Churches Receive Less Trust but More Money than Ever

A new report indicates that Americans are donating to churches and religious groups at an all-time high, despite another study that claimed less people trust churches. The report from Giving USA said Americans donated $114.9 billion to religious groups in 2014, an increase of 2.5 percent in current dollars (or .9 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars). 

Christianity Today reports the $114.9 billion that was donated in 2014 was the highest that had been reported since Giving USA began tracking the numbers 60 years ago (accounting for inflation).

At the same time, a recent poll from Gallup claimed that only 42 percent of Americans said they trusted churches and religious organizations, down from 44 percent in 2012. 

In contrast 72 percent of Americans reported that they trusted the military, 67 percent trusted small businesses and 52 percent trusted the police. 

Publication date: June 25, 2015