The earliest worshippers brought their gifts to the altar from the tangible fruits of their labor ”“ be it crops, sheep, or cattle. Coins came later, then paper money, followed by checks. Now, as society moves toward an era of “digital money,” houses of worship are scurrying to keep pace with the times.
The collection plate won’t disappear any time soon, but many churches have begun offering electronic-giving options, including automatic deductions from bank accounts and payment by credit or debit card. A few are even experimenting with a “giving kiosk” in the lobby.
This shift away from just dropping cash into the weekly collection got an extra nudge this year from the Internal Revenue Service, which is mandating receipts for charitable tax deductions.
For houses of worship, the main impetus toward electronic giving has been to respond to churchgoers’ changing lifestyles. But churches themselves are benefiting from the regularized giving and the often increased contributions that come with expanded giving options.