Economic Stimulus Checks Fund Faith Projects

At McLean's church, if all members give 10 percent of their rebates, the congregation could raise $40,000, said the Rev. Paul Shupe, the senior pastor. The congregation's charities include mission work for the homeless and hungry and the youth group's trip to the Pacific Northwest later this month.

"We're using it as a teaching moment for us, an opportunity to think about our wealth and our resources and our responsibility," Shupe said.

Although charity is important, church leaders must also make sure that members who need the money know it's all right to keep it, said Bishop Paul W. Stumme-Diers of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He recently urged ELCA leaders at a national conference to ask congregants to donate, but only if they can afford to do so.

"This is not to lay a guilt trip on people, but rather it's an invitation for those who are really able to give beyond the usual amounts because of this unexpected windfall," he said.

His family of four -- with one child younger than 17 -- expects to get $1,500 back, and all of it will go to charity. The family will decide together how it will be divided.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, an umbrella group for the nation's 125 Jewish community relations councils and national agencies, is grappling with similar concerns.

The council doesn't want to issue a mandate on donating, especially if people are in need, but hopes that those who are financially able will consider giving, said Rabbi Steve Gutow, the council's executive director.

McLean and his wife plan to donate at least 10 percent of their rebate, and he hopes his fellow congregants will follow suit.

"I'm just feeling there'll be a lot of people in our church that say, 'Geez, the tithing of 10 percent? Since it's kind of a windfall, we can make it more,' " he said.