Kevin Wright is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church with over a decade of experience working in various churches. He currently serves as the Chief Program Officer at an organization in New York City that helps prepare under-resourced youth for college and career readiness. He holds an M.Div from Duke Divinity School and resides in Manhattan.
As the job losses mounted, the number of tithes and offerings coming in each week dropped precipitously. Church budgets bled red ink and congregations began laying off staff and selling property in order to keep the lights on. But that was back in 2008 during the Great Recession.