Digital collections

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As Digital collection are collections referred to the cash with electronic means of payment are provided. For this purpose, the usual devices for collecting are supplemented by electronic payment terminals or replaced by such. In contrast to conventional card payments or transfers, donors remain anonymous and do not expect anything in return, as it is a liturgical sacrifice . The digital collection has gained significantly in importance in Germany in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic .

History and devices

EKBO digital doorbell bag (2020)

On July 4, 2018, the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia ( EKBO ) presented the so-called digital bell bag . In addition to the classic cloth bag, the patent-protected device includes an electronic unit for contactless payment without a PIN. As part of the overall concept of the EKBO for the digital collection, the digital bell bag should combine tradition and modernity and save costs that would otherwise be incurred in handling cash . The introduction of the digital collection in the EKBO was accompanied by a change in church law.

In December of the same year, the Catholic Pax-Bank presented a device called digi collect , a collecting basket with an integrated option for electronic card payments without a PIN. The device was developed due to increased demand from the church service visitors. Identical devices have also been in use in France since January 2018 and in the Netherlands since November 2018.

In November 2020, the Evangelische Bank raffled several digital donation columns that can only be given electronically. The donation column was recommended as a hygienic alternative to cash during the COVID-19 pandemic (see also section COVID-19 pandemic ).

In other countries, collection boxes for the digital collection were also presented in 2016 by the Royal Bank of Scotland , in 2017 by ING-Diba and in 2019 by SumUp and the Church of England .

Since April 2020, digital collections have also been possible in Berlin municipalities using a smartphone app . In Switzerland, the collection can be made by Twint in some parishes .

technology

Electronic offering box in the Munich Bürgersaalkirche (2008)

POS terminals are used to receive electronic payments . In the simplest version, a prefabricated hand-held terminal is attached to the installation site, and the money received goes directly to a donation account. In other cases, terminals are integrated as components in devices or architecture. Modern terminals enable contactless payment via near field communication , even without a PIN. This means that the card slot can be dispensed with in favor of space-saving integration.

In addition, virtual payment terminals are used. They are operated by payment service providers on servers . If a suitable device, such as an NFC-enabled smartphone , establishes a connection to a virtual payment terminal, it can act as an end point and forward SEPA direct debit orders or contactless card payments to the payment service provider. The person who uses the device can donate in this way. A Progressive Web App for collections, which is used in individual German parishes, is based on this principle .

In contrast to a commercial payment process, in which bookings are assigned to a business and such a person, a collection must remain anonymous in order to fulfill its function as a liturgical sacrifice . This differs from a barter transaction . This circumstance requires additional precautions when processing the payment. When a booking is received, municipalities receive information about what a collection is to be used for (“collection purpose”), but not from whom the payment originates.

In addition, the electronic transmission paths are encrypted: from the card to the terminal via P2PE , between the terminal and the executing credit institutions via E2EE . Contactless payments without a PIN are also limited to a maximum amount of € 50 and are subject to further security measures.

A stable internet connection is required for all applications of the digital collection. Several Protestant regional churches use the so-called godspot for WiFi coverage in the nave .

COVID-19 pandemic

As a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany , far-reaching restrictions for the public were decided from spring 2020 (“ lockdown ”) with the aim of preventing person-to-person infection. The exercise of religion and the right to demonstrate as fundamental rights were mostly less restricted in these measures than, for example, leisure activities. Nevertheless, church services were less frequented than usual. At Christmas 2020, only around 5% of all Germans, around 4 million people, attended a local church service. In the previous year, 8 million Protestants had attended a church service on Christmas Eve alone .

Accordingly, the churches and church aid organizations are confronted with a loss of income. The situation is exacerbated by falling income as a result of unemployment and short-time working. For example, the EKD forecast a decrease in church tax income of 1 billion euros in 2020 compared to the previous year. This financial situation and the growing popularity of electronic payment options are encouraging churches to advertise collections through bank transfers or digital collections.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ First digital doorbell bag presented. In: press release on ekbo.de. EKBO, July 4, 2018, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  2. ↑ Church Collection Ordinance (KKoV) of April 12, 2019, KABl. EKBO 2019, 99 and 129.
  3. ↑ Report: Pax-Bank tests digital bell pouch. In: radio report on domradio.de. Bildungswerk der Erzdiözese Köln eV, December 11, 2021, accessed on January 15, 2021 .
  4. ↑ Digital collections. In: photo series. Catholic News Agency, January 21, 2018, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  5. ^ Esther Raaijmakers: Dutch Church to allow digital payments in collection basket. In: Katholiek Nieuwsblad. November 23, 2018, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  6. ↑ Participate in "DigiDonate" until November 14th, 2020 and win a digital donation column. In: Fundraisermagazin Online. November 5, 2020, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  7. ↑ Cashless donation column aims to encourage people to give. In: evangelisch.de. November 5, 2020, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  8. ↑ Poppy Appeal trials contactless payment. In: CharityDigital. November 10, 2016, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  9. ↑ Contactless collection box rolled out by bank. In: CharityDigital. January 12, 2017, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  10. ^ Church of England: Contactless collection payments trialled. In: BBC News. January 21, 2019, accessed January 15, 2021 .
  11. ↑ Digital collection option for parishes in the city center. In: Website of the ev. Church district Berlin Stadtmitte. KKBS, April 17, 2020, accessed March 9, 2021 .
  12. ↑ Twint in the church: In Wil you can pay the collection cashless. In: hallowil.ch. August 18, 2020, accessed April 4, 2021 .
  13. ↑ Joël Weber: Donations are increasingly being made digitally instead of in cash. In: nau.ch. December 29, 2020, accessed April 4, 2021 .
  14. ↑ Collection for Fastenopfer - Ecumenical Campaign 2021. In: fastenopfer.ch. Retrieved April 4, 2021 .
  15. ↑ Now the bell bag goes around virtually. In: Lippische Landes-Zeitung (Paywall). December 29, 2020, accessed January 22, 2021 .
  16. ↑ Axel Kannenberg: Girocard contactless: limit for payments without PIN increased to 50 euros. In: heise online. March 30, 2020, accessed January 22, 2021 .
  17. ↑ Stefan Krempl: Free church WiFi: Godspot expands to Bavaria. In: heise online. February 2, 2018, accessed January 22, 2021 .
  18. ↑ Survey: Only five percent of Germans went to church at Christmas. In: kathisch.de. January 14, 2021, accessed January 22, 2021 .
  19. ↑ Evangelical Church in Germany (ed.): Counted 2020. Numbers and facts on church life . Hanover July 2020, p. 14 ( ekd.de [PDF]).
  20. ↑ Loss of billions in church tax. In: zdf.de. November 15, 2020, accessed January 22, 2021 .
  21. ↑ Which payment options do you prefer during the corona pandemic? In: Statista. May 25, 2020, accessed January 22, 2021 .
  22. ↑ Church aid organizations advertise Christmas online collections. In: pro Christian media magazine. October 16, 2020, accessed January 22, 2021 .
  23. ↑ Tim Kanning: What the churches want to do about empty bell bags on Christmas Eve. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung online. December 23, 2020, accessed January 22, 2021 .