Separation of church and plate - Roanoke.com

Separation of church and plate - Roanoke.com: "What's in your wallet?

That's something churches are pondering when it comes to passing the offering plate. As parishioners carry less cash, some churches are adapting by allowing electronic giving.

Churches, which rely on their members to keep the doors open, are experimenting with alternatives such as credit cards and automatic bank withdrawals from parishioners' accounts.

An impetus is a new federal law that requires paper records for any charitable deduction congregants claim on their federal tax returns. As of Jan. 1, greenbacks dropped in the collection plate aren't deductible, and that could result in fewer donations to churches."