LCA adopts REG

Started by the LLL in 1997, the Regular Electronic Giving program known affectionately as REG has been officially adopted by the LCA, with the blessing of its ‘birth parent’.

The oversight and promotion of the popular first-fruits giving system, which assists church members to make their offerings in a convenient, secure and confidential way, will now be done through the LCA and its website.

The program will be re-launched this month across the church.

REG is an avenue for members to support their congregations, as well as Churchwide and District ministry and mission projects.

The LLL will continue to administer the program free of charge as a service to the church and to support REG through its direct-debit system. REG now collects more than $6.5 million in church members’ offerings annually. According to the June 2018 figures, there are approximately 280 LCA congregations using REG, with almost 2400 individuals and families giving more than $545,000 each month.

The electronic-giving concept is so popular that in some congregations it is providing the majority of the church’s budget. REG offerings can come from bank, credit union or LLL accounts. Congregation members can set up REG withdrawals to coincide with their regular income, including salary, pension or dividends, or to match their budgeting, which may be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or even half-yearly.

Promotion packs will be sent to congregation treasurers early this month. Congregations are being asked to promote Christian stewardship/giving and REG on a Sunday that suits them in February. For more information, go to www.lca.org.au/REG