In the USA, the church has legal responsibilities to keep track of individual giving if the individual giver takes a tax deduction for their monetary gifts. Therefore, they have to keep track. Most likely, only the treasurer or the Deacons know the information as most Pastors do not want to know, even those who are strong advocates for tithing.

I think offering envelopes are probably the thing of the past. I haven't seen them used directly in many years. A funny true story about them. I was visiting my parents church. When offering was being taken, a little boy got one of the envelopes out and asked his father what they were going to give. The father said nothing, so the little boy wrote his name and put $0 for the amount on the envelope before placing it in the offering plate.

Sorry, I'm not answering your question, but why so concern about privacy over this. Is our giving part of our public profession. I just don't understand the concern over privacy. Maybe I haven't seen any abuse of it.

Last edited by John_C; Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:08 AM.
John Chaney

"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith . . ." Colossians 2:7