The coming Darwinian evolution of religion

Recent stories in the Boston Globe and Ethics Daily say that churches and religious organizations are starting to feel the ripple effect of the economic downturn, and that this could profoundly affect the nation’s religious landscape.

Robert Parham, of EthicsDaily.com, and executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics, predicts a Darwinian future for religion. Parham says, “A deeper and prolonged financial crisis will likely result in a survival-of-the-fittest scenario among local and national faith organizations, which, in turn, will reshape the religious ethos for years to come.”

The Denver Post reported that Focus on the Family will lay off 149 staff members and leave vacant another 53 positions. Since last year, the staff size has already dropped from 1,200 to 950. Their 2009 budget of $138 million, down $22 million since FY 2008.

The Washington Post reported that the Washington National Cathedral plans to cut its 2009 budget by $9.6 million, from $24 million, and to lay off more than 40 staff members.

The Episcopal cathedral excised $3.5 million from its 2008 budget in May and laid off 33 employees. Its $66 million endowment reportedly lost nearly a quarter of its value.

The Presbyterian Church has drawn $7 million from its $21 million reserve fund. 

The Florida Baptist Convention’s giving was down $773,000. They projected up to a $2 million shortfall by the end of the year. It has said it would make staff and programming cuts. 

The Episcopal Church endowment fund was reportedly down 30 percent.

And the list goes on. 

Many, if not most of these organizations depend on gifts and endowments. A prolonged financial crisis could put the future of these organizations in jeopardy, and could reshape our religious landscape forever.

The decline does not bode well for people who rely on these organizations for their charitable work, which has significant public value. It also shows why churches are trying to thrust themselves into the political stage.