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    * What is Online Giving?
    * Is there any other way I can set up a recurring donation to  the  church?
    * How does the church process online donations or payments?
    * How secure is online giving / payments?
    * Will the information I provide be kept private?
    * How can I keep track of my online giving / payments?
    * Why is a "Shipping Address" sometimes mentioned in the    PayPal process?
    * Why should First Church accept Credit Card payments?
    * How can I donate or pay from my bank account instead of a credit card?
    * Can I make an anonymous donation?
    * Do I need my own PayPal account?
    * Is there any charge or fee to me for this service?

What is Online Giving?
Online Giving is an easy and convenient way to support the ministry of a church.  The benefits of using Online Giving include the convenience of being able to give from anywhere at a time that is convenient for you, not having to write checks, and the ability to set up recurring donations so you don't miss an opportunity to give when you are away from the church.
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Is there any other way I can set up a recurring donation to the church?
Yes.  If your bank has an online bill payment service then you can set up your bank to automatically send a check to First United Methodist Church, 1700 State Rd 26 W., West Lafayette, IN 47906.  By using your own bank's online bill payment, you do not need to set up a PayPal account, you can easily manage the recurring donation through your bank's website, and the church is not charged any fees from PayPal for the donation.  Otherwise, you can use the PayPal system.
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How does the church process online donations or online payments?
It uses PayPal to process credit card and direct withdrawal donations and payments.  PayPal handles all of the security necessary for processing the transaction and then transfers the money into the church bank account.  The church receives an instant notification about the donation/payment.  Our financial secretary is able to enter donations into the normal giving record just like donations given on Sunday mornings. 
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How secure is online giving/payments?
PayPal is a secure way to make a payment with your credit card or bank account information because this information is only processed on PayPal's secure system.  The church never sees or has access to your credit card or bank account information.  You can see more information aboutPayPal security here.
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Will the information I provide be kept private?
When you make a donation/payment, the financial secretary of the church receives an email with your name, the amount of your donation/payment, email address, and mailing address.  The mailing address is used to send regular giving records for donations.  You will be added to our database which we also use for sending out monthly newsletters.  You can notify us if you do not wish to receive a monthly newsletter.  First Church never shares your information with anyone else. 
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How can I keep track of my online giving / payments?
You will receive a regular giving statement from the church which lists all donations you have given (online and in person).  If you have a PayPal account then you can also see a record of donations or payments by looking at your account history.  All donations and payments using your credit card will show up on your credit card statement clearly marked from First United Methodist Church, West Lafayette, IN.
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Why is a "Shipping Address" mentioned in the process?
The "Shipping Address" is the address that is emailed to the church for our records.  We require this so that we can provide you with the documentation necessary for your taxes.  We cannot change the wording of this aspect of PayPal so hopefully it does not cause too much confusion.
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Why should First Church accept Credit Card payments?
We would accept credit card payments because of the convenience and security that credit cards provide for sending money over the internet.  We do not want anyone to go into debt to make a donation or payment to the church and would strongly counsel against using credit cards if this is your situation.
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How can I donate or pay from my bank account instead of a credit card?
The easiest way to donate or pay straight from your bank account rather than a credit card is to use your bank's online bill payment system through your bank's website.  If this is not a possibility for you then you will have to have a PayPal account that is linked to your bank account in order to use this feature.
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Can I make an anonymous donation?
There is no way to make an anonymous donation through the use of online giving because PayPal does not have the ability to process anonymous donations.  The financial secretary at the church is the only one who knows who makes donations and the amount of the donation.
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Do I need my own PayPal account?
There is no need for a PayPal account if you wish to make a one-time donation or single payment using your credit card.  You will need a PayPal account to make a recurring donation or to make a donation or payment directly from your bank account.  If you do not already have a PayPal account and use the recurring donation option, then you will be promted to set up a PayPal account during the process.
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Is there any charge or fee to me for this service?
No. You select the dollar amount for your gift or payment.  That is the dollar amount that will be charged and your entire donation is tax deductible.  The church pays a nominal fee to PayPal for the convenience and security of the service.
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