For the record, HOW healthy is your congregation's endowment fund/foundation? Congregational endowment funds or foundations exist in a greater number of Wisconsin ELCA congregations than one would expect. However, the number of such funds or foundations that suffer from a lack of contributions is also greater than one would expect. The issues that need to be addressed in any given congregation in order to promote growth of an endowment are complex, and not easily placed in a one‑size fits all formula.

Christian stewardship involves the faithful management of all the gifts God has given to humankind. The Endowment Fund provides an opportunity for Christians to continue their stewardship beyond their own lifetimes. It also enables donors to support the mission outreach of our congregation is perpetuity. Brochures (front/back) included in pdf format.

The question raised in the SYNOD STAFF MEETING ON-LINE was this: As congregations 'close' they are required to make decisions regarding the disbursement of assets. On occasion I have read where this final decision has been made with considerable thought and inspiration, that has then resulted in the planting of seeds for or nurturing of ministry. I think it would be helpful if we could "lift up" these examples for the purpose of enlightening the members of these congregations as to the possibilities. The reply: One of our congregations closed a few years ago and set up an endowment in our synod that has been used extensively to help rostered people with sabbaticals and other continuing education expenses.

The Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is called by God to be a living witness to God's love and concern for the world. God is the giver of all gifts and we who receive them are called to be good stewards of all that comes from God. We are not to hoard God's gifts and God's gifts are not intended to enrich the church, but to be used to do God's work in the world. When Jesus spoke of that work, he said: "… the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them." (Luke 7:22 NRSV)

Mission Statement: The mission of the St. John's Endowment Fund is to encourage Christian stewardship and to enhance the outreach ministry of the congregation by providing an orderly method for receiving and administering gifts bequeathed to the church through wills and other forms of estate planning.