A recent article on Time.com is getting a lot of traction on Digg today:

Specialized credit/debit card kiosks are popping up in churches.

“Automatic checking account withdrawals are used by some churches, and more recently, ATM-like kiosks are now available in many church corridors and lobbies, where parishioners can swipe a card and receive a printed receipt, which they can either save for the IRS or plunk into the collection basket with a flourish, so pew mates will know they’re not spiritual freeloaders. “

Is it brilliant? Is it sacrilegious? One Digg comment added a Bible verse (Matthew 21:12,13) to the argument.

The driving reason for the appearance of ATMs in churches is a new IRS rule, but c’mon, you can’t tell me the churches aren’t simply loving the idea flat out. The church kiosk is brilliant because it makes an action easy. When something is easy, that in itself is added persuasion to execute the action. Now that’s good usability.

Let’s look at it out of the context of the church because that can be the only factor that’s muddying the waters: Whether you are a nonprofit or commercial entity, doesn’t it make sense to create an environment in which visitors/customers can do what they want to do, and what you want them to do, as easily as possible? If you run an association that relies on membership dues, would you ask website visitors to print out a form, fill it in, then write a check and finally mail it all in, stamp and all? No way. If it’s hard to do, fewer folks will do it. That’s why you make it easy with an online form. The visitor is happy because he or she can easily sign up, and you’re happy you’re getting new members.

What’s wrong with making it easy for church members to both make and track their donations? Churches have been asking for donations since the dawn of time. This news is simply an evolution. An evolution in recordkeeping, sure, but an evolution in usability design as well.

Marketers, writers, designers, programmers, even church administrators, whatever it is you are inspiring people to do, it’s no sin to make it easy.