Churches In Foreclosure - The Latest Casualty Of The Recession
The Crystal Cathedral, one of America's most well known churches, filed for bankruptcy with more than $40 million in debt. An example of some of the extravagant spending; one creditor that provided live animals for the churches annual Christmas presentation is owed $57,000. While most churches don't have expenditures like the Crystal Cathedral, the number of churches in foreclosure has tripled in the last three years. Churches, like many Americans, used the real estate boom to borrow and expand. Now, with donations down 15 to 25 percent nationwide, there is a growing number of churches in financial crisis.
How Individual Members May Lose Money When A Church Fails
Many churches look to their congregation to borrow money to build or expand their facility. This is usually done through church bonds. The bonds represent a loan to the church. The bonds are secured by real estate but in most cases are in a second position to a first mortgage. What this means is that if a church fails, bondholders will only be paid if there is enough money to satisfy the first mortgage. This is many times not the case, leaving bondholders with nothing but a worthless piece of paper. This is why I have cautioned not to invest in church bonds with money you can not afford to lose. In fact, making an outright gift to your church building fund would be a better option for both you and your church.
At Reliance Trust, the largest trustee for public church bonds, about 10% of the firm's $1.3 billion portfolio is now in default, up from less than 1% historically, said Anthony Guthrie, president and managing principal, though foreclosure rates haven't yet increased markedly. (excerpted from the Wall Street Journal August 16, 2010. Church Bonds: Winners or Sinners).
Churches Trying To Make Sense Of Their Operating Costs
I have long questioned the wisdom of multi-million dollar buildings that get used on Sunday mornings and mostly sit empty the rest of the week. Churches today are being forced to think of the church property as an asset that must be working throughout the week. Starting a daycare or private Christian School has become a popular way of generating day to day income from a church campus. Some churches rent out space for community groups ranging from AA meetings to dance instruction. Few churches today can simply open the doors up on a Sunday morning for two hours and expect to cover their costs.
Advice To Churches
My advice to churches is very much along the lines of what I am advising individuals to do at this time. Pay down debt, work on increasing income, and save money. This is not a good time to expand if it requires borrowing. Churches meeting in a rented facility, such as a school or community center, should not build until they can do so with minimal debt (or no debt). For many churches, thinking out of the box will be a necessity. Buying an abandoned movie theater, a foreclosed strip plaza, or even a warehouse, makes much more sense that the cost of building a new structure.
I find it ironic that many churches offer courses to congregants on becoming debt free, while the church itself piles up debt. With charitable contributions not likely to turn up any time soon, churches will have to continue to find ways to survive on less donation income.
Helping you make the most of God’s money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
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