Planned Giving

We at St. John's are blessed to have received endowment gifts from parishioners through the years that have helped fund past, present and future ministries, as well as outreach and philanthropy. Such stalwarts as Hal Elliott, May Catherine Huske, and Chink and Grace Smithson, (and there are others, far too numerous to name) have made legacy gifts that continue to fund the mission and ministries of St. John’s in perpetuity.  They exemplify the true meaning of Christian stewardship.   

Planned Giving facilitates gifts to the church endowment during either the donor’s life, or after death. It is one part of the Christian stewardship trifecta along with the annual Every-Member Canvass and periodic capital campaigns. Unlike the latter two, a planned giving campaign can be started at any time, has no specific monetary goals, and has no end date. Many churches in our diocese already have such campaigns in place.

Chaired by John Holmes, the Planned Giving Committee raises awareness for the various opportunities to make a gift and assists donors through the process. Periodically, the committee gives seminars on legal, tax and estate planning, and publishes informational brochures and newsletter articles. Recalling Mark 4:8, Holmes charges us to "be the sower of the seeds, the preparers of the soil."

You can also learn more about planned giving through the Episcopal Church Foundation’s website.