12 Things a Pastor Can Do to Encourage Planned Gifts
Source: The Kentucky United Methodist Foundation, Inc.
From the pulpit to the counseling room, and through education, celebration, and example, clergy can gently and intentionally nurture a culture of generosity that extends beyond a lifetime. Here are several practical and pastoral ways to encourage planned gifts within your church community.
Preach on Biblical themes about being good stewards of one’s accumulated assets.
Teach responsible Christian stewardship in personal financial and estate planning in adult education settings.
Counsel with persons as a part of your pastoral ministry on the importance of wills and estate planning, especially in conjunction with premarital counseling, preparation for baptism of children, counseling at times of health crises or the death of a spouse, and pre-planning funeral arrangements.
Encourage the formation of a “Permanent Endowment Fund Committee,” which will, in turn, seek to promote bequests, life income gifts and other planned gifts in the congregation's life.
Educate yourself about planned giving opportunities based on basic information available through the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana and other sources, which the Foundation can recommend.
Communicate with church members through the various church media channels about wills and life income gifts.
Promote as a service to the church membership and the community a Wills Clinic, Gifts and Wills Workshop, Estate Planning Seminar and/or Financial Planning Seminar.
Develop a long-range planning process with the congregation, culminating in a mission statement that will require major funding to minister to future generations.
Acknowledge personally and publicly the receipt of bequests and life income gifts to encourage others and to thank the donor.
Celebrate with gratitude what faithful friends have made possible through gifts that support the ministry and mission of the church today.
Evaluate your own estate plan. (Have you included the church or other charitable institutions in your will?)
Minister patiently and faithfully since this crucial aspect of Christian Stewardship takes time to “bear fruit.”