By TOM LAVIS

TLAVIS@TRIBDEM.COM

A poor economy doesn’t always mean less cash for the church collection plate.

With the economy in crisis, there have been reports from around the country about congregations cutting expenses at the very moment many members need help with food, heating bills and gasoline.

However, area clergy are saying that their fundraising and collections have remained steady despite the economic downturn, but how long that will last is unclear.

The Rev. Ronald Carnevali Sr., pastor of Johnstown Grace Brethren Church in the Kernville section of Johnstown, said the sinking economy has had no negative effect on the church’s budget except for the astronomical gas expenses to operate its van when fuel was $4 a gallon.

The church has seen an increase in collections during this difficult economic period, he said.

“There’s no way to explain it except for God’s grace,” he said.

The church has 56 members and sees attendance of nearly 80 people each Sunday.

“Our members have a positive attitude because of the prosperity and revitalization we have seen in our neighborhood,” Carnevali said.

The church is trying to revive the good times it once enjoyed. In the 1950s, Grace Brethren’s rolls boasted 700 members.

The ministry has met the rare requests by members for financial help.

“We have had some ask for help with rent, and we’ve had no difficulty in assisting them,” he said. “Or if someone from the community needs food, we can help, but we do not give cash because we don’t want to contribute to drug or alcohol addictions.”

Members of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Somerset are continuing plans to build a new church despite current economic hard times.

“It’s too early to say if we will scale back or postpone the project, but so far, we have seen no drop of giving,” said the Rev. Keith Fink, who has been pastor for 17 years. “I can’t say what the expected cost will be, but we have outgrown our facility.”

Adding onto the church is not practical because any addition would eliminate the parking lot.

The church’s 320 members continue to support the effort, though they realize the seriousness of the recession.

Fundraising is scheduled to begin in the spring and Fink will have a better idea as far as continuing or downscaling the project.

Building in stages hasn’t been ruled out.

“Construction is some months away, and who is to say that the stock market and our economy won’t rebound,” he said. “We have to have faith.”

A recent report by the Christian research group Empty Tomb Inc. studied six recessions since 1968 and found that donations by church members declined in three and increased in three.

Another study, by Giving USA Foundation, found that religion-related charitable giving fell slightly in six of 11 recession years since 1968.

“All giving is local,” said Jim Sheppard, chief executive of Generis, a consulting firm that helps churches plan fundraising campaigns. “People will give all over the world, but when crunch time comes, they’ll give locally, and nothing is more local than church.”

A good example of generosity in difficult times would be the outpouring by members of First Lutheran Church, 415 Vine St. in downtown Johnstown. They are digging deep to pay for improvements around the church.

The Rev. Eleanor Abarno, pastor, said the poor economy hasn’t impacted a new sidewalk project that is costing $25,000.

The congregation approved an expenditure, and $24,000 already has been pledged.

“Our church is in the heart of downtown Johnstown and we realize the great number of people who use our sidewalks, and our congregation knows that for the sake of the community and our own members, this is an essential expense,” Abarno said.

“We have discovered that people are willing to give to specific projects because bricks and mortar involve people and express a tangible return.”

Abarno has been pastor at First Lutheran for two years and immediately recognized the caring scope of her congregation.

In conjunction with New Day Inc., a Christian outreach to troubled youth and their families, First Lutheran members will donate, cook and serve Thanksgiving dinners to Johnstown’s disadvantaged.

“First Lutheran has a history of being generous to people outside our walls,” she said.

With the church located in the downtown, people frequently come in for help.

Even with the bad economy, the church has not seen any more than the usual number of requests for assistance, but that could change.

“Here come the holidays, so we will take a wait-and-see attitude when it comes to addressing people’s needs,” Abarno said.

The Rev. Jack Rupert, New Day executive director, said he is appreciative of churches such as First Lutheran that can be counted on to provide full meals to the needy in tough economic times.

“They are one of five sites for us that annually serve about 500 people the day before Thanksgiving,” Rupert said.

Ed Kruse, stewardship director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a 4.8 million-member denomination, has been offering tips to pastors with the task of seeking contributions from congregants anxious about the economy.

Kruse suggests they focus on donating as a spiritual discipline, citing Matthew 6:21 – “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.”

“That’s a promise that if we’d like to grow in our faith, one of the ways that will occur is through our giving,” Kruse said.

The Rev. Ken Kelly, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 711 Chestnut St. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown, and SS. Peter & Paul Lutheran churches in Johnstown and Central City, took a much simpler tact when asked about finances.

“If people didn’t care about Christ before the stock market fell, they won’t care about him now,” Kelly said.