Earlier this week I wrote about ways that church leaders can guide their congregations through financial crisis. However, I didn’t have space to address another issue, which may help stabilize income: electronic funds transfers (EFT.)

Brian Kluth, an evangelical pastor and founder of Maximum Generosity, says this type of giving will increase in the future because so many people choose this option for their financial donations.

If churches want to be responsive and help people be faithful givers, electronic and online giving is something they need to seriously examine, Kluth says.

"If you ask 25-year-olds to write a check to your church, they can’t do it because they don’t even own a checkbook," says Kluth, whose congregation has been offering EFT for three years. "They don’t even know what those are. They have debit cards."

One objection that may arise immediately to electronic payments stems from credit cards and the fear that churches will add to the debt burden many families carry.

That is why financial expert Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University obviously cannot "bless" credit card giving, says Vice President Debbie LoCurto. She notes that daveramsey.com includes a disclaimer that it only accepts debit cards or e-checks for online purchases.

"No doubt e-giving can increase giving because of the convenience factor and the open attitude toward e-shopping," LoCurto says. "People are becoming more at ease with online fund transfers of all kinds."

The reality that many families struggle with credit card debt is why Kluth’s church only accepts debit card payments. And, though he didn’t say so, through EFT companies people can make automated payments through a checking account.

Despite the convenience, only 15 percent of Kluth’s congregation has signed up for EFT giving. Yet among those who have, their giving pattern is 100 percent faithful.

"I’ve heard the story that if somebody gives $20 a week to the church, they think they’re giving $1,000 a year, or $20 times 50," he says. "But if you look at the records, they’re actually giving about $700 because a third of the time they’re not there, so they don’t give it."

Whether someone gives $20 a week or $80 a month via EFT, Kluth says the money is always there, which tends to generate steadier cash flow for the church.

Former pastor turned stewardship consultant Rod Rogers also favors electronic donations. While he believes most people want to be faithful givers, he says statistical surveys show that if someone misses a Sunday or goes on vacation they tend to forget their donations during those weeks.

Noting some of the ingrained resistance to EFT giving, Rogers comments, "Churches used to rent pews. Think how that would go over today. Everyone does electronic (payments) when they’re not giving to the church. It can help stabilize the summer slump."

Kluth has encountered objections, particularly from members who say people need to put their gifts in the offering plate. To which he replies, it’s faithfulness that matters, not methods. His church wants to give people as many giving options as possible.

"If you limit to only cash or checks, you are not allowing some people to give, like the 25-year-old who doesn’t have a checkbook," Kluth says. "I tell people if they don’t like it, then don’t use it. We’re not mandating this, we’re giving it as an option."

For churches that want to appeal to younger adults, electronic giving may well be an option whose time has come.