White Paper  Religious Liberty  Citizenship

Some Positive Benefits Churches Bring to Communities

The American founders viewed churches as a central institution within American life, because religion provided the moral foundation of self-restraint and community awareness necessary for the success of republican self-government. Many believed that the American experiment would not succeed without the moral training churches provided to citizens. Churches, surely, have contributed to the success of America by encouraging virtue, but social science research has also shown that churches provide direct and indirect economic and social benefits to communities. Churches provide valuable contributions to communities in the areas of direct economic contributions, social services and community volunteering, education and civic skills training, and reduced levels of deviance.

These benefits positively improve communities in direct and indirect manners, and they enhance political stability and the long-term health of communities. This paper will outline some examples of each cited by prominent social science researchers, developing the argument that churches bring benefits to communities that outweigh the loss of revenue from their tax exempt status. In fact, if it were not for churches, government would have to expend public funds to replace the community benefits that churches provide. Overall it is clear that churches bring positive benefits to communities, and their role in the community as a beneficial, nonprofit institution should be maintained.



Key Takeaways

Communities with churches see an economic boost through an increased population base for local consumer businesses, as well as increased levels of charitable work from the members of the surrounding area.

Churches and congregations contribute socially to their communities in propagating shared values and norms leading to decreased levels of crime and a higher rate of achieving educational goals.

Communities with churches report higher levels of healthy practices including increased physical health, mental health, and longevity of life.

Related Content

mental health from a Christian perspective

How to think about mental health from a Christian perspective

Mental health is a complex topic in need of serious and compassionate thought from...

Read More
cultural engagement

The New Challenges of Cultural Engagement

How Christian Leaders Can Respond Courageously, Cooperatively, and Locally

This is a unique moment in the history of American Christianity: Legal protections for...

Read More
life and religious liberty

Life and Religious Liberty: The Issues Baptists Must Pursue for the Long Run

From Election Cycles to Cathedral Building

When Baptist U.S. Congressman Brooks Hays addressed the Baptist World Alliance in Copenhagen in...

Read More

3 common myths about religious liberty

Where does the Baptist commitment to religious liberty originate? The Universal Declaration of Human...

Read More
parental rights

“Teach Them Diligently to Your Children”

A Biblical and Theological Foundation for Parental Rights

In September 2023, a superior court judge in San Bernardino County, California, blocked a...

Read More
believe

The role of plausibility and community in shaping beliefs 

Understanding the significance of worldviews

Why do you believe what you believe? The most common reason people will give...

Read More