5 Reasons Why Church Leaders Should Talk About Legacy Planning

generosity

Pastor John was shocked when he read the local newspaper column. Mary Granger had left her entire estate, $5 million, to the local hospital. They were going to name a floor in her honor.

John had nothing against the hospital. He was grateful for the service they provided, but he was surprised that Mary would leave her entire estate to the hospital.

Mary had been a member of John’s church for her entire life, almost eighty years. She came to faith in the church. She was at the church any time the doors were open. She had served on just about every ministry team imaginable. She had discipled countless women during her life. Mary was a rock in their church. She loved the church.

So, John’s shock was not due to a distaste for the hospital. Instead, he was shocked that Mary didn’t leave anything to her beloved church. She even knew the church had some significant financial needs. Why would she not leave a single cent to the church?

At an appropriate time, John met with a few of Mary’s close friends, and asked them about Mary’s decision to give everything to the hospital instead of the church.

Their response caught John off guard.

“Nobody’s ever mentioned it to us. Like Mary, we’ve never thought about the church as an option. Everyone else is talking to us about our legacy planning, except for the church.”

Pastor John’s church is representative of churches across the nation. Legacy planning is rarely discussed in most churches. But this needs to change. Here are five reasons why church leaders should talk about legacy planning.

1. We will all release our resources when we die.

Psalm 49:10 says, For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others (NIV).” Psalm 49:10 is one of several places in Scripture that demonstrates this reality—at some point, we will all die, and our resources will be in the hands of someone else. We cannot take our earthly treasure to heaven. The money in our bank account and the properties we own remain on earth.

In all fairness, the topic of death is not a popular topic in and outside the church. Likewise, the topic of money tends not to be a very popular topic. So, it is understandable why a topic containing the combination of both death and money is regularly avoided. But such a universal experience should certainly be discussed in the church. For all of us, it is not a matter of if, but when. One hundred percent of those sitting in the pews will experience Psalm 49:10.

2. Planning for one’s financial legacy is one of the most important stewardship decisions a person will make.

Often, the biggest gift a person makes occurs after their death. Stewardship is managing God’s resources in ways that advances His Kingdom and brings Him glory. The ultimate goal of stewardship is not to maintain the status quo, but to leverage all God has entrusted to us for His purposes. And all stewardship decisions matter, not just whether we tithe off our paycheck.

What happens to all the resources we’ve accumulated during our lifetime? This is a very significant stewardship question. Because of the weight of the question, the individual sometimes becomes overwhelmed and either seeks out the easiest solution or ignores the question altogether. And neither option is best. Church leaders should encourage their congregation to thoughtfully consider one of the larges stewardship decisions they will make, one that has the potential to impact eternity.

3. It is an act of care for their family.

Proverbs 13:22 says, A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous (NIV). This verse does not mean if a person only has minimal resources to leave their family that they are considered a bad person. Nor does it mean the right stewardship decision is to have an estate plan that distributes all resources to family members.

The Bible tells us we are to care for our families, and leaving an inheritance is one of several ways a person can live out these teachings. Church leaders should encourage congregants to love and care for their family just as the Bible teaches. And legacy planning should be a part of the discussion. To ignore legacy planning, is ignoring one of the significant ways a person can follow God’s teaching, even in their death.

4. Many are unaware that giving the church a portion of their estate is an option.

This was the case with Mary. While the story is fictional, it is based on a real occurrence. There are many who deeply love their local church and have a desire to use their resources for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Unfortunately, when it comes to estate planning, the church never crosses their mind. Why? Nobody from the church ever talks to them about it. They are never encouraged to prayerfully consider what God would have them do with the resources.

Encouraging biblical estate planning is not a sales tactic, but a plea to wisely steward the resources God has entrusted to the person even in their death. The result may include a gift to the church or not. Ultimately, that does not matter. What matters is whether the individual planned their estate in a way they felt reflected God’s desire for them as stewards.

5. Many outside the church will talk to members about legacy planning.

The reality is that many other organizations are talking to your congregants about their estate plans. These organizations are not necessarily bad. In fact, some are probably wonderful, Kingdom-minded organizations. But they are asking for funds and explaining why their organization is worthy of a portion of your congregants’ estates.

The church should be part of the conversation. This certainly includes teaching congregants to consider their legacy planning wisely and prayerfully. But at some point, it should be noted that the church is a good option to consider as well. The church is God’s plan to reach the world. This does not need to be a salesy type of conversation, but a genuine desire to see them steward their resources for God’s glory.