THE PRESBYTERY OF LAKE MICHIGAN
FOUNDATION
The
gift that keeps on giving
A
STATEMENT OF OUR MISSION
The mission of the
Presbytery of Lake Michigan is to serve God through sessions and congregations
together:
-
Seeking God's
leading
-
Sharing God’s love
-
Spreading God’s
light
PARTNERS
SHARING THE JOURNEY
There are some things we
can do in concert that we cannot do individually. The Presbytery of Lake
Michigan Foundation exists to complement, not compete with, the stewardship and
deferred giving programs of local churches.
PREAMBLE
From time to time
individuals wish to make gifts that will last far into the future and to support
church or governing body projects beyond those normally supported by the general
budget of the particular body. Many times individuals wish to give a plus-gift
over and above their regular church commitment by remembering a governing body
or a project of a governing body in a will or trust. Or churches may wish to
give a benevolence proportion of an undesignated bequest to the general or a
specific ministry of the Presbytery.
The Presbytery of Lake
Michigan Foundation provides a receptacle for such supporting gifts.
RATIONALE
To provide a permanent
and perpetual Foundation which will be administered by a Board of Directors
elected by the Presbytery and which will provide additional resources for the
growing work and witness of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan.
The Foundation shall not
be used to supplant the ordinary stewardship of resources by the Presbytery or
its congregations nor the current support or involvement of the members of those
congregations. Instead, it will be used to accumulate special resources for
creative expansion of the Presbytery's mission and ministries.
LEGAL
NAME AND OTHER INFORMATION
For those who may want
to include the Foundation in a will, trust or other legal document, the correct
name is: "The Presbytery of Lake Michigan Foundation." For additional
information or to make an appointment for a confidential discussion of any
aspect of the Foundation or Presbytery projects, please contact the Foundation
Moderator at the Presbytery office: 269.381.6337; 888.271.6567; or office@lakemichiganpresbytery.org.
Click here for a brochure.
PARTICIPATE
IN A PROGRAM OF PLANNED GIVING
Here are several
traditional ways to help:
-
Gifts - Your
donation of money, securities, or tangible property such as art work helps
build the trust's assets while giving you tax advantages.
-
Life Insurance
- If you own a policy that is no longer needed to provide for your family's
care, you may consider naming the trust as a beneficiary.
-
Real Estate -
You may give property resulting in tax benefits.
-
Wills and Trusts
- You can create a living memorial by naming the Presbytery of Lake Michigan
Foundation as a beneficiary in your will or trust. Gifts or bequests may be
unrestricted or may be designated for specific projects in the life of the
Presbytery.
-
Gift Annuity
– Establish a contract in which you exchange a gift of cash or securities
for a guaranteed, fixed income each year for the rest of your life.
WILLS
EXTEND CHRISTIAN
MINISTRY AND SERVICE
Every person has the
duty of deciding who is to receive his or her estate after death, no matter how
small or how large the estate. Every person who has dependents has an additional
obligation of providing for them in a will or trust. Every Christian has a
stewardship opportunity by providing for the continuing work of Christ a portion
of the goods that have been accumulated in a lifetime.
If you do not leave a
will or trust, the law will distribute your estate according to its own plan
without providing for any special concerns you may have which are not covered by
that statutory plan of distribution.
The Presbytery of Lake
Michigan Foundation provides a unique way to practice Christian stewardship with
gifts that keep on giving. Such contributions become living legacies benefiting
the present as well as the future.
SOME
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENDOWMENT
Evangelism through
new church development
Establishing new
churches requires Presbytery funds beyond a regular budget. The Presbytery of
Lake Michigan has given top priority to new church development in this growing
area of Michigan.
Church redevelopment
Endowment funds could
help churches redevelop their programs for more effective ministry and
service.
Small churches
Endowment funds could
help small churches as they explore new forms of pastoral and lay leadership
in accord with new opportunities growing across the church.
Scholarships for
ministerial candidates
The Presbytery gives
direction and guidance to a number of candidates for ministry each year. Many
need financial assistance with seminary tuition.
Urban ministry
network
Presbytery partners
with several urban churches, helping them carry out their mission in
responding to the community of need. Increasingly, churches and governing
bodies are called on to assist in such ministries.
Town and country
ministry
Fresh attention is
being given to the creative ministries that can be carried out to human needs
in town, country, and rural areas.
Camp Greenwood
Camp Greenwood is used
year round for meetings, retreats and summer camping. Updating, improving and
new additions are on-going needs.
Mission ministry
The Presbytery of Lake
Michigan gives financial assistance to some 30 projects each year which
provide vital services in areas with special needs.
Other
Continuing service in
evangelism, justice, lay leadership training, singles and family ministries,
worship, church music, and theological study.
FREE!!!
PCUSA RESOURCES
-
Estate Planning
- an estate planning tool written from a charitable perspective.
-
Personal Record Book
- booklet is a useful tool that can be used to organize and record your possessions.
-
Guide to a Christian Will
- This informative resource addresses many typical questions about charitable bequests
and estate planning.
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Intentional
Mission
