Making a will is one of the most important decisions we will ever make. Yet will-making, and the opportunity to leave a gift to the church or a charity, is rarely discussed on Sundays.
That’s why this Christian Legacy Week (19-25 October) we’re calling on parishes and churches to talk to their congregations about the power of legacy giving.
What happens in Christian Legacy Week?
Christian Legacy would like to see discussions around leaving a legacy being just as normal in church as talking about life after death and living a life that ‘makes a difference’. That’s why they are providing free resources to help churches talk about gifts in wills over the course of the week.
Leaving a legacy is the perfect way to continue to sow into God’s kingdom on earth and enable the transformation of lives long after you are gone. So if you are a church leader or small group leader, why not talk to your congregation or group about the power of leaving a gift to a Christian cause?
John Preston, National Stewardship Officer at the Church of England, said: “The call to Christian stewardship doesn’t just apply to our church and charitable giving – we’re called to be generous in all of our giving throughout life and at the end of life. The Church of England encourages its members to give 5% of their income to the local church and a similar amount to charities that the Lord puts on their hearts. This challenge could be equally applied to gifts in wills, which is why I commend Christian Legacy’s efforts to raise this important opportunity in our churches.
Who are Christian Legacy?
Christian Legacy Week is run by a group of leading Christian charities, including Care for the Family, the Bible Society, Church Mission Society, the TLG, Livability and Stewardship.
Daniel Jones from Stewardship added: “We’re very excited to be encouraging churches to get involved with Christian Legacy Week this year. Talking about death and what we leave behind should not be a taboo subject for Christians.
“We hope this year more Christians will be inspired to consider a gift in their will as a wonderful opportunity to invest in future generations and help reap a harvest long after they’ve left this world.”
How can our Parish get involved?
If you would like to find out how your parish can get involved, please visit our Legacies Page http://parishresource.wpenginepowered.com/legacies/