While online giving options are increasing significantly in churches of all sizes, recent research questions whether congregants are utilizing e-giving options when offered, especially in smaller congregations. This short article offers a link to the full research report. (Photo: © James Steidl – Fotolia.com)
Because not everybody is honest, even in church, congregations ought to have guidelines for handling the offering. Guidelines protect the church, the offering and the counters themselves. Here are some suggested guidelines from the West Ohio Conference, UMC. (Photo © James Steidl – Fotolia.com)
Don’t waste those precious moments just before the ushers start to pass the collection plates — use them for “a call to offering” or “stewardship meditation.” You can help set the tone for generosity and cheerful giving. From the Center for Faith & Giving. (Photo by Lisafx, via Bigstock.com)
Many churches calculate their needed monthly offering simply by dividing the yearly budget by 12, and yet everyone knows that the actual giving tends to differ by month and season. There are better ways to calculate what is an adequate gift for any given month, according the United Methodist Church.
