If you would like to give money to Peebles Baptist Church – either a one-off donation, or on a regular basis – this page is where you can find out how to do it.
Baptist Churches are self-supporting – the costs of running our ministries (including paying our staff) are met by people at the church. For the last few years, we have also received a grant from the other Baptist churches in Scotland (via the Baptist Union of Scotland), although this is now coming to an end.
Why give?
Giving to the church is an important part of our worship. Everything comes from God – the source and creator of all. Because God is generous, we believe we are also called to be generous with our lives and resources…and this includes our finances. God has entrusted us to respond wisely and faithfully in order to help our church and communities to become places of hope, restoration and life.
- Giving acknowledges God as the giver (James 1:17).
- Giving reflects our trust that God will provide, refusing to allow possessions to consume or define us (Matthew 6:19-24).
- Giving allows us to participate in God’s work on earth (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
- Giving is obedience (Malachi 3:8-12).
Who should give?
If you are a visitor to the church there is no expectation on you to give. Amongst the regular members of our congregation some people choose to tithe and give a set percentage of their income to the church while others give what they can afford. There is no set amount, how much you give is a decision you must make with God considering your own circumstances. If you request it a member of the church leadership team could talk to you about this but we will never pressurise you into giving anything if you are not able or willing, and apart from the church treasurer no one need know what you give.
How to give?
Standing Order. The best way to give in a regular, structured way is by standing order to your bank – it’s the most efficient way both for you and for PBC. Our Standing Order Mandate can either be completed and sent to your bank, or you can use the information in it to set one up if you use an internet or telephone banking service.
Cash or cheque. Put loose money or cheques into the offering bag at our Sunday morning services. Cheques should be made payable to Peebles Baptist Church. For regular donations envelopes are available from our treasurer.
Bank Transfer. You can transfer money directly into the church’s account, using the following details:
- Account name: Peebles Baptist Church SCIO
- Sort Code: 80-22-60
- Account number: 19028065
If you do this, please leave your name or your GiftAid number as the reference, so that we can claim tax back.
Other Ways. Some people choose to give through Stewardship, CAF or other charity voucher schemes. We can also accept gifts from people’s companies or via their Payslip, using Give-As-You-Earn or other Payroll giving solutions. Some companies even match employee giving.
Leaving a Gift in Your Will. Many people have left gifts to their church in their will. There can also be tax advantages to you if you do this. If you would like more information about this, please let us know.
EasyFundraising. If you ever shop online (whether that’s for groceries, or insurance, or holidays, or flights, or…), there’s a great way to raise funds for us without it costing you anything at all! Find out about EasyFundraising here.
Amazon. Any time you shop on Amazon, you can raise money for us by registering with Amazon Smile – make sure you pick “Peebles Baptist Church SCIO” as your charity, then always use this link to start shopping:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/SC049084
Gift Aid
However you give, we want to make the most of every gift – no matter how large or small. The Gift Aid scheme increases the amount the church receives (at no cost to the donor), by claiming gift aid on monies given by tax payers. Anyone who pays tax during a year (either income tax or capital gains tax) should make a gift aid declaration. This covers both regular giving and single gifts. If you know your gift aid number (our treasurer can advise you), it is enough to add that. There is no extra cost to you for this, but it increases the money that the church can raise significantly.
If you are not a taxpayer, there are ways in which we can still increase your donations – please speak to us to find out more.
What about the Building Fund?
If you would like to give money to our Building Fund, you can use the same account details as above. However, please include the word “Building” in your reference, so that we know to allocate your gift accordingly.
How can I find out more?
If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of giving and how your money is used by us, please email [email protected] to arrange a confidential conversation.