POLICY FOR MEMORIAL AND TESTAMENTARY GIFTS TO THE CHURCH
Making Of Gifts
Everyone is encouraged to make memorial gifts to the church, in memory of friends and loved ones, and also to remember the church by will. The most useful gift to the church is an undesignated gift to the Memorial Fund. The Memorial Fund is a fund established for the purpose of accepting and holding for a short term undesignated memorial gifts to the church.
Memorial Gifts
It is suggested that memorial gifts be made without designation for a specific use. For example, “In memory of _________________________” without additional designation.
If the donor of a memorial gift wishes to specify the fund to which the gift is to be applied, it is suggested that the gift be designated for addition to the Benevolence Fund or Capital Fund. For example, “In memory of ____________________, to be added to the Capital Fund.”
If the donor wishes to specify a purpose other than one covered by an existing fund of the church, it is suggested that the donor consider that unless the gift is in a sufficient amount to accomplish the purpose for which it was intended, the donation could languish in the newly created fund until enough money can be raised to accomplish the purpose, or the Session and/or the congregation decide to make some other use of the funds. It is suggested that persons who wish to establish a new fund confer with the minister(s) or the chairperson of the Administration Committee before making a gift.
In accepting a gift for a purpose other than one covered by one of the existing funds of the church, the Session will be guided by the following guidelines:
1. Determine the appropriateness of the Gift in the Church’s program and whether the amount of the gift is sufficient to completely fund the designated purpose.
2. If determined that the amount does not completely fund the designated purpose, whether there is any likelihood that an additional amount sufficient to accomplish such purpose may be available within a reasonable period of time.
Gifts by Will
It is especially important that persons making gifts by Will to the church give serious consideration to the above suggestions.
Undesignated gifts may be made “to the First Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, North Carolina, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).” Gifts to an existing fund may be made for example “to the First Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, North Carolina, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to be added to the Benevolence Fund of said Church.” Memorial gifts also may be made by Will, for example, “to the First Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, North Carolina, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in memory of ____________________________________.”
Members of the Session, Administration Ministry, or one of the ministers will be glad to confer with anyone considering a gift by Will to the Church, or with the attorney drafting the Will. Persons wishing to make gifts to the Church by Will, or their attorney, are strongly encouraged to discuss the proposed gift with a minister or the chairperson of the Administration Ministry, so that the gift may be properly designated to insure that the goal of the donor is accomplished.
ADMINISTRATION OF MEMORIAL GIFTS AND GIFTS BY WILL.
Undesignated Gifts
Undesignated memorial gifts, and undesignated gifts by Will, will be accumulated in a general memorial fund, with a notation of the giver and the person memorialized. At least twice a year, the Administration Ministry will report to the Session on the amount of memorial gifts and the amount of gifts by Will in the fund, and suggest a use or uses to which the funds may be put. The Session shall decide in what manner to use the funds, in the furtherance of God’s work and the great ends of the church.
Gifts To Existing Funds
At least twice a year, the Administration Ministry shall report to the Session the amount of memorial gifts made to each fund, and the amount of gifts by Will made to each fund. These additions shall be administered in the same manner as the other monies in those funds.
Gifts For Funds That Do Not Exist Or For A Purpose For Which There Is No Fund
Upon receipt of a gift to a fund that does not exist or for a purpose for which there is no fund, the Administration Ministry or one of the ministers shall advise the donor that Church policy is to direct gifts to existing funds consistent with the provisions of this policy. If the donor does not wish to make the donation to an existing fund, the matter shall be presented to the Administration Ministry for recommendation to the Session for a decision. In making its decision the Session may consider those items outlined in the section labeled “Memorial Gifts” above. The Session may choose to establish a new fund, have additional discussions with the donor, decline to accept the gift or take other appropriate action.
Requests for Specific Use of Undesignated Memorials
Requests from family of a deceased member within 90 days of the death for a specific use of undesignated memorials made in the name of such deceased member shall be referred to the Administration Ministry. The Administration Ministry is charged with the responsibility for choosing the most appropriate manner for handling such requests. If the Administration Ministry is unable or unwilling to make a decision, the matter shall be referred to the Session.
Approved by Session May 4, 2011
Disclosure
Ordinarily, the amount of memorial gifts and gifts by Will, will not be disclosed, but the names of the persons making the gifts, and in whose memory they were given, will be made known. In the case of memorial gifts, the name of the giver and the person in whose memory the gift was given will be sent to the family of the person memorialized as soon as possible after the gift is received
Adopted by Session November 5, 2003