Credit Cards Replace Cash In Collection Baskets
Churches, Synagogues, and other religious gathering places have been taking collections and tithes since antiquity. Because such organizations may have a more traditional or conservative approach, they are often slow to adopt newer payment processing technologies, and by contrast their younger parishoners may only be carrying debit and credit cards, but very little paper currency. Fortunately, the church donation kiosk allows for payments to the collection plate, church camps, vacation bible schools, and specially designated missions. You can even get a receipt to put in an envelope so you don't look like a freeloader when the basket gets passed your way.
Tithing kiosks come in a few different shapes and sizes, which is good because churches are the same way. For bigger congregations, you can get something that looks more akin to an ATM, except that is doesn't dispense money. Smaller groups can make an iPad or Tablet into a kiosk using apps and software. Desktop computers and touchscreen laptops may also double as kiosks, but many churches like to have the electronics mounted into a wood-framed edifice that matches the grandeur of the venue. Standalone kiosk devices are available from a number of companies who may supply them with or without all the necessary equipment.
Designate Which Projects Get Money
Giving kiosk hardware and software allows for the creation of specialized categories where money can be channeled. A person could donate to one or more projects, such as a mission or a collection for a family in need.
The key consideration for church groups looking to modernize and accept credit cards should involve how that device processes and which processor accepts the money. The first major factor involves whether the software can be reprogrammed to work with any processing company. Some sellers may be offering a discount on the equipment because they will be taking a very high percentage of the donation. Others may be getting their money from credit card terminal leasing or rental. You should not be tied down to any merchant services company if you want to take cards. Secondarily, you should investigate the processor to make sure your tithe monies are not comingled with enterprises to which your church members would object. All you need is one busybody to point out that the processor also takes its money from unsavory enterprises, and you will have a tempest in a teapot. There are several good merchant services companies that only work with upstanding businesses as a matter of principle and risk aversion.
Debates Related to Donation and Tithing Kiosks
The key debate vis a vis the donation kiosk lies in the fact that there are processing fees associated with debit and credit card. Once upon a time, a guy got into a lot of trouble for overturning tables in a temple because he believed that visitors were getting a bad exchange rate for their tithe donations. Therefore, some of the more astute attendees of the Bible Study program may note a certain similarity between returning only $97.50 out of a $100 deduction. Some other concerns about using borrowed money to make contributions is that folks on fixed incomes may be overcontributing, or actually borrowing money in order to provide for the flock. Fans of the Book of Matthew may even be against the public nature of giving altogether, considering that the text in red states that things like giving and prayer only count if they are totally anonymous, and the "right hand does not know what the left hand is doing." Basically, if you go out of your way to show that you contribute, then you are doing it for your own glorification and it does not get registered in the place where it matters, and so on the Day of Judgment you are having your accounts settled up and it comes out that all the stuff you did to be seen, like genuflecting on the goal line, was just for show while your neighbor made intrinsically bigger contributions despite the fact that the monetary amount was indeed fractional to your shows of largesse. Rembember the story of the Widow's mite, where the poorest person gave all she had, versus the wealthy who gave a fraction. Also, if you read Acts 4:32 through 5:10 you may come to the conclusion that if you don't give every part of your wealth to the church, and hold back anything, then death comes quickly.
(For the purposes of this monograph we are, of course, excluding Reverend Moonbeam's Temple of the Magic Sugar Cube, which only accepts donations in the form of herbal supplements and personal services.)