The National Association of Church Business Administration on Friday released a survey of its members to try to answer the question: how is the economic recession impacting congregations? 

“Although the survey found a less-than-dire affect there seems to be a worsening condition than in August of 2008.”

More highlights:

*32 percent said their church was definitely having economy-related financial difficulties, up from 14 percent in an August survey.
*63 percent said their church saw giving stay the same or climb in 2008 over the previous year.
*Only 24 percent said had curtailed mission activities because of the economy. But that’s up from10 percent in the August survey.
*47 percent said their church had frozen or reduced staff benefits, up from 18 percent in August.
*20 percent said they had staff layoffs, and 26 percent reported postponing a major capital project. Those were up from August as well.