Church Finance Trends 2026

Griffin Team

January 26, 2026

A listening-based research brief from U.S. church leaders

Above-the-Fold Editorial Introduction

Church finance is entering a more complex chapter in 2026—marked by economic uncertainty, shifting giving patterns, and growing operational pressure on leadership teams.

This research reflects the voices of 113 U.S.-based church leaders, offering a grounded view of how churches are thinking and planning for the year ahead. Rather than forecasting outcomes, it documents what leaders are actually experiencing—and how they are responding.

Purpose: to provide clarity, not prediction.

Why This Research Was Conducted

The year ahead presents challenges that are not purely financial.

Church leaders are navigating:

Lingering economic pressure on congregations
Rising operating and facility costs
Increased scrutiny around financial stewardship
Decision fatigue at the board and senior leadership level

In this environment, speculation is easy—and often misleading.

This research was conducted because listening is more responsible than guessing. Instead of projecting assumptions onto churches, this effort focused on capturing how pastors, treasurers, and boards are thinking in real time.

Churches are not uniform. Their voices deserve to be heard as they are—not simplified, optimized, or reframed for narrative convenience.

Research Method (Brief & Transparent)

Respondents: 113 U.S. church leaders
Roles represented: Senior pastors, executive pastors, finance committee members, treasurers, and board leaders
Timing: Conducted in late 2025
Method: Anonymous survey

Important note:
This research is descriptive, not predictive. It reflects reported perspectives at a moment in time and should be read as directional insight—not financial advice or universal truth.

Core Insights from Church Leaders

The following themes emerged consistently across responses:

1. Caution Is Replacing Expansion

Many leaders report a shift away from aggressive growth planning toward more conservative, sustainability-focused decision-making.

2. Financial Confidence Varies Widely

While some churches report stability, others describe heightened concern around cash flow, reserves, and future giving reliability.

3. Boards Are More Involved Than Before

Financial decisions are increasingly shared across leadership teams, with boards taking a more active role in oversight and long-term planning.

4. Stewardship Language Is Becoming Central

Leaders are placing renewed emphasis on responsibility, transparency, and restraint—both internally and in communication with congregations.

5. Uncertainty Is Driving Deliberation

Rather than urgency, many churches describe slower decision cycles, longer discussions, and a desire to avoid irreversible commitments.

These insights are not signals of weakness. They reflect prudence under complexity.

How to Read the Full Report

This report is designed to:

Surface patterns in church financial thinking
Support leadership conversations
Encourage thoughtful planning

It is not intended to:

Predict economic outcomes
Recommend specific financial actions
Rank or evaluate churches

Leaders are encouraged to use this research as a conversation tool, not a decision substitute.

Full Report Access

The complete Church Finance Trends 2026 report provides:

Detailed charts and distributions
Role-based response breakdowns
Contextual interpretation notes

The full research report is available here.

Church Finance Trends 2026 Survey Report

About Griffin Church Loans

Griffin Church Loans has worked alongside churches for over 26 years, supporting leadership teams through periods of growth, transition, and uncertainty.

This research reflects a stewardship-first posture: listening carefully, documenting responsibly, and contributing insight without pressure or agenda.

This research was conducted by Griffin Church Loans as part of its ongoing effort to listen to and learn from church leaders nationwide.