The denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration is now offering the e.service Electronic Funds Transfer Service, which enables church members’ donations to be taken straight from their accounts.

After a church member completes an authorization form and the information is entered into the system, the electronic funds transfer will begin to automatically debit that member’s specified account and credit the funds to the church’s account.

Churches are not required to have special software and there are no start-up fees. The benefits include a reduction in the amount of time it takes churches to collect, count and make bank deposits. There are no checks to process, there is less work for church office staff, the service levels out donation fluctuations, and members appreciate the convenience in budgeting their monthly finances.

There is a one-time authorization fee of $.50 for new members who sign up online or $1.50 if entered by the service making the transfer. There is a $.25 per transaction cost, but there is no setup fee, monthly service fee, monthly minimum or program cost.

United Methodist Electronic Funds Transfer Service information is available at http://www.gcfa.org/ElectronicGivingInfo.html.

John "Andy" Bell, M.Div., LCSW of St. Petersburg, is being considered for inclusion in the Florida Conference Counseling Network. Anyone with concerns regarding his skills or character, making such action inappropriate, should write to the Rev. Dan Jones, Chair, 1839 N.E. 8th Road, Ocala, FL 34470, or Mrs. Jean J. Vanderslice, Coordinator, 6527 Forestwood Drive, West, Lakeland, FL 33811, within 30 days of the publication of this notice.

All counselors are licensed by the state of Florida with the exception of pastoral counselors. The Conference Counseling Network Committee endeavors to find the most highly qualified people for inclusion.