In a recent article in the Austin American-Statesman, Eileen Flynn explored the trend of online church donations and in-house ATM kiosks in lieu of the offering plate. No cash or checks necessary, just a swipe of the card.
What do you think of this practice, particularly the ATM transactions in the church lobby? Is this just another opportunity for the church to contextualize its forms or are there greater issues at stake in this form of the offering? As Flynn points out, writing checks in church would have been radical at one point in time. Thoughts?