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| Author | Topic: Church installs ATM |
| ACP |
posted 11/3/03 7:33 AM
Church installs ATM Associated Press CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- At the Unity Center of Peace Church, there's no more excuses about being a little light on cash. There's now an automatic teller machine in the lobby. Unity, with a congregation of about 100, may be the only church around to offer members this kind of chance to give electronically. Unlike a typical ATM machine, withdrawals aren't allowed. So far, a minority of church members has used the new terminal. That is fine with the Rev. Steve Colladay, the church pastor. ``We don't harangue people about financial giving,'' Colladay said. ``As children of God, we don't believe people are going to hell if they don't give. But we believe it's in our nature to give.'' Church member George Smart had the original inspiration. ``I was worried when I went before the board,'' said Smart, a Durham business consultant. ``I thought they would think it was too `out there.' But they were very receptive. A small church is always asking for money. I told them, `We have to consider making it easier to give.''' The church board agreed more people are making financial transactions electronically. They don't like to write checks, and they don't like to carry a lot of cash. So why not collect electronically? The money is deposited in the church's account. At least $100 is donated electronically each Sunday, with most people making a $20 donation before services, the church secretary said. Most people drop the receipt the machine spits out into the church's wooden offering bowl. ``The philosophy behind this is convenience,'' said Phillip Hall, the church treasurer. The terminal accepts both credit and debit cards. Unity is a Christian-based denomination that emphasizes prayer's positive power. Services typically include a guided meditation, music ranging from classical to New Age, and a closing prayer where all lock hands while standing in a circle. Considering its modern approach to worship, it is no surprise the church embraced Smart's bank machine inspiration. ``I always thought of a church as being old and stodgy,'' congregant Mary Ann Warner said. ``So it took me awhile to get used to the fact that we're using new technology. But now I find it really useful. I use my debit card for so many things, I might as well use it here.'' ``What Unity has done is to give people access to a terminal in an open environment that encourages electronic transactions,'' said Michael Amend, director of First Bankcard Systems in High Point, the company that leased the terminal to the church. ``Some of the more traditional churches would never swallow it,'' Amend said. ``But people are carrying less cash, and they're going to have to go electronic sometime.'' for more information on how your church can benefit from a Cashless ATM machine please visit us at http://www.americancreditprocessing.com http://www.americancreditprocessing.com |
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