Electronic Giving FAQs
What options do I have for electronic giving?
There are two primary ways to give to the church electronically. You may either establish an automatic transfer arrangement through the church or you can use your bank’s on-line bill payment services to write recurring checks from your account. If you choose to go through your bank, the check will be mailed to the church and then deposited. If you choose to sign up for electronic giving through the church, the donation will be taken directly from your account automatically bi-monthly or monthly.
May I give a weekly contribution?
No. As the church ventures into this new method of giving, we are starting with a limited contribution schedule of twice a month, monthly or quarterly. This will keep the initial costs of processing to a minimum.
Do I have to bank at the same bank as the church?
No. Banks all over the United States operate these transfers through the Automated Clearing House system. You can bank virtually anywhere.
May I enroll in the automatic transfer at a later date?
Yes. You may enroll anytime throughout the year.
Will I still receive the normal giving statement?
Yes. You will receive the same giving statement that is usually mailed out on a quarterly basis.
Do I have to keep any records?
Yes. You will need to record your bi-monthly or monthly, deduction in your checkbook for your own record keeping purposes.
Do I have to place an envelope into the offering plate?
No, it is not necessary for the transaction to be processed. You may, however, desire to participate in the worship service by placing one of the reusable electronic giving cards in the collection plate. These cards are located in the pews.
Will I still be able to give to special offerings?
Yes. We encourage your participation in special offerings. Those offerings will be collected in the offering plate. The automatic transfer arrangements are general ministry and Power Up contributions only. Many will base their giving amount on the amount of their pledge.
May I change my giving amount?
Yes. We can make adjustments to respond to any changes you choose to make in your pledge; however, we discourage repeated changes throughout the year. Please contact the church office and we will be more than happy to work with you on any necessary changes.
What if an unexpected situation arises with my bank account or financial situation?
If there is a change in your giving amount or a change in your bank account information contact the church as soon as possible and we will respond to your request in a timely fashion. All changes need to be confirmed in writing. If there is an unexpected overdraft in your account, the contribution will not get transferred. There will be no overdraft fee for you or the church. The church will notify you if a contribution does not get transferred.
If you would like to sign up for the automatic transfers, please complete the Authorization Agreement for Preauthorized Offering Payments and send it to the church. We will process your request and begin withdrawing your gift on the next available processing date (See Authorization Agreement). We will process a practice transfer with zero dollar amounts if time permits to make sure all input information is correct. Be sure to put your name and the person to contact if the church needs additional information or clarification. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Art Looney or Robin Sachlis at the church office 703-591-3120.