After mulling over this issue for a while I think I may be changing my mind.Credit_church_0727 

For a number of years I was opposed to any sort of credit card or automatic giving to the church.  I just thought that people should write out a check because…

  1. When you write a check you think about what you are doing.  It reinforces your act of worship.
  2. I was just plane uncomfortable with the church looking like a business and doing automatic width drawls.
  3. America has serious debt issues and giving via an automatic width drawl can add to debt – especially if that giving is from a credit card.

But the more I consider it the more I believe that electronic giving may be not only a good thing for the church to do.  Here is why my mind is changing.

  1. Automatic giving can help with the churches cash flow issues.  I know of a number of people who do not give in the summer because they are away.  Then, in the fall, they make it up.  Well….bills gotta be paid in the summer, don’t they?
  2. IRS rules are changing.  One now needs documentation for charitable giving when the amount is less than $250.  It used to be okay to have a simple receipt of some sort should you ever be audited but now we need to provide more.  Automatic and electronic giving will provide that documentation.
  3. Let’s face it…the world is changing.  More and more of life is happening electronically.  This includes our financial transactions.  While one can argue that debt is a spiritual issue, it is hard to argue that electronic transactions are.  Will the church be the last to change on this issue?
  4. Many people like to milk the credit card system.  I love my free rewards card and if I could add to my rewards by giving to the church, I would.  I do not carry a balance and my rewards allow me to do cool things for my family that we could not otherwise afford. 

My mind is not made up, but I am starting to lean towards feeling okay about it.  While this may not yet be on the radar screen of your church, it will be soon, so start thinking.

What prompted to to revisit this issue anew was an article in Time.  For further thoughts, read the comments on this issue from last fall on Monday Morning Insight.