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stewardship and planned giving
Vestry Statement on Stewardship
We
the vestry of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke believe that
stewardship is all that we do with all that we have all of the
time after we say "We believe." We understand that God is the
provider of all that we own; so we, as His stewards, return these
gifts to God through the time, talent and money we offer in
service to others in the name of Jesus Christ.
God
calls upon us to give of our time, talent and money so that we
might experience the quality of life that He wants for us. We
believe that God will show His love for us by blessing and using
every gift we offer in love and thanksgiving, regardless of how
small or large we perceive it to be. We believe that stewardship
is a vital part of our worship and spiritual life, with the
knowledge that, in giving we always also receive, as St. Paul said
"In full measure, packed down and running over." In accordance
with biblical teachings and our own Episcopal tradition, we accept
the tithe as the minimal goal for our giving, offering our time
and talent as we have been called.
Together, let us with gladness and thankfulness, present the
offerings and oblations of our lives to our Lord with the hope
that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven - in this
place and at this time.
Did You
Know: Some Results of Your Stewardship in 2007
•
New programs for Sunday school, Spirituality, GLBT members, and youth
•
Greater local community and diocesan outreach, e.g. the soup kitchen,
St. Elizabeth's Pantry,
and youth, choral, and young adult
meetings for the diocese of Maine,
•
Refurbishment of our education wing and choir room
St.
Luke's 2008 budget
•
Your participation is important!
Please print out the pledge card below:
CATHEDRAL
CHURCH OF ST. LUKE
143 State Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-5434 *
www.cathedralofstluke.org
2008 Annual Giving Pledge
Name
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone
_____________________________________ Email
______________________________________________
I/We consider ourselves members of the Cathedral Church of St.
Luke, and, in gratitude for blessings God has given, pledge
$____________ per (circle one) week/month/quarter/year for a
total in 2008 of $ _______________
I/We make the following pledge for time/talent (please
list) ______________________________________________________
Signed
____________________________________________________________
____ I/we would like 2008 pledge envelopes
____ I/we would like to make an additional contribution
to St. Luke’s,
as follows: __________________________________
____ I/we have included the Cathedral Church of St.
Luke in my/our estate plans
____ Please send information about planned giving
Where your money goes:
Total
$500,000
 St Luke's needs your time, talent, and treasure.
Make a commitment!
Some examples of ways to volunteer your time and talent:
• teaching Sunday School or adult education
• participating in the worship service as a Lector or Verger
or chalice bearer
• serving on the pastoral care or healing teams
•
serving on a the altar guild
• getting involved with Foyers, the fair, or other
activities, committees or groups
• helping with the soup kitchen
• helping with the worship service as an usher, acolyte, or
oblation bearer.
• helping with outreach
• singing in the choir
• volunteering to help with youth group activities
• working in the garden, with landscaping or buildings and
grounds
• helping to fold the bulletins, newsletter or other
mailings.
Stewardship Goals for 2008 :
To
fulfill the mission of the cathedral church of St. Luke our
stewardship goals for 2008 are ...
•
an
increase the total pledge amount by 15%
• a
balanced budget
•
continue to provide worship that inspires and offer prayer and healing
that helps people
experience the love of Christ.
•
continue our strong commitment to our Christian Education program for
all ages
•
continue to expand our outreach both at the local and national levels
• Get
100% pledge participation and help parishioners work towards a tithe
by giving proportionally
"The Measure You Give Will Be The Measure You Get Back."
- Luke
6:38
Planned Giving
Remembering St, Luke's
Our world
is one of ever-increasing complexity. Estate planning, tax issues, and
other end of life decisions seem so daunting to many people that fully
60 percent of Americans die without making a will. In an effort to
help parishioners of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke navigate these
complicated waters, St. Luke’s stewardship committee offers this brief
introductory brochure. One element of our faith is being a part of a
supportive and helpful community.
Events in
2007 demonstrated to the nation that each of us needs to plan for our
future well being, and for our heirs. We have attempted to provide
you with some basic information in this small brochure on Wills,
Trusts and other estate planning tools.
Remembering
that income from our endowment supports mission and ministry for today
and tomorrow, a bequest is a vote of confidence in the present and
future of St. Luke’s.
Wills & Trusts
No document
expresses your appreciation of life more deliberately than your trust
or will. This written testament reflects the beliefs and values that
you most cherish. Through your trust or will you can make certain that
your interest in St. Luke’s will be carried into the future, just as
we are benefiting from those who have gone before us. A gift made
through a trust or will is called a bequest or a
devise.
Bequests
Bequests
may vary in size from modest amounts to thousands of dollars depending
on the circumstances of the individual. Bequests can be made in the
form of cash, securities, real estate, art, and other property. If you
would like to make a bequest to St. Luke’s, it can take many forms. An
unrestricted bequest is the most flexible for St. Luke’s because it
allows discretion to the church leadership to use your gift where it
may most be needed. A restricted bequest may be designated to endow
specific areas or programs at St. Luke’s, such as music, outreach, the
building, and so on. A bequest can establish a trust that provides
lifetime income for one or more beneficiaries whom you designate with
the remainder ultimately coming to one or several ministries at St.
Luke’s
Contingent Bequest
If you have
family obligations which preclude an outright bequest for the benefit
of the church, then naming St. Luke’s as a contingent beneficiary
should be considered. Under a contingent bequest, St. Luke’s would
receive the bequest only if the individual beneficiaries for whom you
would provide are deceased.
Planned
Giving - Trusts
A planned
gift is generally made during the lifetime of the donor to an
individual or an organization such as St. Luke’s. St. Luke’s is able
to participate in the Episcopal Church Foundation planned giving
programs in cooperation with the Diocese of Maine’s Stewardship and
Planned Giving office. Together you and experts can work to establish
a plan. Sometimes these planned gifts are established as a legal
document called a trust.
Often, a
planned gift involves a gift to a charity such as St. Luke’s that is
postponed or, in some instances, that exists only for a specific
period of time. For instance, if income is needed by the donor
immediately and the donor would also like to leave something to St.
Luke’s after he or she is gone, the donor might create a trust or an
annuity with highly appreciated assets, with the remainder passing to
the church after the donor’s death. By doing this, the donor’s present
income will increase and St. Luke’s will receive the underlying assets
upon which the income is based after the donor’s death. These gifts
generally qualify for a tax deduction. On the other hand, if the
financial resources are not now needed, but will be needed later for
family members, a special trust can be established that gives present
income to St. Luke’s and gives the investments to the heirs. Like
other planned gifts, it provides the donor with a tax deduction.
Typical Assets Used in Planned Gifts
Types of
assets that might be given in a planned gift or a will include cash,
real estate, stocks and bonds, life insurance, and retirement funds.
Cash
Some people
choose to leave cash to their church. It can be a fixed amount or a
percentage of their estate. There is a growing sense that it is
appropriate to tithe 10% to charity, and that can include many
different kinds of organizations such as St. Luke’s, the Diocese of
Maine or a secular charity such as a hospital.
Stocks &
Bonds
If your
stocks and bonds have appreciated in value, you might wish to consider
donating them. Should the stocks have a low yield and your need is for
greater income, St. Luke’s and the Diocese can help to arrange a gift
partnership (like a charitable gift annuity) and avoid capital gain
taxes plus provide an income.
Retirement
Funds
Some people
will have assets in the form of retirement funds to give away. 401k
and 403b plans are established through tax-free funds, and tax is paid
by the recipient upon withdrawal from the plan. If the recipient dies
and there are leftover funds, those funds are subject to both income
and estate taxes unless these funds are given to charity.
Real Estate
Real
estate, whether a primary residence, second home, commercial property,
or undeveloped land, is an attractive option for some donors. Real
estate may also be given through a plan which permits the donor
lifetime occupancy (Life Estate Contract), with the property going to
the church at the donor’s death. The donor receives an income tax
deduction in the year of the gift, and capital gains taxes are reduced
or avoided if the property has increased in value since he or she
assumed ownership.
Life
Insurance
The gift of
a life insurance policy represents a way to make a significant
contribution to St. Luke’s for a relatively small premium. You may
donate a fully paid-up policy, a policy upon which premiums are still
owed, or a newly-purchased policy. In each instance, by naming St.
Luke’s as irrevocable owner and beneficiary, you are entitled to a
charitable deduction. Alternatively, you could simply name St. Luke’s
as the beneficiary of all or some portion of your life insurance
policy.
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