Ensuring Your Legacy
All people and all individual churches have a birth, a life, and a passing. Churches who decide it is time to close have the opportunity to continue the work of the church and create an eternal legacy through the establishment of an endowment with the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation.
Endowments created from the remaining assets of the church can be professionally managed in perpetuity with yearly distributions made to charitable beneficiaries in the name of the church.
Options to Consider
The Oklahoma Disciples Foundation encourages churches to consider all options before closing. Options could include sharing building space with other congregations, relocation, merger, revitalization through new ministries, etc.
The important thing to remember is that you are not alone. The Oklahoma Disciples Foundation and the Regional Church are ready to assist and advise you.
The Details Matter
If the church decides the end has come, then steps should be taken to accumulate information such as the Constitution/Articles and Bylaws, deeds to property, accounts, inventory of other assets, etc. The church should be proactive in finding new church homes for the remaining members. It should authorize certain persons to act to resolve issues that may remain after closure.
The church should take formal action and reflect that action in meeting minutes. The records of the history of the church should also be gathered and offered to the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. A closing worship service should be held and members offered closure for the grief of losing a place of meaning in their lives.
Finding Solace
Solace can obtained in the end by the establishment of an endowment to preserve the memory of the church forever.
Remember the words of Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:7-8.
And the words of Christ: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matt 11:28.
Please contact us today to discuss how we can help.
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