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Weekly Events
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Mission Endowment Fund for
Deerfield Lutheran Church Deerfield,
WI
Continuing Resolution to Establish the
Mission Endowment Fund
Of Deerfield Lutheran
Church
Whereas, Christian
stewardship involves the faithful management of all the gifts God has given
to humankind - the created world, the Gospel, life, time, abilities, money,
including accumulated, inherited, and appreciated resources; and,
Whereas, the biblical principle of proportionate
giving, to return to the Lord a portion of the gifts God has first given to
his beloved children, is both a privilege and an appropriate response in all
times and circumstances; and,
Whereas, Christians can give to the work of the
church through gifts in and from wills, life insurance policies, charitable
gift annuities, charitable remainder and other trusts, and transfers of
property such as cash, stocks, bonds and real estate; and,
Whereas, it is the desire of Deerfield Lutheran
Church (herein referred
to as Congregation) to encourage, receive and administer these gifts in a
manner consistent with the loyalty and devotion to our Lord in accord with
the policies of this congregation, now,
It is Resolved, that this Congregation, at a duly called meeting on (insert date of Deerfield Lutheran annual
meeting) hereby establishes a new and separate fund to be known as The
Mission Endowment Fund of Deerfield Lutheran Church, (herein referred to as
Fund), and,
It is Further Resolved, that the purpose of this Fund is to enhance the
mission outreach of Deerfield Lutheran Church apart from the general
operation of the Congregation so that no portion of the distributions of the
Fund shall be used for the annual operating expenses of the Congregation,
and,
It is Further Resolved, that the mission endowment fund committee (herein
referred to as Committee) shall be the custodian of the Fund, and,
It is Further Resolved, that the purpose, governance, administration and
management of the Fund and Committee are established and defined by the plan
of operation as hereinafter set forth.
Plan of Operation
Committee
Membership
The Committee shall consist of three, all of whom
shall be voting members of Deerfield
Lutheran Church. Except as herein limited, the term of each
member shall be three (3) years. Upon
adoption of this resolution by the Congregation, it shall elect three (3)
members to the Committee: one (1) for a term of three (3) years; and one (1)
for a term of two (2) years; and one (1) for a term of one (1) year. Thereafter, at each annual meeting, the
Congregation shall elect the necessary number for a term of three (3)
years. No member shall serve more than
three (3) consecutive three (3) year terms.
After a lapse of one (1) year, a former Committee member may be
re-elected. The Pastor, the President
of the Church Council, and treasurer shall be advisory members of the
Committee.
The Nominating Committee of the Congregation shall
provide for the nomination of potential members of the Committee, and report
same to the annual congregation meeting in the same manner as for other
offices and committees. In the event
of a vacancy on the Committee, the Church Council shall appoint a
congregation member to fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting of the
Congregation, at which time the Congregation shall elect a member to fill the
term of the vacancy.
The Committee shall meet at least semi-annually, or
more frequently as deemed by it in the best interest of the Fund. A quorum shall consist of two (2)
members. When only two (2) members are
present a unanimous vote shall be required to carry any motion or resolution.
The Committee shall elect from its membership a chairperson,
recording secretary and treasurer. The
chairperson, or member designated by the chairperson, shall preside at all
committee meetings. The recording
secretary of the Committee shall maintain complete and accurate minutes of
all meetings and supply a copy to each member of the committee. Each member shall keep a complete copy of
minutes to be delivered to his or her successor. The recording secretary shall also timely
supply a copy of the minutes to the Church Council.
The treasurer of the Committee shall work with the
Congregation's financial secretary and/or treasurer in maintaining and
coordinating complete and accurate accounts for the Fund. The treasurer of the Committee and one
other Committee or advisory member shall sign checks and all other necessary
documents on behalf of the Congregation in furtherance of the purposes of the
Fund. The financial records of the
Committee shall be audited annually by a certified public accountant, church
audit committee or other appropriate person who is not a member of the
Committee. The Committee shall report
at least semi-annually to the Church Council.
Further, at each annual meeting of the Congregation the Committee shall
render a full and complete account of the administration of the Fund during
the preceding year.
The Committee may request other members of the
Congregation to serve as advisory members and, at the expense of Fund, may
provide for such professional counseling on investments or legal matters as
it deems to be in the best interest of the Fund.
Members of the Committee shall not be liable for any
losses which may be incurred upon the investments of the assets of the Fund
except to the extent such losses shall have been caused by bad faith. No member shall be personally liable as long
as he or she acts in good faith. Each
member shall be liable only for his or her own willful misconduct or
omissions, and shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any other
member. No member shall engage in any
"self dealing" or transactions with the Fund in which the member
has direct or indirect financial interest, and shall at all times refrain
from any conduct in which his or her personal interests would conflict with
the interest of the Fund.
Decisions to hold, sell, exchange, rent, lease, transfer,
convert, invest, reinvest and in all other respects to manage and control the
assets of the Fund (including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, debentures, real
estate, mortgages, notes or other securities) shall be made at the discretion
of the Committee. However, the Church Council shall approve
each decision/transaction involving an amount in excess of 50% of the value
of the fund. The Fund assets
shall not be used for loans. Members
of the Committee shall be bonded under the Congregation's insurance policy.
Defining Principal and Income
The Committee shall determine what is principal and
income, and shall have the discretion to include all appreciation of the
assets of the fund within the definition of income.
The Fund shall accumulate until a principal amount
of $25,000.00 is achieved, after which up to 8 % of the assets of the Fund
shall be distributed annually according to the distribution formula
below. The committee distributions
shall not reduce the Fund balance below $25,000. The distribution percent
shall follow as nearly as reasonable the distribution recommended by the
advisors of the ELCA Endowment Pooled Trust Fund A. [The
current distribution percent, based on a 5 year rolling average of interest
and growth with inflation and 1% annual fund management expense considered,
is 4.5%. The Mission
Endowment Committee is free to select whatever percent is prudent. While
there is no assurance that the recommended percent will not reduce principle
value, higher percentages than recommended has a greater probability, in poor
economic conditions, to erode the principle. ]
Distributions
Income from the Fund shall be distributed annually,
or at such other times as is deemed necessary or feasible to accomplish its
purposes through the following distributions:
- If the Fund balance
is below $250,000, the committee shall determine how the distribution
will be used. The distribution
for a Fund balance over $250,000 is to be a guide; however, the
committee is not bound by the distribution guidelines.
- If the Fund balance
is over $250,000, the distribution guidelines are as follows.
- Ten to thirty-five
(10-35%) percent for outreach into the community and synod, including,
but not limited to, grants to Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
seminaries, colleges or students attending such institutions, social
service agencies, institutions and agencies to which this Congregation
relates, and to special programs designed for those persons in our
parish area who are in spiritual and/or economic need.
- Ten to thirty-five
(10-35%) percent for missions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, nationally and worldwide, including, but not limited to,
grants to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for new
congregation development, professional leadership, educational
ministries, global mission, ecumenism, evangelism, social ministries,
disaster response and capital financing.
- Up to thirty-five
(0-35%) percent for capital improvements, debt reduction for a building
program, or for the development of any special ministry of the
Congregation.
- Up to twenty-five
(0-25%) percent for any one or all of the above designated areas in any
proportion as determined by the Committee, or for causes and programs
which at the discretion of the Committee are deemed consistent with the
purpose of the Fund in enhancing the missional outreach of the
Congregation.
The Committee shall
determine both the percentage of available funds per category to be
distributed annually and the recipients of the annual distribution within any
category. Such determinations of the
Committee shall be approved by the Church Council prior to the disbursement
of funds.
Emergency Distributions
When, in the opinion of the Committee, circumstances
are so dire and of such an emergency nature that the future of the
congregation is at stake, and that the only recourse seems to be the use of
the Fund principal beyond any portion distributable under the foregoing
provisions, the Committee may, upon a unanimous vote, recommend such
authorizing action to the Congregation.
Such an emergency distribution of principal shall require a two-thirds
(⅔s) vote of the members present at a duly convened meeting of the
Congregation.
When, in the unanimous
opinion of the Committee there is a need so great of one of the recipients in
one of the categories of distribution that Christian compassion and
stewardship requires a distribution greater than available under the previous
distribution provisions of this plan, the Committee, with the prior approval
of the Church Council, may distribute up to 5% of the Fund to such need.
Amending of Resolution
Be
it further resolved, that any amendment to this resolution which will change,
alter or amend the purpose
for which the Fund is established, and/or its distributions, shall be adopted
by a two-thirds (⅔s) vote of the members present at an annual meeting
of the Congregation, or at a special meeting of the Congregation called
specifically for the purpose of amending this resolution.
Disposition or Transfer of Fund
In
the event Deerfield Lutheran Church
ceases to exist either through merger or dissolution, disposition or transfer
of the Fund shall be at the discretion of the Church Council in conformity
with the Congregation Constitution and Bylaws, and in consultation with the Bishop
of the synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America
to which this congregation belongs.
Designated Gifts
The Mission Endowment Committee encourages undesignated
gifts. Should a donor wish to
designate their gift to a specific need or ministry, the Mission Endowment
Committee (MEC) requests that the committee be informed in writing of the
designation prior to receiving the gift.
Further, the MEC reserves the right to clarify the designation with
the donor and not accept gifts that do not comply with the mission or purpose
statement of the congregation. Gifts
to a designated fund will be independently accounted for and will be separate
from all other endowment funds.
Signed and approved at the January 25, 2009 Annual
Meeting.
FROM THE TREASURER:
It was just a while back that I had real
difficulty even thinking in terms of automatic payments on my bills. I
like to know the exact amount and on what date payments are made. What changed
my thinking was our mortgage payment, which occurs on the same day each month
and is a specific amount. I don’t gave to write a check, mail it
in or worry about on-time payment if I am out of town. It was a relief!
I found out I could do the same with my commitment to the Lord’s work. I
choose when I will pay and how much is to be deducted from my
account. When I am gone for the weekend my support is still there!
Nor did I thin about how important this would be for a congregation until I
became the Treasurer and have responsibility for paying the bills and sending
our contributions to our ministries throughout the world. Let me tell you –
automatic transfer makes a difference. This was the first summer in
years we did not have to borrow funds in the summer. A major reason was
that we have a number of families who are on automatic transfer this
year. These are dollars we can count on no matter what the families are
doing or where they are each week.
Perhaps you are among those who send a check by mail when you don’t make it
to worship, or you make up for past non-payments when you miss worship, in
either case honoring the commitment you have made to our ministry. There is
an easier way to assure your timely support, and the beginning of a New Year
is a good time to start!
If you are interested in automatic transfer, you may pick up a form at the
church or get one directly from your bank. Thrivent for Lutherans will also
handle this for you at no charge. I would appreciate knowing both the timing
and the amount if you sign up, so I know prior to the end-of-month bank
statement what is transferred and when. Automatic transfer giving is a
great way to share the gifts with which we have been so richly blessed.
Arlyn Turnquist, Treasurer
IT’S NOT HOW MUCH WE GIVE,
BUT HOW MUCH LOVE WE PUT INTO GIVING!
Mother Theresa
STEWARDSHIP AT DEERFIELD
LUTHERAN CHURCH
(DLC)
Many think that Stewardship is the church’s way of
getting money. This is not true. Education is the cornerstone of Stewardship.
Helping people to use what they have wisely and thankfully is the goal.
Almost all families, at one time or another, have financial stress. The
church¹s stewardship program can help people clarify priorities and develop
healthy relationships and attitudes toward material things.
A new educational aspect of Stewardship at DLC is our environmental
stewardship program "Caring for Our Mother". We continue in our
efforts to reduce our garbage by using the china, rather than plastic and
Styrofoam, for fellowship events. The paper from the office is being
separated for recycling. A number of DLC women have sewn fabric shopping bags
and gift bags. The use of such reusable bags will reduce the amount of
plastic and paper bags and wrap which goes to the landfills. The bags are
offered for sale periodically after worship.
We have each been blessed. The vast majority of us enjoy good health, we are
employed and we are able to live in a country that allows us to live where we
want, vote for our representatives in government and we are free to exercise
our faith. As Christians we sense that all that we have ultimately comes from
God. In gratefulness we give a portion of what we have to the ministry of
Jesus Christ. We do that in many different ways. While some of our contributions
are financial, our contributions of time volunteered to help in the
neighborhood, at church, the food pantry, the school or another philanthropic
organization is also important.
DLC has a history of celebrating the financial commitment of its members. During each season of the year members
complete a Time & Talent
survey
to allow the leadership to better utilize the talents and interests of the
people in congregational and community projects and programs.
DLC is also committed to support missions beyond our congregation. We support
Lutheran Social Services, Lutherdale Outdoor Ministries, and the World Hunger
Appeal of the ELCA and the Jail Ministries on a regular basis by receiving
special quarterly offerings.
Please contact us if you have any ideas for other stewardship programs, if
you would like to serve on the Stewardship Committee or make contributions to
any of the programs.
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