Changing the Trends: Going from Down to Up

The Fund for Leaders in Mission

The Trend Down

The number of congregations that do not have a called pastor has been going up. The number of ordained pastors has been going down. The average age of new candidates for ordained ministry has been going up—which gives fewer years for ministry per candidate. Retirements are increasing in number. The debt load of seminary graduates has been increasing dramatically—some graduating with over $30,000 in seminary-incurred loans. Salaries for many first call pastors are inadequate to allow them to pay off their seminary debts.

Turning the Trend Upwards

The good news is that we, as a church, are doing something about this. The trend downward is being reversed. The ELCA has initiated The Fund for Leaders in Mission to provide full tuition scholarships to seminary students preparing for ministry in the church. The first full tuition scholarships have already been given to eight students. This year, sixteen more full tuition scholarships are going to be awarded. The only requirement is that the students are approved candidates for ministry and attend an ELCA seminary. The goal is to provide scholarships to all such students and thereby reduce the debt load when they begin to serve in our congregations.

Our Members Do Want Pastors

The Fund for Leaders in Mission already has a good start. Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood have invested $500,000 each to get the Fund up and running. Already about $5 million has been committed by people who believe we need to find and educate leaders in mission. The need is great both to provide immediate scholarships and to build an endowment to make certain that we continue to provide ordained and other rostered leadership who are not burdened by debt. Having pastors and other leaders is a number one priority.

Let’s Start Talking

Pastor Jerry Leaf has accepted appointment as a Resource Associate in our two synods to help get the word to our members about the Fund for Leaders. He has information to share and ideas to present about how everyone can help. Invite him to speak or share information with your congregation. You will find this a refreshing approach to providing future pastors and other rostered leaders for our congregations. He is available for some Sunday mornings, for Church Councils, Women of the ELCA, or any group in your congregation. You can contact him at:

gleaf@midusa.net
1-785-227-3473
903 N. Main, Lindsborg, KS 67456

What is your Will?

Six questions about your will or living trust

Periodically, it’s a good idea to run through a checklist to make sure your will or living trust is up to date.

1. Is my will or living trust current?
This is an important question since many people have a will or living trust that is so outdated that it is practically useless. In fact, an out-of-date will or trust can cause more problems for loved ones than no will at all. Tax laws change. The size and extent of your assets may have changed as well. Updating allows you to take advantage of recent tax developments, new techniques in estate planning, and changes in your family situation.

2. Does my will or trust represent my wishes?
Your family situation may have changed over the years. Perhaps your estate has grown beyond your earlier estimates. Maybe you’ve changed your mind about some of your bequests. The more time that passes and the more changes that occur in your life, the more you should consider bringing your will or living trust up to date.

3. Is my will or living trust valid?
Have you moved to a different state since creating your last will or living trust? The laws may differ and your old documents may no longer be valid. Or maybe your prepared your own will and missed something of vital importance, such as proper signatures. Considering the importance of your will or trust, it makes sense to have an estate planning attorney review your current will or living trust or help you draft a new one.

4. Is my will or living trust safely stored?
Where do you keep the original copy of your will or living trust? Is safely stored away in a fireproof home safe? Is it in a file folder someplace, or even in an old shoebox under the bed? Your will or living trust should either be stored in a bank safe deposit box or some equally protected place. And someone else whom you trust should know where such important documents are located.

5. Does my personal representative know?
After selecting a safe place to store your will or living trust, be sure to tell your personal representative where to find it. Imagine the frustration and added grief your loved ones may experience by being unable to fulfill your wishes in settling your estate. Besides informing your personal representative about your will or living trust (and perhaps giving that person an access key or combination), you might also provide a list of accounts, assets, insurance policies and funeral instructions. Your ELCA Foundation Regional Gift Planner can provide you with a document (Notes for My Friends and Family) which, when completed, provides the information your loved ones will need.

6. Have I included my church and favorite ministries in my will or living trust?
When you update your will or living trust—or prepare one for the first time—remember that you have the opportunity to witness to your faith and values by a bequest for your church and/or other ministries. There are ways to plan your giving in order to create a legacy for you as well as to make a difference in your church’s ministries for generations to come. Your ELCA Foundation Regional Gift Planner can provide you information which can help you discover ways to maximize benefits to your heirs and, at the same time, provide for the Lord’s work.

For additional information about wills and estate planning and a copy of Notes for My Friends and Family, contact Pastor Dennis Hallemeier using the information listed on the 'Contact Us' page.

Our lifetime stewardship is not complete until we have provided lasting support for the Lord’s ongoing work as a lasting legacy of love for the Lord and for the Lord’s ministry.

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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.