Some months ago, I had an
aged uncle pass away. Quite frankly, my uncle had been a curmudgeon. He was a product of his society: racist, sexist and opinionated. There were just so many topics from which we
had to steer clear. My aunt died before
him and sadly she had been the one to keep him grounded.
He died leaving a
good-sized estate. His will included a
specific amount that their congregation would receive. My aunt and uncle had been members of that
congregation for their 70 years of marriage.
They attended worship every Sunday even when my aunt’s dementia was well
advanced. They had many friends from that congregation. I was saddened and
offended that they set aside a paltry 0.4% of their estate for their
congregation. I am sure the congregation
will receive their bequest with gratitude and thanks. It is a congregation of kind and gracious
people. But as an outsider looking in, I
was hurt by his stinginess at his life’s end with a 0.4% bequest. I now am suspicious that in life, his annual
contributions were seen as a crass tax deduction more than an offering of
gratitude to God. I am hurt that the man who I thought was thoughtful and
benevolent left his memory to be tight-fisted and manipulative.
This is not my idea of
healthy stewardship. So let me shift to
something a bit more positive and up-building.
Estate planners and
professional stewardship consultants speak about leaving a “legacy.” My first thought was that “legacy” sounds presumptuous
and snooty. I thought of statues and
monuments, bronze plaques and lead inlays in stained-glass windows. But, I was wrong. A legacy simply is an inheritance and a
remembrance. A legacy is a
thought-filled end of life gift intended to do good for individuals and
institutions.
My first word to those who
are superstitious and creeped out by discussions of wills and estate planning
is this: Suck it up, Buttercup! Let’s be
adults and deal with the realities of life.
Put it in writing! You’ve got
some dough stashed away under the mattress or in a cookie jar so, put it to
work. Find a trusted consultant who will
make those moth-infested dollars grow.
Next, deal with the fact that you are not immortal. Determine how your estate is going to be distributed
at the time of your death.
Let me make a personal
announcement: Oh, Emily and Jonathan, you ain’t getting the whole enchilada! As Peggy and I have attempted to be tithers in
this earthly life, so, too, in death we intend to set aside 10% of our estate
to be divided between our congregation and Wartburg Theological Seminary. (If I pre-decease Peggy she may also bequeath
a percentage to the Chippendale Dancers Training Facility.) In other words, we want a percentage of our
legacy to be used for goodwill. We may need to tweak things so that it is used
for programmatic causes rather than utility bills
When the time comes, there
may not be a whole lot left. Regardless,
we will have made a statement of faith.
We will have impressed upon our children and (if there be) grandchildren
what has been important for us.
Imagine the impact if
every household in a congregation had a will with 10% set aside for the work of
the congregation. Think of the
leadership that the youth could follow.
Imagine the teaching tools that could be purchased for Sunday schools.
Consider the possibilities of nursing care coming from the church to the
community.
In life and in death there
is no reason to be a tightwad. I’ve
never seen a U-haul trailer behind a hearse.
