Religion: The Tithe That Binds

The churches of the U.S. last year received about $4 billion in donations. If the 112 million Americans who claim a religious affiliation had given one-tenth—the traditional tithe—of their personal income to churches, that total could have topped $25 billion. Without aspiring to that great a transformation in church revenues, U.S. clergymen are making a strong effort to get their congregations back to the two principles of tithing: giving regularly, and giving a fixed percentage (even if less than 10%) of income.

That no-nonsense tithe collector, the

U.S. Government, has taken over many of the welfare functions once served by church charity, but U.S. churches see no shortage of things that they could accomplish on bigger budgets. Costs have been rising because of the proliferation of church-centered clubs and weekday activities, the increase (belated) in ministerial and staff salaries, mounting upkeep on church buildings. New church construction has cost $2 billion in the last two years. The missionary effort in Africa, Asia and Latin America is bigger than ever. And Roman Catholics have the added costs of parochial schools.

In a recent survey, the weekly Our Sunday Visitor discovered nearly 300 Catholic parishes whose pastors have already introduced tithing, 1,250 others where the system is scheduled for adoption. At its 60th triennial convocation of bishops in Detroit last year, the Protestant Episcopal Church strongly recommended that ministers introduce tithing. The United Presbyterian Fellowship of Tithing Churches, which had twelve congregations at its founding in 1951, now has 250.

A Tenth of the Harvest. Historically the tithe meant the first tenth of the harvest that was offered up to God. In Exodus, God tells Moses: “Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits.” Church councils until early modern times regarded tithing as part of divine law.

Except among Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists and a few fundamentalist churches, which follow the traditional practice to the letter, today’s approach to tithing is more flexible. A number of Catholic parishes with parochial schools attached split the tithe—5% to the rectory, 5% to the school. Many Protestant ministers believe that other charity can be counted in. “The tithe should be a means of free expression of thankfulness to God—with the accent on freedom,” says Episcopal Canon Rudolf Devik, of Seattle’s diocesan stewardship department. “Charity may include anything the person feels is the work of God. It could include the Seattle Symphony. We sort of draw the line at flower clubs.”

“We Sell 95%.” Churches that have inaugurated tithing often find the gains spectacular. Since 1954, when the Rev. Samuel Johnston began encouraging “percentage giving,” the yearly income of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Wellesley, Mass., has increased from $55,000 to $132,000. The largest Protestant congregation (2,000 families) in Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon Place Methodist Church, inaugurated tithing in 1951 and has pushed income since then from $100,000 to $250,000.

U.S. church headquarters are happy to help ministers put over tithing, but a good many pastors have turned to professional fund-raising firms. One such company is

St. Louis’ Dazey Enterprises, Inc. The firm provides manuals of instruction, outlines for Sunday sermons on tithing and conscience-pricking bulletins for distribution at services (sample headline: HAVE BUDGETED YOURSELF AWAY FROM GOD?). All this leads up to “Intention Sunday,” when parishioners make their pledges. Dazey’s fee: $2.22 per wage earner in small parishes, $1.02 in large ones. Boasts President Harry Dazey, himself a tither: “We sell 95% of the pastors that we call on.”

Some pastors play up the tithers’ tax benefits: federal laws allow the taxpayer to deduct up to 30% of gross income as church charity. There are a few ministers who hint at even greater financial benefits. A classic example occasionally cited: Oilman Charles Page, who when down on his luck was told by a Salvation Army lassie that he would prosper if he tithed. Starting by giving her 15¢ out of his last dollar, Page promised to tithe, eventually struck oil. “I couldn’t miss,” he used to say after he had made his pile. “I was in partnership with the Big Fellow—and he made geology.” “Some successful businessmen make a great point of telling how their success dated from the time they took God in with them as a partner.” complains California Methodist Dr. Grover Bagby. “To this blasphemous idea it would almost seem in order to make an equally blasphemous reply: ‘What a break for God.’ ”

The Need to Give. More often, ministers and priests who seek to promote tithing emphasize man’s need to give, rather than God’s need for cash. Tithing thus becomes an act of worship, expressing the giver’s personal commitment to God. Says Dr. John Anschutz of Washington’s Christ Episcopal Church Georgetown: “We emphasize not so much tithing as the convinced Christian’s need to take a serious look at what stewardship really means: it is a definite commitment, a very real investment of one’s time, talent and treasure. Tithing is a small proportion of this overall investment.”

“Tithers suddenly become concerned about people,” says Episcopal Canon Richard Williams of Seattle. “The best tithing parishes are the softest touch for the traveling missionary.” Sums up Dr. John Haldeman of Miami’s Allapattah Baptist Church: “Sharing in the Lord’s work—and I mean contributing time, talents and effort as well as money—is the greatest means of overcoming selfishness. The Scripture says: ‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ “