the Resurrection

William E. Simon, Jr., Co-Founder

Parish Catalyst

Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, President

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Rev. Kenneth M. Hennings, Chairman

Council of District Presidents, President of the Texas District The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer, General Secretary

American Baptist Churches, USA

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Dr. Scott Thumma, Director

Hartford Institute for Religious Research

Marcia Shetler, Executive Director/CEO

Ecumenical Stewardship Center

Dr. Mary L. Gautier, Senior Research Associate

Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate

Dr. Ihsan Bagby, author of The Mosque in America: A National Portrait

University of Kentucky, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Rev. Bruce Barkhauer, Director of Center for Faith and Giving

Disciples of Christ

Rev. Terry Shue, Director of Leadership Development

Mennonite Churches USA

Rev. Dr. Beryl Jantzi, Stewardship Education Director

Everence Financial (Mennonite Foundation)

Rev. Doug Clay, General Superintendent

General Council of the Assemblies of God

Rabbi Dr. Deborah Waxman, President

Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

Rev. Dr. Rick Spleth, Indiana Regional Minister

Disciples of Christ

Dr. Steve Vernon, Associate Executive Director

Baptist General Convention of Texas

Rev. Dr. Samuel Tolbert, President

National Baptist Convention in America

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz

Catholic Diocese of Louisville, KY

W. Brian Walsh, Founder

Faith Direct

Dr. Shariq Siddiqui, Visiting Director

Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at IUPUI

Azhar Azeez, President

Islamic Society of North America