PCUSA reveals why some members quit giving: report

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently reviewed a report examining the reasons why some members have quit giving to the liberal mainline denomination.

PC(USA), A Corporation, an entity that oversees the business of the denomination, heard a presentation last week from Research Services representative Sean Payne on the issue of why Presbyterians were halting their giving.

According to the report, a copy of which was emailed to The Christian Post by a PC(USA) spokesperson on Tuesday, researchers contacted over 17,000 donors who had last given to the denomination between Jan. 1, 2019, and September 2024.

The survey asked people two questions: “Why did you stop giving?” and “What would help you reconsider giving again?” Conducted between November and December of last year, the surveyors received 1,275 responses.

The report found that the top reason for the halt in giving was “I chose to focus on my local church,” with 43% of respondents selecting this reason. Additionally, 21% said they quit giving because “I chose to support other causes or organizations.”

Personal economic reasons were another noted factor, as 11% said “Personal or family circumstances have changed,” and 7% responded, “I can no longer afford to give.”

A fair number of respondents said they did like the changes happening in PC(USA), with 7% saying, "I disagree with decisions made by the General Assembly," while 8% said, "I am uncertain about the denomination's restructuring" plans.

Regarding the second question, the report found that things that would prompt respondents to restart their giving included “transparency and storytelling,” “improved personal capacity,” “change in denominational positions,” and “designated giving opportunities.”

The Rev. John Wilkinson, director of the PC(USA) Stewardship and Funds Development, which had requested that Research Services do the report, called the survey “a very helpful process.”

“There is goodwill, and that reminder about storytelling is driving a lot of our strategy right now, with more stories of impact,” said Wilkinson, as quoted by Presbyterian News Service. “We’re working on that with our colleagues in Presbyterian Life & Witness.”

In 2024, PC(USA) announced that it was streamlining various offices and ministries because of a considerable decline in membership and donations over the past couple of decades.

The Rev. Jihyun Oh, stated clerk of the PC(USA) General Assembly, said in a statement at the time that it was "a lengthy process” that would “align the mission and ministry of two General Assembly agencies to the needs of today's church, society and our denomination."

"We are at most half the size compared to when the current structures were set up. Migration patterns are bringing global neighbors into our communities, so that the global is local and the local is global," Oh stated in 2024.

"Working with leaders within both predecessor agencies and the Administrative Services Group, as well as seeking guidance from the Unification Commission, we are moving toward sustainable ministries that better align with our vision and values, as well as mission and ministry priorities."