Love, Money and Pigs!

Some pastors don't want to talk about it. Many members don't want to hear about it. But Martin Luther never shied away from it-money. Sometimes he used very earthy illustrations to make a point about the human heart. It may be good, though not easy, to hear him again this Lenten season.

Luther was generous with his money and spoke naturally about it as one of God's gifts. Money and love are connected, he taught. When we realize how much God loves us, we will want to give as God gives. "If I have won someone's heart, I will soon have his purse too," he said.

Luther was aware of the dangers of wealth: "Even if you should become rich justly and with God's help . . . do not make mammon your god. Property is not given to you for you to build your trust on or boast about, all of which is vanity and nothing, but for you to use, enjoy and share with others."

As Luther looked at his 16th-Century contemporaries, he saw greed becoming worse. The human heart covets goods and honor, he wrote. "The more it has the more it wants. If it possessed the whole world, it would like to have two worlds; if it had two, it would like to have ten."

"Nowadays one sees a scrambling after riches . . .even among those who want to be called Christians . . . But such behavior may well be called a life of swine. For the strongest hog at the trough pushes the others away, as though it wanted to devour everything alone."

Be the master of your money, not its servant, Luther advised. "When (one) sees a man who has no coat, he says to his money: Come out, young Mr. Gulden! There is a poor naked man who has no coat; you must serve him. Over there lies a sick man who has no refreshment. Come forth, Sir Dollars! You must be on your way, go and help him. People who handle their possessions in this way are masters of their possessions. And, surely, all honest Christians will do this. But the folk who are saving much money and are forever scheming how to make the pile larger . . . are servants (to their money)."

The servant of money, according to Luther, "sinks deeper and deeper into greed; he gets farther and farther away from the word of God, and finally becomes completely hostile to it."

"If God has given you wealth," Luther said, "give thanks to God and see that you make the right use of it." Might he add today, make the right use of it both during your lifetime and in your final distribution of your property through your will, living trust or other estate plan?

--Adapted from article by The Rev. Wm. F. Krenz

A Gift that Gives Back!

Imagine making a gift to your church and then opening the mail a few months later and finding a check from the ELCA made out to you. If you didn't know better, you might call your congregation and say, "Hey, what's going on here? I gave you people some money a while ago and now you're giving money back to me. What's wrong? Did my gift bounce?"

You wouldn't call the church office because you would have in your possession a signed agreement with the ELCA Foundation. The agreement entitles you to a specific amount of money every year for the rest of your life. This agreement is called a Charitable Gift Annuity, one of the most popular ways to support the future work and mission of the church.

Here's how it works: Mr. Zee is 75 years old. After reviewing the information provided by the ELCA Foundation's Regional Gift Planner, and consulting with his advisor, Mr. Zee writes a check for $25,000 and signs a form indicating that he wants a gift annuity with payments on a quarterly basis.

According to the gift annuity rates, Mr. Zee's age entitles him to receive a quarterly check in the amount of $512.50. This represents an annual annuity rate of 7.0% and an effective annual rate of 11.84%. In addition to receiving regular fixed payments, partially tax free, Mr. Zee will also receive a charitable income tax deduction, if he itemizes.

How does your congregation or any ministry of the church benefit from this arrangement? The ELCA Foundation takes the $25,000 and invests it in a special annuity fund, expecting not only to have enough earnings to make the quarterly payments to Mr. Zee, but also to have enough left over after Mr. Zee dies to benefit the church and/or the ministries Mr. Zee named as beneficiaries of the annuity.

The ELCA Foundation has been issuing gift annuities for many years, as have many charities-some of which are also sponsors of Lutheran Planned Giving. A Charitable Gift Annuity is a wonderful way to support the mission of the church and/or other charities.

Gift annuities can be obtained for the donor to receive income or for someone else to receive income. They can run for one life or for two lives. They can be funded for any amount over $1,000 with cash or marketable securities. Payments can begin soon after the gift is made, or if you choose, years later.

Besides the more obvious uses, gift annuities can be used to help fund a college education or supplement a retirement plan. They can help children provide added financial support for aging parents.

To learn more about the ELCA Foundation's charitable gift annuity program, contact Pastor Dennis Hallemeier using the information listed on the 'Contact Us' page.

Who will write your will?

The state will (unless you do), and the state won't include a bequest for your church or for your favorite ministry or charity. Only you can write God's will into your will, trust or estate plan.

Examples of wording for your gifts: Standard will bequest

Specific Dollar Amount Bequest

"I give, devise and bequeath to (Name of congregation or ministry) Endowment Fund, a (Name of State) not-for-profit corporation, (sum or description of property) to be used for (undesignated or designated) purposes. I further direct that interest or other income which may be earned by said bequest shall also be paid to (Name of congregation or ministry) from the date of my death until paid."

Residuary Bequest:

"I give, devise and bequeath to (Name of congregation or ministry) Endowment Fund, a (Name of State) not-for-profit corporation, the remainder (or a percentage) of my estate to be used for (undesignated or designated) purposes. I further direct that interest or other income which may be earned by said bequest shall also be paid to (Name of congregation or ministry) from the date of my death until paid."

Contingent Bequest

"In the event that (my spouse) shall not survive me, or shall die within ninety days of the date of my death, or as a result of a common disaster, then I give, devise and bequeath (said sum or property) to (Name of congregation or ministry), a (Name of State) not-for-profit corporation, to be used for (undesignated or designated) purposes. I further direct that interest or other income which may be earned by said bequest shall also be paid to (Name of congregation or ministry) from the date of my death until paid."

Lutheran Planned Giving

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Information and examples in this newsletter are for educational purposes only and should not be considered tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisors about your own will, trust or estate plan.

Content Copyright (c)2000, Lutheran Planned Giving in the Arkansas-Oklahoma and Central States Synods.  All rights reserved.