Comments on: To Endow or Not to Endow http://albanroundtable.org/archives/297 a virtual gathering place for congregational leaders Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:08:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Twila Glenn http://albanroundtable.org/archives/297/comment-page-1#comment-56 Twila Glenn Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:12:25 +0000 http://albanroundtable.org/?p=297#comment-56 Jay describes an interesting dilemma - how to corral the use of endowment proceeds in ways that are sustaining and productive over the long haul, rather than teach the congregation bad habits in the short term. Interesting perspective, Jay. Thanks! Jay describes an interesting dilemma – how to corral the use of endowment proceeds in ways that are sustaining and productive over the long haul, rather than teach the congregation bad habits in the short term. Interesting perspective, Jay. Thanks!

]]> By: Jay Blossom http://albanroundtable.org/archives/297/comment-page-1#comment-48 Jay Blossom Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:15:13 +0000 http://albanroundtable.org/?p=297#comment-48 I am a member of an endowed parish. We're too dependent on our endowment, in my opinion. But we also have a splendid, 160-year-old, National Historic Landmark church building (which is, like most old buildings, our best asset and our biggest money pit). So my idea is this: The lavish generosity of our dead members should be spent only on keeping our marvelous building in good shape. Our programs, salaries, and other similar expenditures should come out of the generosity of our current members. In reality, the generosity of the dead helps to finance today's programs, too. And that means that some of the care for the old building is being deferred. I am a member of an endowed parish. We’re too dependent on our endowment, in my opinion. But we also have a splendid, 160-year-old, National Historic Landmark church building (which is, like most old buildings, our best asset and our biggest money pit). So my idea is this: The lavish generosity of our dead members should be spent only on keeping our marvelous building in good shape. Our programs, salaries, and other similar expenditures should come out of the generosity of our current members.

In reality, the generosity of the dead helps to finance today’s programs, too. And that means that some of the care for the old building is being deferred.

]]> By: Twila Glenn http://albanroundtable.org/archives/297/comment-page-1#comment-37 Twila Glenn Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:24:52 +0000 http://albanroundtable.org/?p=297#comment-37 Hal and Bob - thanks for your responses. Great to hear your ideas about how to "endow responsibly." Hal and Bob – thanks for your responses. Great to hear your ideas about how to “endow responsibly.”

]]> By: Bob Cornwall http://albanroundtable.org/archives/297/comment-page-1#comment-36 Bob Cornwall Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:01:06 +0000 http://albanroundtable.org/?p=297#comment-36 On the other hand, endowments allow the contributions of those who have gone on to continue supporting ministries they love. I've been pastor of small congregations that have been able to support a pastor only because of those gifts. We're not addicted to the endowments, but the endowments support ministry in an ongoing way. Not a bad idea, in my mind! On the other hand, endowments allow the contributions of those who have gone on to continue supporting ministries they love. I’ve been pastor of small congregations that have been able to support a pastor only because of those gifts.

We’re not addicted to the endowments, but the endowments support ministry in an ongoing way. Not a bad idea, in my mind!

]]> By: Hal Chorpenning http://albanroundtable.org/archives/297/comment-page-1#comment-35 Hal Chorpenning Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:02:19 +0000 http://albanroundtable.org/?p=297#comment-35 Hi, Twila! Thanks for your thoughts about endowments. Having served on a large UCC conference staff in New England, I got used to seeing churches "living off dead people's money." This is not healthy for any congregation, as it diminishes the need for members to be active stewards of their own financial resources (i.e, they don't have to give generously to support the mission and ministry of their local church). I agree with your muscle metaphor...we're all pretty flaccid! One of the things we've just done at Plymouth UCC in Fort Collins, CO, is creating an endowed fund for the wider mission of the UCC in concert with our capital campaign. We didn't have an endowment, so we created one for mission and allowed our members to check a box on their capital campaign pledge card to devote 10% of their gift to the mission endowment. (That way, we don't develop an unhealthy dependence of endowment for local-church expenses, though we do have tiny funds within the endowment for capital improvement, worship, and Christian ed.) Some of the churches in our region who count on their endowments to provide fund the basic operating expenses are also feeling the sting of the market downturn. Ouch! Are there 12-Step groups for churches addicted to their endowments? : ) Peace, Hal Hi, Twila!

Thanks for your thoughts about endowments. Having served on a large UCC conference staff in New England, I got used to seeing churches “living off dead people’s money.” This is not healthy for any congregation, as it diminishes the need for members to be active stewards of their own financial resources (i.e, they don’t have to give generously to support the mission and ministry of their local church). I agree with your muscle metaphor…we’re all pretty flaccid!
One of the things we’ve just done at Plymouth UCC in Fort Collins, CO, is creating an endowed fund for the wider mission of the UCC in concert with our capital campaign. We didn’t have an endowment, so we created one for mission and allowed our members to check a box on their capital campaign pledge card to devote 10% of their gift to the mission endowment. (That way, we don’t develop an unhealthy dependence of endowment for local-church expenses, though we do have tiny funds within the endowment for capital improvement, worship, and Christian ed.)
Some of the churches in our region who count on their endowments to provide fund the basic operating expenses are also feeling the sting of the market downturn. Ouch!
Are there 12-Step groups for churches addicted to their endowments? : )
Peace,
Hal

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