The Rev. Canon Alicia Schuster Weltner, Canon for Congregational Development
Commission on Stewardship
Planned Giving in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
| There ought to be an organization that could set great objectives for the work of the Christian Church. The difficulty with the Church is that too many people have great convictions about little things, and it is time that we have great convictions about great things. The Rt. Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill, Founder |
Bishop C. Judson Child Heritage Circle, honoris the memory of the diocese's seventh bishop who died in 2004.
The Bishop Child Heritage Circle was established to acknowledge all who have made a legacy provision for the church in their estate plans. Each parish has been mailed materials and information to help develop this theme effectively in the context of celebrating All Saints' Day.
Bearing the theme A Gift from One Generation to the Next, Legacy Sunday marks the initial effort to build awareness of the Bishop Child Heritage Circle and to encourage church members to make provisions for their church in their estate plans.
Archdeacon Charles Gearing, diocesan planned giving advisor, is available to assist parishes and individuals with questions about any aspect of planned giving. He can be reached at cgearing@episcopalatlanta.org or at 404-601-5334.
What is Planned Giving?
Planned Giving is defined as a systematic effort to identify and cultivate a person for the purpose of generating a major gift that is structured and that integrates sound personal, financial, and estate-planning concepts with the prospect’s plans for lifetime or testamentary giving. A planned gift has tax implications and is often transmitted through a legal document, such as a Will or a trust.
What is a Capital Campaign?
A capital campaign is defined as an organized drive to collect and accumulate substantial funds to finance major needs of an organization such as a building or major repair project.
What is an Endowment Fund?
An Endowment Fund is defined as the principal amount of gifts and bequests that are accepted subject to a requirement that the principal be maintained intact and invested to create a source of income for a foundation. Donors may require that the principal remain intact in perpetuity, or for a defined period of time or until sufficient assets have been accumulated to achieve a designated purpose.
How can the Diocese of Atlanta help your Parish?
Help is available through a collaboration of the Diocese of Atlanta and the Episcopal Church Foundation. The diocese will provide resources and program support through the work of Dr. Charles Gearing, recently retired from the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF), and Charles also will be available to work as a consultant with individual parishes through the support of ECF. We now offer the full spectrum of fund raising services for the Episcopal Church in one place: discernment, annual giving, planned giving, capital campaigns, and investment management services for endowments and permanent funds.
For information click here
Bishop C. Judson Child Heritage Circle
The Bishop C. Judson Child Heritage Circle is a faithful group of individuals who have given expression of their commitment to bring the Good News of Christ to future generations in our communities and the world by providing in their estate plans for the life and ministry of the Episcopal institutions within the Diocese of Atlanta and beyond.
How to become a member…
By extending membership in The Bishop C. Judson Child Heritage Circle, the Diocese of Atlanta acknowledges the generosity of those individuals who have made a planned gift to the parish, the diocese, or other Episcopal institution. As members, they have the opportunity to witness to their very important Christian decision to be faithful stewards of their accumulated assets. In so doing have demonstrated their strong desire to see the vital work and presence of the Episcopal Church continue for generations to come, long after they have left this mortal life.
The Gift of One Generation to the Next….
In the spirit of Bishop Child we are called to examine how legacy giving allows us to transfer accumulated assets from one generation of followers to the next, thus enabling the light of Christ to continue to shine in our communities and t
 | sJudson Child was born April 25, 1923, to the Rev. Charles Judson and Alice Sylvia Child in North Bergen, New Jersey. He received both Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Divinity degrees from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. He was ordained priest in 1948 in the Diocese of Newark and served in that diocese for twenty years before being called to serve as canon pastor at the Cathedral of St. Philip in 1967. After eleven years in that position he was elected suffragan bishop of Atlanta and, in 1983, was elected diocesan. He led the Diocese of Atlanta until his retirement in 1989. |
d
In the speech which nominated him for bishop, June 25, 1983, the Rev. Franklin C. Ferguson, noted, “I am sure that I speak for many of us when I make the observation that a marvelous charisma of Judson Child is that his humor is never alien to the holy, and his sense of the holy is never alien to his sense of humor.”
In his address to Diocesan Council, January 30, 1987, in All Saints Church, Atlanta, Bishop Child observed, "We are people with a story and that story is the Gospel of Jesus Christ who for us and our salvation came down from heaven and joined us in our pilgrimage."
A Message from our bishop…
 | As we make preparations for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of this diocese, we reflect on our past and we look to the future. What we know and enjoy today as the Diocese of Atlanta has been given us as a legacy by those who have gone before. They have given themselves – their toil, their leadership, their spirit and their money – to make the diocese what it is today. |
One who embodied all these gifts was the Seventh Bishop of Atlanta, Charles. Judson Child, Jr., and we have chosen to honor him by naming our legacy society for him. Through his leadership and his example of generosity he has left a legacy that will inspire us for generations to come.
The Bishop C. Judson Child Heritage Circle will acknowledge and honor those amongst us who have made generous provisions to help insure the future of our church. In so doing, they are defining their legacy as faithful stewards of the material goods that God has given them, and they are helping to assure that God’s mission will continue to be fulfilled in their parishes, this diocese and the world.
How to make a planned gift …
Back to index Some s common ways to make planned gifts are:
Gift of current assets or appreciated securities:
A gift of current assets by cash or appreciated securities is always appropriate and usually offers favorable tax advantages.
A Bequest in a will:
The simple insertion of a clause in your will can assure that a lasting gift will be made to your parish or other institution. Ask about the exact language you should use to designate the beneficiary you choose.
Life Insurance Gift:
Since many people have some form of life insurance, you may choose this vehicle to make a gift to the Church. If you would like to explore this, you can ask your insurance professional to help you.
Revocable Living Trust:
A revocable living trust allows a gift of assets to be made now while retaining the right to retrieve those assets later if it becomes necessary.
Life Income Gifts:
Life income gifts provide income for yourself and your spouse for life, and still provide for a gift to the church after your death. These gifts, particularly when they are funded with appreciated property, often provide donors increased income as well as favorable tax benefits. The three main vehicles are a charitable gift annuity, a pooled income fund gift, or a charitable remainder trust. They are available through the Episcopal Church Foundation and may be used to benefit any Episcopal-related institution.
Gifts of IRA’s and other tax deferred savings:
Persons with savings in the form of tax-deferred funds such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s), 401(k) plans, or other qualified retirement plans, may find significant tax advantages in using these assets for their charitable giving in their estate plans. Tax exempt organizations are not subject to the income tax that individuals are and thus are able to benefit from the full amount of the gift.
Wording for Gifts:
It is important to use the exact language to name a parish or institution as beneficiary for any form of estate provision. Please check with the beneficiary you have chosen to get the correct name. To make a provision for the Diocese of Atlanta, the correct wording is: The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Incorporated, 2744 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
