The Arizona Republic
Digital Stewardship
More of the faithful give through the Internet, donate with plastic
Russ WilesApril 7, 2007
Welcome to religious giving in the 21st century.
No longer do Americans have to write checks or dig into their wallets for crumpled dollar bills when it comes time to make donations. These days, churchgoers and those of other faiths increasingly are wiring contributions via the Internet or making them with the swipe of a credit or debit card.
The trend, which allows members to give at any time and without attending a service, is not without controversy. Some religious denominations, for example, have strict limits on credit-card usage and require that they be paid off every month. Others don't want donors to go into debt to make contributions.
Still, many groups say credit, debit and electronic payments are handy tools that reflect consumer preferences.
"It's a matter of convenience," said Natalie Hearn, bookstore director at Radiant Church in Surprise, which allows members to make donations or buy books or other merchandise with either a credit or debit card. "A growing percentage of the population doesn't carry cash or checks."
Credit and debit transactions at religious organizations rose 21 percent in 2006 over the prior year's level, card-sponsor Visa reports.
"It's a growing category for us," said Bill Dobbins, Visa's vice president for merchant relations in Wilmington, Del.
Religious groups enjoy streamlined record keeping and don't have to mess with envelopes, process checks or handle cash, though they do face transaction fees.
Donors, meanwhile, receive records of giving that are handy for income-tax purposes and can arrange for payments on a regular schedule, if they want. Plus, they can earn rewards.
"A lot of people using credit cards do it for the points," said Dave Swisher, administrator at Mountain Park Community Church in Ahwatukee.
The trend isn't limited to Christians. For instance, Jews can make donations with credit and debit cards to support Jewish organizations and charities, and even Muslims use credit cards for religious purposes despite Islam's prohibition on interest.
"We pay off our credit cards every month, so we don't pay interest," said Mohammed AbuHannoud, a director at the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Phoenix. "Credit cards are allowed; interest is prohibited."
Mountain Park Community Church has accepted credit and debit cards for the past few years, and now the group is working with Bank of America to set up a service allowing members to make automatic payments via the Internet.
"The trend is for us to go online because a lot more people want to pay their bills online," said Swisher, who estimates that 15 percent of weekly giving at Mountain Park is done this way. "The biggest benefit for the church is people don't have to be here to do it."
That's a notable point given that roughly three in four American adults claim a religious affiliation but only 20 percent attend services each week, according to a survey last year by the Giving USA Foundation. Members who sign up for automated payments can make sure their donations get there, even when they don't.
"There's definitely a benefit to us in that it provides smoother income," said Jon Edmiston, director of information technology/communications at Peoria-based Christ's Church of the Valley. The church accepts automated payments but not credit transactions out of concern for not wanting to add to its members' debts.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix raises more than $10 million a year for its charity and development program to provide funding for the poor, missions, seminary training and more. Roughly one-third of that comes from plastic, mainly credit cards, and the proportion has been rising.
"It's definitely a growing trend," said Katie McLaughlin, director of stewardship for the diocese. She expects credit and debit donations to increase further once the diocese starts accepting online payments within the next year or so.
Pastor Marty Baker of Stevens Creek Church in Augusta, Ga., recognized the benefits associated with credit and debit cards, especially when so many people don't carry much cash. That's why he launched a for-profit business called SecureGive that sells special credit- and debit-payment kiosks for use at churches.
"People had never seen a machine like this in a church before, but they've warmed up to it," Baker said of the reception from his own congregation.
In ancient times, worshipers often brought produce, animals or other food as offerings, he said, adding that coins came next, followed by currency, then personal checks.
"This is just an evolution of our financial system," Baker said. "Our church is all about breaking down barriers and connecting with the popular culture."
As noted, Christ's Church of the Valley doesn't let members charge their donations on credit and, like many churches, offers debt-management classes for people facing money woes.
"We don't want people to use credit cards to incur debt," Edmiston said.
Still, the church does embrace automated electronic giving, which represents about 35 percent of contributions.
"This is a tool," he said of electronic payments. "The methods change, but the (religious) message stays the same."
