TODAY IN MISSION YEARBOOK
Mission Yearbook Minute for Mission: Legacy Giving Sunday
At Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis, legacy giving is more than a financial decision. It’s a testament to faith, love and commitment to future generations.
Founded in 1857, Westminster is a vibrant congregation known for its expansive ministries, including education for all ages, music and the arts, social justice initiatives, and deep congregational care. Its members are united by a mission to serve both those within the church and the broader community. The church maintains longstanding global partnerships in Cameroon, Cuba, and Palestine, reflecting its dedication to justice and compassion far beyond Minnesota. (Watch a video about the church’s legacy giving program on the Presbyterian Foundation’s YouTube channel here.)
A core part of this legacy of service is sustained through the church’s century-old legacy giving program. The program was established in 1914 with a $5,000 bequest from Charles Thompson, then the clerk of session, according to Chelsea Crouch-Dodson, director of Stewardship at the church. The legacy giving program allows members to ensure Westminster’s continued vitality long after their lifetimes.
“It really has grown since then,” Crouch-Dodson says. “It’s something that a lot of our members have been drawn to—giving in perpetuity, knowing their legacy lives on at Westminster.”
Legacy gifts come in many forms and are accessible to all members, not just those with significant wealth. Donors often name the church as a beneficiary in their wills, life insurance policies, or retirement accounts. These contributions help sustain the church’s ministries and allow for meaningful expansion, like the recent capital campaign that added space for an onsite mission partner serving children who have experienced trauma.
That project inspired longtime member Rocky Rockenstein and his wife, Joey, to make a legacy gift. Rocky, a former Minneapolis City Council member, has seen the church’s impact both spiritually and civically. “We’ve always been solid givers,” he said. “But the challenge of what we could do with that addition to the church really caused us to think seriously about what we were going to do with the money that will be left over when we are gone.”
For Doris Wong, who has attended Westminster since childhood, the decision to include the church in her estate plans was about gratitude and hope. “This church is a place where I wanted to leave a certain amount of my money,” she said. “Certainly my heirs will be more than taken care of.”
Tim Jones and Jacqui deVries, raising their daughters at Westminster, also chose to make a legacy commitment to model generosity. “We believe in the place,” Jones said. “We feel a commitment to continuing the ministry after we’re no longer here.”
DeVries reflected, “God works through institutions, but institutions are sustained by people.” In a world marked by rapid change, Westminster’s legacy givers are helping ensure the church remains a beacon of faith and service for generations to come.
To learn more about legacy giving and how you can include your church in your estate plans, download free materials from the Presbyterian Foundation. You can also reach out to your Ministry Relations Officer to discuss how your congregation can start a legacy giving program or how your gift can help sustain your church or ministries you love.
Robyn Davis Sekula, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Presbyterian Foundation
Let us join in prayer for:
Lisa Love, Deputy General Counsel, Presbyterian Foundation
Sandy Lucas, Receptionist, Presbyterian Foundation
Let us pray:
Gracious God, we give thanks for Westminster Presbyterian Church, for its faithful witness, vibrant ministries and the generations who have nurtured its mission. We are especially grateful for those who give through legacy, planting seeds that will bear fruit beyond their lifetime. Bless all who seek to give generously, trusting that you are at work in their offering. Help us to be wise stewards of what we have received. May our giving reflect our gratitude, our faith in you, and our hope for the future of your church. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.