The Church Number: $35.00 (Most Don't Know It)

Article by: Thom S. Rainer

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“Numbers can’t capture the full heart of ministry, but they can shine a light on trends, challenges, and opportunities that would otherwise remain hidden.”

Every Church Has a Number - But Most Don’t Know It

In this first installment, I want to talk about a number that quietly influences nearly every aspect of church life—budgets, staffing, outreach, missions, and even the long-term health of the congregation. It’s called Weekly Per Capita Giving, or WPCG. In its simplest form, WPCG is the giving of the church per attendee each week. Most churches have never calculated this number, yet it can be one of the clearest windows into financial health and stewardship habits.

Over the years, I’ve seen churches of every size use this number as a reality check. It helps pastors set realistic budgets, plan for future ministry, and assess whether their financial patterns are healthy or drifting. In this article, I’ll argue that the median WPCG across most churches is about $35.00, a number that aligns with our consultation work. While national research reports a slightly higher figure, understanding why those numbers differ can give leaders both insight and hope.

The Weekly Per Capita Giving (WPCG) Tells a Big Story in a Small Number

WPCG might sound like just another financial metric, but it tells a surprisingly big story in a very small number. It’s calculated by taking a church’s total giving for the year, dividing it by the average weekly attendance, and then dividing that result by 52 weeks. For example, if a church receives $182,000 in total gifts in a year and averages 100 people in attendance, the WPCG is $35.00. That means the average attender gives $35.00 per week to the church. It’s a simple calculation, but it packs a lot of meaning.

It’s important to note that the attendance number includes everyone—children, youth, and adults—not just those who give. This makes the WPCG a conservative measure, but that’s actually one of its strengths. It shows what the church is receiving per person present, regardless of age or ability to give. It reflects the full community the church is serving each week.

This number helps churches move beyond guesswork. It reveals how engaged people are financially and how realistic your budget may be. It also levels the playing field. A church of 75 people with a WPCG of $40.00 may be just as financially healthy as a church of 750 people with a similar number. When you track WPCG over time, you start to see patterns—growth, decline, plateaus—that often mirror the church’s overall vitality.

In a world where many pastors feel overwhelmed by spreadsheets and financial statements, WPCG offers clarity. It doesn’t solve every problem, but it gives church leaders one solid number to monitor and evaluate regularly. And most importantly, it starts a conversation about stewardship that is grounded in reality.

Why WPCG Isn’t a Perfect Number

As helpful as WPCG is, it’s not without its flaws. Like any number, it has limits—and wise church leaders need to understand where it can fall short.

First, WPCG doesn’t account for the socioeconomic realities of your community. A church in a low-income neighborhood will naturally have a lower WPCG than one in an affluent suburb, even if both churches are equally healthy and faithful. Comparing your WPCG to another church across town—or across the country—can be misleading if you don’t consider the financial background of the people you’re reaching.

Second, WPCG can go up for the wrong reasons. If your attendance drops but giving stays the same, your WPCG will rise—but that doesn’t mean your church is thriving. In fact, it may be a warning sign that fewer people are carrying more of the financial load.

Third, a church can have a low WPCG if its attendees are disproportionately young (children and youth don’t give much), or if it has a number of new Christians. Those new believers often know nothing about biblical generosity and stewardship.

Finally, WPCG can be skewed by one or two large givers. If a single donor gives an unusually large gift, it will raise your WPCG temporarily, but that may not reflect your true financial health over time. This is why WPCG should be viewed as one helpful indicator—not the only one.

What Your Church Can Learn from Its Own WPCG

You don’t need a research team to learn something powerful—you just need to calculate your own church’s WPCG. Once you know that number, it can become one of the most helpful tools in your leadership toolbox. It gives you a realistic picture of your church’s financial foundation, and it can guide your decisions without relying on guesswork or comparisons to churches in very different situations.

Start with a simple formula: take your total giving from the past 12 months, divide it by your average weekly worship attendance (including children and youth), and then divide by 52. That’s your WPCG. If you’ve never done this before, the number might surprise you. Whether it’s higher or lower than the national average or our consultation median, the real value comes in tracking it over time.

WPCG can help you set a reasonable budget, spot unhealthy financial trends, or celebrate steady faithfulness. It can also alert you if a small number of givers are carrying too much of the load or if a decline in attendance is masking financial strain.

You don’t have to chase someone else’s number—but you should know your own. That one figure can provide insight, stability, and even hope for the road ahead.

Don’t Be Discouraged—Be Informed and Intentional

Learning your church’s WPCG isn’t about judgment—it’s about clarity. Whether your number is above $50.00, below $35.00, or somewhere in between, it doesn’t define your faithfulness or effectiveness. Every church has a unique story, shaped by its people, community, and calling.

The goal isn’t to hit a certain number—it’s to understand where you are and lead wisely from there. A low WPCG isn’t a failure; it might reflect a young congregation, a struggling community, or a season of transition. A high WPCG doesn’t mean you can relax; it might be propped up by a few generous givers or declining attendance. Either way, the number is a tool, not a verdict.

Use it to start healthy conversations, shape thoughtful stewardship strategies, and plan your ministry with insight. WPCG won’t tell you everything, but it can point you in the right direction.

In the end, it’s not about the number—it’s about the people behind it, and the ministry ahead of you. Knowing your church’s WPCG simply helps you serve them better. And that’s something worth measuring.