Credit now acceptable at church
'Giving Kiosks' offer innovative tithing
ELI DILLARD
Issue date: 9/21/07"Cash, check or credit accepted here" is a statement heard at the restaurants on Fridays, the movies on Saturdays and now some churches on Sundays.
While the phenomenon of tithing with a credit card may produce mixed emotions in congregations, some don't see it going away.
"It's a nationwide trend that's happening, primarily because of how people do money," said Phill Martin, deputy chief executive officer of the National Association of Church Business Administration.
The company that started this new way of tithing, Secure Give, makes "Giving Kiosks" where church members can swipe their cards and donate.
Other members still can place their tithes in the traditional plate or basket.
Tom Camp, an ordained United Methodist clergy, works at the Samaritan Counseling Center of Northeast Georgia in Athens, consulting and training churches around issues such as change and conflict.
"Some churches in Athens and northeast Georgia will accept this way of giving because they are open to technology and to innovations in ministry," Camp said. "Some will be more hesitant because it can feel like commercialism in the church."
No churches or organizations in Athens have "Giving Kiosks," but the idea is floating around.
Vivian Benedict, financial adviser for the Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, said they started automatic debits as a way of tithing and that it could take a while to catch on.
"Out of 400 members, probably only 10 have signed up for the automatic debit option, and I thought more would have signed up," Benedict said.
"Yes, churches will accept it, but it will take some time," Camp said.
Marty Baker, CEO of Secure Give, began producing the first version of a "Giving Kiosk" in 2005 and started putting them in churches in 2006.
"After examining my own life, I realized that I live with a debit card in my hand and wondered if there were others like me," said Baker, the pastor of Stevens Creek Community Church in Augusta.
"When I first heard about Secure Give, I thought the idea was outrageous and had little potential for communal acceptance," said Lauren Kelly, a microbiology and Spanish major from Alpharetta.
"We live in a nation that innovates technology daily and, thus, in my opinion the act of financially donating to churches, hospitals and memorial foundations should follow in suit with such advancements."
