Bethlehem Church has been a blessing to the community… it has been a blessing to you… how can we keep it that way for posterity? Let me prayerfully offer these suggestions:
Ten Things To Think About When Planning Your Estate
– And it is never too early, or too late.
1. Preparing an estate plan is good Christian stewardship – saying thanks to God, expressing your love and concern for family, and showing charity toward others.
2. Remember, if you have no will or trust, state laws will determine who will inherit your property at your death. State laws do not include your church or any other charity as a beneficiary.
3. Consider naming the church as a beneficiary in your will or living trust. The gift could be a set dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, the remainder after other gifts are made, or part of the estate left if designated heirs are deceased.
4. Did you know that there is no limit on the size of a charitable gift to the church at the time of your death? No matter how large, the gift is deductible for federal estate tax purposes.
5. Think about the part you want to play in our church’s future. You have the opportunity to support this ministry in many ways. Naming the church as a beneficiary in your estate plan, or making an endowment gift, can assure your continued participation in this ministry far into the future.
6. Giving to the church through your will or trust is the most common way to continue your support beyond your lifetime. When your estate plan is prepared, consider a gift to the church.
7. Life insurance is a way to make a larger gift to the church than you might otherwise be able to afford. Consider naming the church as a beneficiary of any insurance policy.
8. Our Trustees, Endowment Committee, and pastor enthusiastically support planned giving to our church. Contact them for more information. We belong to the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation. They provide a service for a private and personal estate planning consultation. They would be happy to visit you and provide you with counsel on any estate planning questions you may have. Their number is 800-272-0113. Ask for Phyllis Bowers to begin the process.
9. We accept endowment gifts. The income will be used for special church projects. The principle of the gift would never spent and continues indefinitely, unless there is an terribly unusual calamity.
10. Anyone can give an endowment gift. Any size gift may be made as an endowment. You may do this now or as part of your estate plan.William James, the famous physician, psychologist and religious philosopher, renowned for his scholarship until his death in 1910 made this observation: “The best use of life is to invest it in something which will outlast life.” Think about the ways you are making this happen, God being your helper.
