During a recent presentation at a national conference, I was approached by a young adult who was interested in additional information about the generosity trends among different generations.  She provided me with a few ways to deliver the information to her, one of which was “old fashioned e-mail.”  For me, postal mail, often termed “snail mail,” is bordering on old fashioned.  She did not even mention this option.  I spend hours each day communicating through e-mail to pastors and organizational leaders.  While I know that younger generations consider e-mail passé, I was quite struck during this conversation with a young adult when she associated e-mail with a rather archaic form of communication. 

The conversation was so fitting for the moment – a workshop on differences in generational giving.  I had talked all the way through the various differences, but this brief post workshop conversation and my startled response were clear indicators to me that I, too, am from a different generation than Generation X or Y.  A natural sense of discomfort exists between some generational practices.  Thus, it is not surprising that the perspective of one generation may be viewed with a sense of anxiety, or perhaps even criticism, by another generation.

Do you notice some of these generational differences in your church or ministry organization?  They may appear in conversations over worship, music, facility usage, communication, evangelism – in fact, just about any area of ministry.  And, yes, giving!  I admire those persons who can at least understand and maybe practice the trends of other generations.  Certainly, I am not implying that these trends are so well-established that fluidity does not occur between generations.  For instance, multi-generations may be found in most contemporary worship services.   Yet, generations do have their preferences or leanings.

In the area of giving, younger generations have strong preference for electronic giving.  We are experiencing a great transition from a cash society to a cash-less society.  More and more financial transactions are being completed electronically.  Electronic banking and purchasing are the vastly preferred methods for adults among the youngest of baby boomers and younger.  It is only natural that their preferred method of giving is also electronic.  Electronic fund transfer (EFT,) giving kiosks, online giving, all meet the needs of these younger generations.  Interestingly, as churches have launched these electronic methods of giving, another generation has been among the early adopters – those between 62 and 70 years old.  Why might these people sign-up?  Answer – Social Security.  Social Security payments are deposited electronically.  These newly retired adults are learning to trust and to use electronic banking more than those generations sandwiched between them and the younger generations. 

One common objection to electronic giving is the lack of involvement with the worshipful act of placing a gift in the offering plate and presenting it to God.  I completely concur that giving is an act of worship.  A logical solution might be to create a giving card that indicates a gift has been made through another means of giving.  A worshipper may place this reusable card in the offering plate.  Several people may be able to place this card in the plate – not just those people signed-up for EFT.  For instance, the monthly check writer or the annual stock transferee may also benefit from using this card as a means to participate in the offering.