LEGACY GIVING AND PLANNED GIFTS: A LASTING PRESENCE
I am with you always, to the close of the age. –Matthew 28:20
Christ will be with us always. What comfort and hope! While we cannot make the same claim, through creating a legacy gift we can continue to be present, even after our physical death, for those people and ministries we hold dear.
Legacy giving is for everyone who owns anything and who has loved ones. You don’t need substantial means. You need only a substantial desire that your life’s accumulated gains become a testament to the good works God has already begun in you.
For more information, visit the pages below or contact Betsie Danner, Director of Stewardship (941-349-5616 ext. 318).
The Episcopal Church Foundation -- an independent, lay-led organization helping the Episopal Church and its members achieve their ministry, financial and legacy goals.
DOES YOUR WILL HAVE POWER?
Most of us take more time planning how we’ll spend our week’s vacation than how we’ll distribute assets gained over our lifetimes. Statistics show that most Americans die without creating a will. A good place to begin your will is a spiritual will, or ethical will. This ancient tradition, which helps ensure that your last will and testimony are also a testimony to your faith and values, traces its origins to biblical times. Before passing along their inheritance, fathers would pass on the wisdom of their years and their hopes for their children's future. In creating or updating your will, consider giving it power by beginning with a spiritual will. For more information go to www.ethicalwill.com.
Congratulations if you are among those few who have a will. Be sure to review it regularly. One that's not up-to-date may cause additional stress and work for your heirs. Make sure it represents your current circumstances and goals, assets, family situation, home state, church and favored charities. And, make sure you’ve stored it in a safe and accessible place. Share your plans with your family (or executor) to help them more easily understand and carry them out. For a guide on preparing or updating your will or to discuss Saint Boniface as part of your legacy and giving plans, contact Betsie Danner (941/349-5616 ext 318, or via email).
