Encouraging gifts with no strings attached: Part 2, Bequests
Bequests can provide bridge financing for the future of the church.
In our previous post, St. Andrew’s church received a bequest designated for choir robes, and they haven’t had a choir in twenty years. Choir robes sound trivial, but stay with me!
Bequests can provide bridge financing for the future of the church. It’s not a bridge going backwards (choir robes), nor to maintain the status quo (a very real temptation). Bridge financing for the future of the church. This works best when there are no strings attached to the gift.
Prayerful imagination
What would your congregation do if it received a generous bequest? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “we can always fight about what to do with the money later” is not a bequest policy!
St. Andrew’s heating bills have been through the roof this year, quite literally. Giant icicles threaten the integrity of the aging building. Newcomers huddle in the frigid basement, keeping their coats on during their English classes. Insulating the roof and upgrading the heating system would make the church more welcoming, reduce the environmental footprint and save money in the long run. Perhaps their dream could be even bigger. How can they use their property to better serve their neighbours?
I can hear you gentle reader. You are saying, “Lori, we struggle to pay the minister and keep the church going as it is. We can’t afford to upgrade the building!” I understand. Here’s where prayerful imagination comes in. What might God be calling you to do with the gifts entrusted to you? How can you love your neighbours?
God’s imagination is bigger than ours. I’d go so far as to say God has an above-budget imagination!
Encouraging no strings giving: For churches
The shortest counsel you could put in the bulletin is: Remember the church in your will. (Credit to the Parish Paper from long ago!) A longer blurb might go something like this:
Please consider leaving a gift to St. Andrew’s in your will. Your legacy of generosity will help us reimagine our future ministry. We dream of… We sense God calling us towards… We are grateful for… We thank God for the faithful saints who have come before and pray for God’s continued direction…
The legal name of our church is… Our charitable registration number is…
We thank God for your faithful generosity - past, present and future.
Encouraging no string giving: For individuals
For us in the pews, “Do your giving while you’re living, so you’re knowing where it’s going…” is good advice. If there is a specific need in your church that you’d be delighted to meet, do it now. Buy the new choir robes while the choir is still around.
Which organizations do you trust to use your gift wisely? If your local church isn’t on this list, that’s worth praying about and maybe inviting other people into the conversation.
Consider leaving a gift to your church in your will. Let your generosity shine on, even after you are gone. I am grateful for the generous saints in my life who have modelled the spiritual disciplines of prayer and giving.