Southeast Missouri churches feeling economic pinch

Southeast Missouri's spiritual community, feeling the effects of the economic downturn, is responding by pinching pennies and praying for better times.

The Rev. Bob Towner, pastor at Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau, said 10 or 15 percent fewer people were willing or able to make an annual financial commitment when asked last fall; those who were, gave more.

Still, Towner said, the number of people using the church's monthly food pantry has tripled since last year, from 12 to 15 people a month to nearly 10 per week. During the free community meals the church serves, held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month, he's seeing a gradual increase in attendance and a definite rise in the number of appeals for other help.

"There are more people knocking on my door every day," he said. "But fewer cash donations are coming into the church's benevolent fund. I have to say 'no' more, and I don't like it."

He said if the economy stabilizes, his church should be OK, but if the downturn continues, "we may have to do something serious." He declined to be specific.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comBrian L'Hote adds ink to the printing press at the Association of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Mo.

Other religious leaders echoed Towner.

The Rev. Henry Grodecki, president of the Association of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Mo., does not worry about attendance at Saint Mary's of the Barrens Church or congregant donations. Built in 1929, the public church, with its typically sparse attendance, is the heart of a national shrine. The association is the income producer, with 70 employees and a mission of offering blessings, prayers, the light of electric votives and medals emblazoned with images of Mary in exchange for donations, which Grodecki calls offerings. While larger donors have "probably lost money, like everyone who's invested," Grodecki said, more people are sending offerings in the hopes of better times through prayer.

He worries about the rising cost of postage.

"We send close to 10 million pieces of direct mail out every year. Even at bulk rate, that's a challenge for us," he said. "We're been really appealing to people in terms of the Internet more because it saves postage."

He said the association and churches can hold the line on expenses by delaying capital programs, but church schools, facing rising staffing costs, have less economic wiggle room.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comA display of materials available at the Association of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Mo.

The Rev. Joe Williams, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Perryville, agreed. Some of the 1,800 families in his parish have lost their jobs and struggle to pay tuition, which ranges from $2,100 to $2,800 a year, from preschool to high school seniors.

"For those handful of people who have come to me, my response is, 'Don't worry about it, we'll manage.' That's what we do," Williams said, though he also encourages partial payments when possible. Before making an appeal to church members earlier this year, he faced having to cut as many as six teaching positions.

"People stepped up," he said. "We found maybe a dozen to 20 new or renewed givers."

Williams is working on the next budget, mindful of a directive from the Archdiocese of St. Louis to observe an across-the-board salary freeze.

The Rev. Ron Watts, founder and senior pastor of La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau, said his 2009 budget remained the same as 2008's -- the first time in 20 years without an increase. By trimming some internal costs, Watts was able to justify one new staff position, he said, to help serve the church's 1,400 members.

In December, he asked for help to pay down church debt -- a conservative move -- and "people responded generously."

La Croix's congregation ranges from wealthy members to those on the financial fringes "and everyone in between," Watts said. "We put an emphasis on helping our own and reaching out to folks in need."

La Croix donates to several area food banks, he said, and helps the charitable organization Love Inc.

The Rev. Stan Buckley praised his First Baptist Jackson congregation in an online blog after they gave nearly $200,000 during a February capital campaign drive, noting the church finished 2008 with "$100,454 more than we spent."

The Rev. John Rhodes, pastor of the tiny New Bethel Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau County, four miles east of Pocahontas, said several of his 100-member congregation have been laid off or have had their hours cut.

"I'm seeing it in the collection plate, of course," he said. "We've got some folks that are hurting, and it's difficult in this time. Of course I'm encouraging folks to remember where their strength comes from and who is their provider. It's not the government. It's the Lord."

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent addresses:

101 N. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO

1811 W. Saint Joseph St., Perryville, MO

6137 County Road 525, Jackson, MO

212 S. High St., Jackson, MO

1000 Rosati Court, Perryville, MO

101 N. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO

Miraculous Medal

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