The Bayer Endowment Fund
THE BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND
GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH OF CHAMBERSBURG
THE BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND
TABLE OF CONTENTS
HISTORY
Pastor John Bayer Jr. writes, "Tithing to the Church was a priority throughout my parent's lifetime. It was such a priority that their tithe check to the church was the first check they would write each month. In addition to tithing, they would give to help others and other organizations. I am thankful for their example.
Dad passed from this life on October 3, 2009. In time, it became too much for mom to continue to live on her own in their home. In 2011, their home was sold. Mom then lived with my youngest sister's family (Marvin & Sharon Young).
One day mom talked with me about tithing on the money she received from the sale of her home. As we talked about this, she liked the idea of tithing on the capital gains from the sale of her home. The result was she gave $8,917.00 to the Grace Brethren Church (Chambersburg, PA). Her intent was for a fund to be set up that would benefit children and their families.
Mom wanted to see the families of the children of Bible Adventure become involved in our church family. Mom asked me to think about and make decisions that would help to draw these families into our church family.
During 2011, I asked mom if she would like to go with me on pastoral visits. Mom loved it. She wanted to do that every day. Needless to say we went quite a few times each week. The people we visited loved having mom come. I enjoyed listening to my mom pray for the person we went to visit.
While traveling to and from our visits and on other occasions, we had many discussions about the use of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND. Mom wanted me to have use of this fund, if the intent was to benefit the growth of the fund. Our discussions included thinking about ways to invest in helping others and to grow this fund."
The result was the creation of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND.
THE BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND POLICY AND GUIDELINES
DEFINITIONS:
STATEMENT OF INTENT:
The intent of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND is to provide the GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH of Chambersburg, PA with resources to be used "to the Glory of GOD". Some examples of work that satisfies the intent of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND are:
FUNDING POLICY:
FUNDING POLICY: continued
DONATION POLICY:
GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH OF CHAMBERSBURG
THE BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- HISTORY
- POLICY AND GUIDELINES
- DEFINITIONS
- STATEMENT OF INTENT
- FUNDING POLICY
- DONATION POLICY
HISTORY
Pastor John Bayer Jr. writes, "Tithing to the Church was a priority throughout my parent's lifetime. It was such a priority that their tithe check to the church was the first check they would write each month. In addition to tithing, they would give to help others and other organizations. I am thankful for their example.
Dad passed from this life on October 3, 2009. In time, it became too much for mom to continue to live on her own in their home. In 2011, their home was sold. Mom then lived with my youngest sister's family (Marvin & Sharon Young).
One day mom talked with me about tithing on the money she received from the sale of her home. As we talked about this, she liked the idea of tithing on the capital gains from the sale of her home. The result was she gave $8,917.00 to the Grace Brethren Church (Chambersburg, PA). Her intent was for a fund to be set up that would benefit children and their families.
Mom wanted to see the families of the children of Bible Adventure become involved in our church family. Mom asked me to think about and make decisions that would help to draw these families into our church family.
During 2011, I asked mom if she would like to go with me on pastoral visits. Mom loved it. She wanted to do that every day. Needless to say we went quite a few times each week. The people we visited loved having mom come. I enjoyed listening to my mom pray for the person we went to visit.
While traveling to and from our visits and on other occasions, we had many discussions about the use of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND. Mom wanted me to have use of this fund, if the intent was to benefit the growth of the fund. Our discussions included thinking about ways to invest in helping others and to grow this fund."
The result was the creation of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND.
THE BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND POLICY AND GUIDELINES
DEFINITIONS:
- The "Church" shall be defined as the GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH OF CHAMBERSBURG, (315 South Edwards Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17202).
- The "Elder Board" shall be defined as the GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH, ELDER BOARD (315 South Edwards Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17202).
- The "Finance Committee" shall be defined as the GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH, FINANCE COMMITTEE (315 South Edwards Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17202).
STATEMENT OF INTENT:
The intent of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND is to provide the GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH of Chambersburg, PA with resources to be used "to the Glory of GOD". Some examples of work that satisfies the intent of the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND are:
- playground equipment
- Christian education materials for children
- outreach and mission trips for children
- parenting classes
FUNDING POLICY:
- Only those monies and gifts already established or designated by the giver to go to the BAYER ENDOMENT FUND shall be used for that purpose.
- Use of any resources in the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND shall be approved by the Elder Board.
- Non-money gifts designated for this fund shall be used in accordance with the basic purpose given by the donor to the extent deemed feasible by the Elder Board. The Church shall have the authority to refuse gifts intended for the BAYER ENDOWMENT Fund if the purpose or intent is deemed inappropriate by the Elder Board.
- These designated funds shall be kept separate from all other Church funds through proper accounting methods, as these funds could be in the same interest bearing account as others funds.
- Separate accounting reports specifically for this fund shall be generated and maintained by the Finance Committee.
- Monies and gifts from this fund can be used to minister to adults or organizations, but only to the extent that it directly promotes ministry to children under the care or supervision of these adults or organizations, including promotion of adoption.
- Plaques, nameplates, or other forms of identification acting as a memorial attached to monies or gifts to the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND shall be unacceptable.
FUNDING POLICY: continued
- Where funds are accepted for the Children's Fund subject to the donor's designation of the use of those funds for a specific project or use, the Church is under a legal duty to preserve those funds and use them only for the designated purpose.
- The Church shall separately account for these funds.
- All assets of the Children's Fund along with any interest generated shall be at all times owned by the congregation and managed by the Elder Board of the Church.
- A corpus of ($4,000.00), shall be kept in the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND at all times so as to generate interest.
DONATION POLICY:
- Donations must be cash or property of value, personal services or free use of a personal asset shall not be accepted as donation.
- Donors must surrender control of donations to the Church, except for permissible designations for use of the donation.
- Contributions cannot be made to this fund by an individual who will benefit directly from this fund.
- An individual who has performed a service for the Church shall not be allowed to donate a dollar amount that represents his or her service to the Church, to the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND, but rather he or she must first be paid by the Church for the service and then separately donate whatever monies he or she chooses, directly to the BAYER ENDOWMENT FUND.
- Contributions given in cash must include the donor's name so that credit can be given for the donation.