Short Spots Excerpts

                                                                                                                                                               Vol. VIII, No. 8, September 1995

Top Givers: A recent study of 625 congregations, 125 in each of five major denominations (Assemblies of God, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), Roman Catholic Church, and the SBC) found the following: More evangelical or doctrinally conservative beliefs are definitely associated with higher levels of giving. Church members who plan in advance how much to give donate the most; those who decide on the spot the least. Opinion about the national or international denomination have little effect. Overall enthusiasm for the congregation's work and programs was highest among laymen in the SBC and Assemblies of God. People 45 to 65 years old give proportionately the most. The more orthodox the member's belief and faith, the higher the giving. [BP]

Alarming Numbers: In 1947 20% of married women worked outside the home. By 1991 it had grown to 59%. Marriages where the wife works 35 to 40 hours outside the home are four times more likely to end in separation or divorce than marriages where the woman works outside 20 hours or less. While the TV set is on seven hours a day, mothers spend 12-15 minutes of undivided attention per day with their children and fathers spend approximately two to four minutes per day.

Consider that in the U.S.:                                    In 1970        In 1993

Currently divorced people                                  4.3 million     16.7 million

Unmarried couple households                           0.5 million     3.5 million

% of children under 18 living with one parent     12 %             27 %                 [BP]