For many churchgoers, giving money is not a choice; it’s a mandate in scripture.

Perhaps that’s why some Westmont church leaders are taking the economic downturn in stride, despite their sole reliance on congregation donations to keep the electricity running and their  pastors paid.

“We’ve been doing pretty well as far as donations,” said the Rev. Paul Pfotenhauer of Bethel Lutheran Church in Westmont. “I know there’s concern about the economy. We’ve seen some of it dip off, but this is usually a big time of year for us in terms of donations, so we are waiting to see.”

Each fall members pledge their giving amounts during the church’s stewardship campaign, Pfotenhauer said, which the church uses to prepare its general expense and special projects budgets.

Though he didn’t know the precise amount, Pfotenhauer said pledges for 2009 were down this year, which he attributed to the economy. Additionally, enrollment at the Early Learning Center, a preschool run by the church, also is down, probably the result of people having less disposable income.

But Pfotenhauer is not worried.

“If we’re in need, people will step up,” he said. “Most of the congregation knows God has blessed them, and people are generous. They realize where their gifts have come from.”

At West Hills Community Church, the Rev. Drew Bekius said he hasn’t noticed much of a decline in giving, though he has noticed the economy affecting the small congregation — which averages about 45 members per service — in other ways.

“We’ve had quite a few layoffs in the last year,” he said, adding the church was able to help one out-of-work member by giving him a part-time job in the church office.

However, Bekius said even if the economic slump does trickle down to the church — which he thinks will probably happen to some degree in the coming year — the church’s low overhead does leave wiggle room. It owns its building and has some savings.

Tithing, or giving 10 percent of one’s income back to God, is a principle practiced at many religious institutions and described frequently throughout the Bible. While churches could feel an impact from the recent spike in unemployment numbers, a bad economy is not an indicator of decreased giving, according to an official at empty tomb, a Christian research organization based in Champaign.

“The concept of giving has religious roots in this country,” said Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of  empty tomb. “So people who attend feel accountable, and therefore they would continue to give. That would explain why there is no clear pattern.”

The pattern she references was a study performed by the organization in February that examined “giving per church member” during the last six recessions between 1968 and 2005.

In exactly half of the recession years, giving actually increased, while in the other three years it decreased.

“So what we found was that church giving does not directly respond to the economy,” Ronsvalle said. “Part of the reason is that people view church giving just beyond the family. If they are going to cut back, it (the church) isn’t the first place they are going to cut back.”

While the majority of Westmont churches who returned calls for this story did not notice a significant decline in donations from members, they are noticing a rise in the number of people needing their charity.

During Holy Trinity Catholic Church’s annual giving tree program, in which members purchase gifts for needy people around the community, a church official said there was an increase in calls from people needing gifts.

Likewise at West Hills, more people have been seeking the $25 Aldi gift certificates or free tank of gas that the church provides to needy local residents. The charitable gifts are funded by member donations earmarked for a special “benevolent fund.”

“We’re getting a little slender on our resources,” Bekius said.