You can read the introduction, who I think is responsible, the current situation, and some things to fix it.
Today I'll answer the question on if I think it is broken.
First from the point of view of the members. A resounding YES. To many of us Christians have spent our money very unwisely (raising hand) and have put us in bondage. Then a $15 dollar a week average is pathetic. I'd like to say its that low because people are giving to other resources, but their not. We are just way to strapped financially to be truly effective.
There are some Christians I know that are debt free (outside of a mortgage), I'm a bit jealous of them. I'll have two bits of debt for many years to come in regards to my student loans and our mortgage, but we are not that far off (in the grand scheme of things) from having our debt evaporate in a quick manner.
Now from the point of view of the church. Another resounding yes. WAY to many churches are on the verge of collapse due to their finances. 2009 will be super tough on these churches as people get scared and stop giving money, on top of others losing their jobs and being unable to give. Churches really need to learn to live well within their means and have some amount of reserve to deal with unexpected, but sizable issues. A family in a strapped state financially affects themselves primarily, a church in a strapped state financially affects many different families.
Now I've spoken bad about my first church a few times in this series, now I am going to take a second to praise them. In the early years of my involvement there they were very bad with finances. But the people in charge of the money were the staff members led by policies written by outside leaders. They spent like drunken sailors. Then when that church started to reap what they sowed and things fell apart. Then some interesting things happen and a church that lived week to week previously had at least (and I'm pretty sure this number is low (very low)) $250,000 in the bank. At this point the leadership was a much more conservative group of men. One of them whose finances have always stunned me. He had a job that is usually held by people that live very extravagant life styles, and honestly probably made enough to live that lifestyle. But he didn't. He led a life that seemed very normal. Still in awe of this mans family. So they started making wise decisions with their money. I'm not sure where they are now financially, but I'd be willing to bet they are in good shape.
So, yes its broken. The question is, is either party willing to do the hard work it requires to fix it?
Now to be true with this series, I don't think it is fixed if everybody started giving 10% to the church. Only if people start giving a sacrificial amount to God. Be it to their church, their favorite mission, whatever... I think if everybody just gave the the church it would result in a very unhealthy dynamic where people just mark tithing off of their list, and don't give much thought to where or why.
I also think there is some responsibility to give some money to your home church. I've honestly been in a few seasons where my heart wasn't prepared to do that, and I withheld from my home church. I think 'for seasons' that is OK, but if its a life long... I'll never give to a church, you have issues that need to be dealt with.