Frequently Asked Questions

General Financial Info

How can I give to Calvary Baptist Church?

The primary way to give is to drop your cash or check into the offering plate when it is passed around in our Sunday morning worship service. If you have special needs or concerns, or you cannot make it to services on Sunday, please talk with one of our treasurers or pastors for other options. We are now taking online donations as well, so you can use a debit card, credit card or Paypal account to give at Calvary Baptist Church from your PC. (See the Online Giving section below.)

How do I donate to a specific project or person?

We provide envelopes for designating funds, so that you can contribute to various projects like our expansion fund, ministries like the Pregancy Care Center or people like our supported missionaries.

Are my donations tax-deductible?

Yes, provided that you use a check or give online so that we have a way to track how much you gave for tax purposes (as opposed to cash). Only our treasurers keep record of this information, so that we can issue you a tax-receipt at the end of the fiscal year.

Online Giving

Why offer online giving as an option?

We realize that many people today conduct the majority of their financial transactions online, so one factor in this decision was simple ease of use. Another helpful feature of online giving is that it allows people from around the world to participate in our ministry, since they do not have to be here in person to give. Online transactions will also facilitate automatic withdrawals (recurring donations), once these become available, which helps for those of us who always forget our checkbooks!

Is my identity and information secure?

Hosting secure online transactions requires technical expertise beyond the abilities of our staff and volunteers, which is why we've chosen to use a PayPal Non-Profit Account to accept your gifts. (This means that those who want to give will be redirected to a Paypal donation webpage, and then be returned to our CBC website.) Paypal serves around 100 million clients worldwide, so they have the resources and expertise to guarantee your internet security. So yes, your information is safe!

Are there costs associated with online giving?

Yes, a small percentage (about 2 %) of your gift goes to Paypal as a fee for facilitating our online transaction, which simply represents another operating cost for us here at Calvary Baptist Church.

Should I use a credit card or a debit card?

You can use either, but we ask that you do not use a credit card if you do not have the means or the intention of paying the balance each month. We want to encourage people to avoid debt as much as possible, and to use wisely the financial resources which God has provided.

Financial Decision Making

Who decides where the money goes?

Calvary Baptist Church members meet quarterly and annually to discuss money related issues, and to set our budget. While our pastors, deacons and volunteers have access to discretionary funds, all major transactions and budgetary decisions are passed by majority vote.

Who actually handles the money?

Money is collected, recorded and deposited by our treasurers (see leadership page), who are authorized to write checks on behalf of the Church, both to vendors and to reimburse staff and volunteers for CBC-approved purchases.

What kind of accountability is in place?

Every year, as set forth in our Constitution, we select an audit committee to verify that our records are accurate. Furthermore, one of the treasures presents a financial report at each quarterly business meeting. so that members and nonmembers alike may keep informed about our financial status and practices.

For more information, please feel free to contact us via phone or email.