The recession and its aftermath have affected nearly every institution in American life, including houses of worship. As congregants have lost their jobs and seen their savings accounts dwindle, many have had less money to contribute to their church, synagogue or mosque. Many houses of worship, most notably Orange County’s Crystal Cathedral, have tumbled into bankruptcy and foreclosure. To keep their doors open and services going, many churches are being forced to increasingly mix their faith with entrepreneurship.
KCRW’s Chery Glaser spoke with Eric Knowles yesterday. He’s an expert on church management and explains the economic challenges facing churches now. (They sound a lot like the financial challenges facing homeowners.)