Churches moving with the times: contribute to the collection via MobilePay

Danes are increasingly embracing digital payment systems for almost every aspect of life

Stephen Gadd

The part of the service in which the collection plate is passed round is something that can cause anxiety to church-goers, as they struggle to dig out their loose change.

However, this could become a thing of the past as 722 churches across Denmark have seen which way the wind is blowing and registered to receive payments through MobilePay.

Boxed in
For example, last year the parish of Aabenraa in Jutland collected 80,000 kroner and 25,000 of that was through MobilePay, reports DR Nyheder.

“The amount is growing and in a couple of years I expect it will be rare to find coins in the collection boxes,” said the parish’s head of administration, Morten Hansen.

A change to the law brought in by the Church Ministry in December 2016 opened up for the possibility of mobile payments.

Win-win situation
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is especially young people who are taking to the new system.

According to Hansen, the church has not introduced the new payment system in order to raise more money, but in order to keep up with the times.

“It’s easier for everybody; It’s easier for church-goers who have MobilePay, and it is easier for us, so it is a win-win situation,” added Hansen.

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs