Pros and Cons of Online Giving

Your church does not have to offer “online giving” to do “online giving”

Just use any bill pay service and have a check sent to the financial secretary

Advantages:

• No auto ACH withdrawals that cannot be easily modified or controlled
  
• No fees for the church (unlike the online giving sites that charge a fee - generally paid for by the receiving party)
  
• EZ tracking of donations for tax purposes (but still need to get the annual donation form from the church for tax records)
  
• No usher watching how much or how little you put in the plate
  

I think almost every bank offers online bill pay. https://home.ingdirect.com/ INGDirect , http://www.usaa.com] USAA and others have free bill pay

I predict that in 5 years or less, plate passing will be a obsolete.

[Jim Peet] I predict that in 5 years or less, plate passing will be a obsolete.

Jim,

Two thoughts:

1) I doubt it — at least in some of the little country churches I preach in.

2) While the things you say make sense, I am not sure that the disappearance of “plate passing” would be a good thing.

As one who was trained in the Lutheran church by a “head usher’s head usher” ;), I am not sure I am ready for ushering to become a completely lost art (although in many fundamental churches it is already more “lost” than “art”).

I listened to a sermon the other day by old Dr. Bruce Dunn, who said that the usher can provide the first step toward heaven or hell for the person coming in the door. I fear that without plate passing, many smaller churches will not even consider the importance of ushering.

[Jim Peet]
Just use any bill pay service and have a check sent to the financial secretary

That’s exactly what I do. I started it earlier this year when I finally took the last few things that weren’t handled electronically and found a way to do them electronically (at least on my end). My church doesn’t mind at all. I’m not not the only one doing it, but at the moment, those who do are not in the majority.

I predict that in 5 years or less, plate passing will be a obsolete.

That would be fine with me, although I do like the time of reflection that the offertory allows. I guess you could still have the offertory without the offering and call it something else!

As far as not having a plate, as long as I’ve been visiting my wife’s church in Germany (since 1987), they have always had a box in the back where gifts go. I really like that method. They also have a small “bookstore” that has a box where anything purchased (honor system) goes. Giving that way definitely avoids any kind of show, either putting something in or not doing so.

The article also mentioned mobile giving. As soon as that comes, I’ll definitely be ready for it — that way special offerings and things like that could be handled as easily as regular giving.

[Paul J. Scharf]
I listened to a sermon the other day by old Dr. Bruce Dunn, who said that the usher can provide the first step toward heaven or hell for the person coming in the door. I fear that without plate passing, many smaller churches will not even consider the importance of ushering.

If their ushers are not already trained to do a good job greeting visitors, helping locate rooms/children, get everyone out in an emergency, watch the building during the service, be available for the SS teachers, etc., I doubt that getting them to pass a plate around will change that. Our ushers do all of the above, and we have usher training every couple years. We probably do the “worst” at the actual plate passing (it really is a lost art in fundamental churches), but the other jobs are where the heart of ushering is anyway. Even if we got rid of the plates, ushers would still be necessary.

[dcbii] If their ushers are not already trained to do a good job greeting visitors, helping locate rooms/children, get everyone out in an emergency, watch the building during the service, be available for the SS teachers, etc., I doubt that getting them to pass a plate around will change that. Our ushers do all of the above, and we have usher training every couple years. We probably do the “worst” at the actual plate passing (it really is a lost art in fundamental churches), but the other jobs are where the heart of ushering is anyway. Even if we got rid of the plates, ushers would still be necessary.

Dave,

You make a valid point.

It sounds like you have a good ushering crew in your church — or at least the makings of one!

By contrast, I have seen one IFB church, with a large and complicated building and many open doors, where the head usher’s idea of fulfilling his responsibilities was to line up men for the offering — whether he was able to show up for the service or not. Another fellow’s concept of ushering was sitting with his feet up in the foyer and sleep… — er, uh, watching real careful-like to make sure everything stayed on course. :cry:

By contrast, the man who trained me to usher (referenced above), came up to me as a 14-year-old boy and said, “Son, we don’t like our ushers to stand around with their hands in their pockets — it makes it look like they don’t have anything to do.” A lesson I have never forgottern, BTW. H:)

My church meets in a public school (and BTW Ron Bean is preaching tomorrow, so y’all can pray for him)

We have greeters and ushers specifically trained for specific purposes they can be male or female (except for Hall monitor).

We have folks placed at the front door directing people to the service area or childcare if needed.
We have a person placed at the door to our meeting area directing them further up and further in and getting them a seat if need be.
We have a designated hall monitor who gets up every 10 minutes, checks with childcare staff, and does a walkthrough.
So instead of having ushers, we have volunteers with defined roles.

We don’t pass a plate. We do accept electronic giving in the sense that Jim Peet outlined above. The checks are mailed and then opened at the offering counting. We have a nice box in the back at which people can give if they use paper. Some view giving as an act of corporate worship and would have qualms with not giving at the worship service. Erm. OK, but isn’t writing a check kind of the same thing as going online and filling out a bill pay? What’s the heart difference? None. Each is basically a promise to pay out of one electronic account into another.

One objection I have heard is that the “act of worship” is when the money (or check) is put in the plate. Online giving obviates that act

Other objections:

• There is no spontaneity in giving
  
• It’s just like paying a bill (if you use online bill pay)
  
• It looks like you are not giving anything when the plate passes and you put nothing in
  

For us:

• We do not (or hardly ever) write checks. I did write a check this year to a mason who replaced a brick on the front of my house. I didn’t have the $ 100 I needed to pay him and he did not take a credit card
  
• We hardly ever use cash. Our cash budget between 2 adults is less than $ 80 per month. At any one time I might have $ 20 at most in my wallet and most times about $ 5.00
  

I don’t find any aspect of plate passing particularly ‘worshipful’. It’s usually the last opportunity to get mints or gum out of your purse without being a distraction.

I’ve attended churches with a box in the back of the church for tithes and offerings. Loved that. But we also tithe and give to missions etc… using our credit union’s BillPay service. It took us 6 years to use one box of checks.

To Susan who said:

I don’t find any aspect of plate passing particularly ‘worshipful’.

I meant that the actual act of putting money in the plate is an act of worship.

(I believe that giving is an act of worship)

But the objection I’ve heard is that online giving obviates that act of worship.

[Jim Peet] To Susan who said:

I don’t find any aspect of plate passing particularly ‘worshipful’.

I meant that the actual act of putting money in the plate is an act of worship.

(I believe that giving is an act of worship)

But the objection I’ve heard is that online giving obviates that act of worship.

That’s some really fast worshipping… how long does it take to put a check or envelope in a plate- .03 seconds? About the same amount of time as it takes to click “Confirm” on your BillPay page.

I agree that the act of giving is worship, gratitude, etc…

We don’t pass a plate. We do accept electronic giving in the sense that Jim Peet outlined above. The checks are mailed and then opened at the offering counting. We have a nice box in the back at which people can give if they use paper.

We are in the same situation (school) and do exactly the same thing. We have never passed the plate, and oddly enough the main purpose has more to do with evangelism. Clearly many non-Christians believe, and sadly too often with good reason, that churches are in it for the money. The “box in the back” takes away that moment of grumbling as the plate comes around before the word is proclaimed…”Okay, here’s what they really want.” They are surprised when that never happens.

There is nothing wrong with passing the plate, and some can use that time for reflection in a positive way, but I confess I love it when someone has to ask, “How do you people give around here?”

[Jim Peet]
But the objection I’ve heard is that online giving obviates that act of worship.

I wonder how such objectors would read this:

[Matthew 6:1] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

[Wayne Wilson] There is nothing wrong with passing the plate, and some can use that time for reflection in a positive way…

I’d like to see someone pause for reflection while holding their tithe envelope over the plate…

If we all agree that giving is a form of worship (we should!) I think we should expand our question. Is giving taught in the New Testament as an activity of the gathered church?

Here’s why I think this is a valid test question.

Our modern technological era has made it possible to distribute our pastor’s sermons over the internet. I could stay at home and listen.

Our modern technology has made it possible to edify and encourage other church members via email—I could stay home and do this, too.

Or stay at home and take communion at www.eholycom.com] www.eholycom.com .

Okay…kidding aside….my own view is that “giving” is something that the church does when it comes together, and that the proper NT practice of giving can avoid the sin of Matthew 6:1.

I’m not paid every week, but my wife and I have chosen to divide up our giving so that we participate in the offering each week. I still think its a valid idea, but I have sympathy for those who attend churches where the offering strays from its intended goal of worship. If so, this can and should be addressed by those leading the worship service.

The 21st Century Offering Plate

(One for every usher)