Good Shepherd Society
If you have ever been to a service at St. Luke’s, walked onto our beautiful campus, or just parked in one of our parking lots, you have enjoyed the gifts given by countless people and multiple generations. One need only sit in our sanctuary for a moment to see the generosity surrounding us and the gifts given to us by past generations. We realize that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses that not only spans generations but their witness and generosity continues to be formative in our lives today.
We are the foundational generation for future parishioners—those who are currently too young to speak and those who will not be born for years to come—will look to us to provide a foundation upon which their ministry successes can be built
The Good Shepherd Society was formed in 1993 by the Vestry of St. Luke’s to recognize and honor those who have made estate or planned gifts to benefit the church. The gifts can be made directly to the church or designated for the St. Luke’s Endowment Fund or one of the church’s other capital funds described below. The Society began with 60 founding members and today includes more than 200 individuals who are ensuring the legacy of our parish through planned gifts.
Questions you might be asking
Why should I make a planned gift?
Why doesn’t the annual budget cover all our costs?
I’m not wealthy enough to make this kind of gift!
How do I make a planned gift?
GIVING TO ST. LUKE’S ENDOWMENT AND CAPITAL FUNDS
The St. Luke’s Endowment and Capital Funds were established to provide ways
to enable St. Luke’s Church to strengthen its mission, ministries and properties
beyond what is possible through your generous annual support.
GIFTS CAN BE MADE TO ONE OF THREE GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUNDS.
THESE INCLUDE:
St. Luke’s Endowment Fund
If you would like to make a gift to the Church which will be invested, preserved and used for the long-term benefit of St. Luke’s for building, property and maintenance needs, you can designate your gift for the St. Luke’s Endowment Fund. Four percent of the fund’s average annual market value over the past three years will be distributed to the church for its general operating budget.
St. Luke’s Mission and Ministries Fund
If you are interested in make a gift of at least $50,000 that will be invested and preserved for the long-term benefit of specific programs supporting the mission and ministries of the parish, you can designate your specific fund to be placed with others in the Mission and Ministries Fund.
Rector, Warden Vestry Fund (RWV)
If you would like to make a gift to be used to augment the Church’s annual income for current and new programs and activities as well as other immediate parish needs, please consider directing your gift to the Rector, Warden and Vestry Fund. Unrestricted gifts or bequests to St. Luke’s Church and restricted bequests or gifts under $50,000 will be placed in this fund.
join us a member of the Good Shepherd Society!
Join UsIf you have already made a planned gift of any size to benefit St. Luke’s, we welcome the opportunity to include you as a member of the Good Shepherd Society. Please notify The Rev. Matt Babcock - babcock@stlukesatlanta.org – so we may include you.
A simple, confidential reply form offers a convenient way to record your planned gift for church records.
If you have not yet made a planned gift for the benefit of St. Luke’s but are ready to explore the ways you can make a planned gift, contact The Rev. Matt Babcock.
Matt will be happy to answer your questions or direct you to a member of the Church’s Planned Giving Committee.