Church giving turns digital

"At first there was a lot of concern that churches were helping people get into greater debt," Mr. Thiede says. "I'm not sure that's gone away totally, but more churches are saying they'll do everything to encourage people to be financially responsible, but leave the decision to them."

Still, some steer clear of the credit-card option. At Christ's Church of the Valley in Phoenix, they've had automated giving for close to three years and make it available online, but they don't take credit cards.

"We went through a series on 'Getting Out of Debt,' and ... talked about getting rid of credit cards," explains Jon Edmiston, the church's director of information technology and communications. "So we didn't want to turn around and say, 'But you can give on your credit card!' "

On the other hand, ParishPay, which went into business in 2001 and serves 8 million parishioners, has found credit-card payments very popular.

"After three years, we surveyed 25,000 families using our service, and 55 percent used a credit card, while 45 percent gave through their bank account," says Tim Dockery, ParishPay's president.

They also found that 80 percent of those paying by credit card would not have signed up if the only option were debiting their bank account. They liked the added security, flexibility – and getting affinity points or frequent flier miles.

That kind of response worries some people, who say automated methods take away from giving as a part of worship, or turn it into a passive experience.

Mr. Dockery disagrees. "In the ideal world, our gift back to God is a thoughtful, prayer-filled response of generosity for what God has given us," he says. "But when the plate gets passed in most churches, I see a fumbling of wallets, a scramble in purses.... Our program gives people the ability to prayerfully decide what they want to give on a monthly basis and build discipline into their budget."

Yet there is the potential of being inspired to give during a service, or of responding to a new mission a church may undertake.

"People tend to give when they are ... thinking about the Lord's work," says the Rev. Marty Baker, founding pastor of Stevens Creek Church in Augusta, Ga.

About five years ago, Dr. Baker pondered how to enable members to donate electronically while at church. When a search turned up no options, he created a "giving kiosk" that features a PIN-secure pad like those at gas stations. Church members gave $100,000 via the kiosk the first year, and $200,000 the second (in 2006). "That's about 20 to 25 percent of our total income," he says.

The experience sparked interest beyond his own church, and Baker formed SecureGive to make the capability available to other churches and nonprofits. The giving kiosks will be in 34 other locations by the end of August.

Some people worry that the use of such technology commercializes what should be a sacred responsibility. But Baker says it's the motive that counts.

"The gift still comes from the heart," he adds. "This is just ... our financial system growing."

Page: 1 | 2