For many years Bethel has used electronic methods to offer members the option to make very secure electronic donations directly from their checking, savings, and credit card accounts. That continues to be available but can now also be done by our members directly, without requiring involvement of Bethel office staff. In addition, payments for classes, events, and purchases (e.g. Bible Study resources) can now also be accomplished online.
It may not be known to everyone, but each of these payment forms has always resulted in a charge to Bethel. For example, when a check is placed in the offering plate and routed to our bank, the bank charges us a per-check fee at the end of each month. Similarly, payments through our online capability also carry per-transaction charges. But we feel it is important to offer these additional payment options to our members to allow them the flexibility of choice, as well as to meet their changing banking preferences.
For more information check the areas below.
Click here to Donate
Q: Can I make Donations through this system?
A: Absolutely! Tax deductible donations can be made using checking, savings, credit and debit cards. We use PushPay, with their federally mandated security methods, to ensure a secure environment for your sensitive information.
These payments can be arranged in multiple ways to include One Time, Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly, or Semi-Monthly payments. Please check the Donations page to explore your options.
Click here to Make a Payment
Q: Can I make other payments through this system?
A: Certainly! In addition to tax deductible donations, Bethel members and visitors often join Bethel classes or attend our social and ministry events such as youth ministry trips. Now Bethel’s e-Payments capability allows you to submit payment for these types of activities directly via our e-Payments page.
In addition, payment options are linked to our Church Community Builder (CCB) website and integrated into pertinent CCB programming invitations and notices.
As with donations, these payments can be arranged in multiple ways to include One Time, Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly, or Semi-Monthly payments. Please check the Payments page to explore your options
Q: What forms of payment can be used?
A: Lots! Payments and donations can be made through Bethel’s online capability using checking and savings accounts, as well as various credit and debit cards. Cards supported are: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.
Bethel does not receive or store your account information. All payment and donation information (e.g., payee, amount, purpose) is provided by PushPay to Bethel to document the payment or donation. Also, donations will be reflected in the member’s periodic donations reports from the congregation.
Q: We hear so much about company accounts being 'hacked.' How secure is this service?
A: Very. We take the security of our member's information very seriously, when we were investigating our options to provide this capability we looked closely at the security environment of the services considered. PushPay uses industry leading technical capabilities to protect user's information.
Q: But how is providing this capability (especially with credit cards) consistent with our ministry emphasis on Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University?
A: It is true that Dave Ramsey's FPU includes an aspect of "cutting up one's credit cards" and avoiding indebtedness. But the essential focus is to manage our finances in a God Pleasing way that reflects responsible financial management. Bethel's approach to providing our e-Payment and e-Donation options has been reviewed by our FPU team leaders and endorsed as an effective option for our members while being consistent with these broad FPU goals. Bethel urges its members to always exercise financial responsibility.
Q: Will a receipt be provided for the payment or donation?
A: Yes. Each online donation or payment, when submitted, will result in a page being displayed that can be printed and act as a receipt for the payment. In addition, if the payer has provided an email address or phone number for texting during the completion of the payment, a receipt will be sent to the address/number provided.
Q: Is there a benefit to registering with the payment and donation system?
A: Yes, but... Registration is not required to use the e-Payment or e-Donation capability. However, if the payer thinks they may use the system more than once registration allows them to enter some of their personal data (e.g., name, address, etc.) only once and then have it available when they return to use the system at a later time.
Q: Is there a version of this page, with access to the service, for tablets and smartphone?
A: Yes. This same link can be used on a tablet or smartphone. On a smartphone the same content will be available but in a more efficiently formatted way. Depending on the size of the tablet the content may be similar to a smartphone or look like the normally formatted content.
Q: Is there an impact to our accounting process?
A: We have already experienced reduced manual handling of payments and donations as well as more accurate documentation. Payments and donations received today via non-electronic means (e.g., a check in the offering plate or presented as payment for Bible-study resources) require significant manual handling and documentation. Paper documentation (e.g., generated by our Sunday Counting Teams) is then manually transcribed by our Financial Secretary to our contributions system. Similarly, checks presented for things such as Mission Trips are also manually documented prior to their being deposited. This new system will reduce the amount of manual handling (both paper and transcription) that is required. In addition, a shift to electronic payments will reduce the amount of cash and checks needing to be physically transferred to our bank. As a whole we believe the system will continue to contribute to more streamlined handling, more accurate documentation of donations and payments, and reduced security risks associated with handling cash and paper checks.
Q: Can new donation or payment options be proposed?
A: Yes. Any Bethel Ministry Team Lead, as well as staff members, can propose the addition of new options. Working with the Finance Team these options can be added to the payments page on a continuing or short-term basis. Because the options need to be connected to our accounting system the Finance Team will coordinate the addition with others such as the Treasurer and the Financial Secretary. (If you are a Team Lead or staff member you can download and submit the Bethel E-Payments & Donations Change Form to the office.)
Q: Where can I find more information?
A: Additional questions can be addressed to Bob Curnow, Bethel's Finance Team Lead.