Westminster Members Reflect on Legacy Giving
Barbara La Valleur & Arnie Bigbee: A Legacy of Deliberate Self-Expression
To tell the truth, I am amazed to be writing an article about Legacy Giving. At the same time, I’m not surprised. The topic came about in a conversation earlier this year with my husband, Arnie Bigbee, about our affairs and what groups we want to impact with a financial contribution. Read more...
Norma & Harold Serumgard: A Legacy of Conservation and Faith
When Harold Serumgard’s grandfather Ole bought a tract of North Dakota prairie in 1921, he probably never imagined the impact of that purchase nearly a century later. In 1862 the Homestead Act had made this land available to pioneers able to farm it. Read more...
Nancy Etzwiler & Dan O'Neill: Teaching Philanthropy to the Next Generation
How is it that Westminster’s members, young and old, continue to remember the church in their giving, even in the face of an uncertain economy? One reason is because of thoughtful and deliberate teaching of financial values, as demonstrated by long-time member Nancy Etzwiler and her husband, Dan O’Neill. Read more...
Nancy and Jim Carter: A Message from Our Generation to the Next
“Westminster demonstrates caring and acceptance of everyone who walks through the doors; this…heritage and social outreach is what we want to see continue. Through our Legacy Gifts, we are planting seeds for the future.” Read more...
Sarah and Brent Hall: Our Family's Legacy of Gratitude
>"My family and I have been blessed by God and Westminster's people in many ways. Not to respond to these blessings would be unimaginable. Including Westminster in my will is one of the ways in which I choose to respond." Read more...
Max Musicant: A First Step to Serving Others
“As a life-long member of Westminster, it’s an honor to speak about my experiences as a Donald M. and Eleanor Meisel Scholar Grant recipient. The program is part of the Westminster Endowment that supports the church’s young adults as they pursue faith-based professional, scholarly, or service activities. The rationale is that college-age students should be encouraged to partake in activities that the church values, regardless of financial considerations. Read more...
Barbara Mauk
"As a child of God, I have been given many gifts, including the ability to see possibilities. I don't know what the church will look like inthe future, but I want to help make sure that it will continue to provide opportunities for people to connect, learn from each other, support human rights, and meet human needs." Read more...
Jim and Carmen Campbell
"Having been members of Westminster for 40-some years, this community of faith has been a constant source of strength. It’s a community that demonstrates good stewardship and hangs together through tough times…we want to return some of the blessings we have received. Our hope is that our Legacy Gift will help ensure that Westminster continues to do all the good things it does today, even as needs continue to grow."
Bill and Susan Sands: Sustaining the Telling Presence
By Mary C. Hess, Director of Legacy Giving
“At the core of what Bill and I do is a strong commitment to social justice. Our hope for our Legacy Gift is that it be used by Westminster for local outreach, mission, and housing to benefit the people of our community… We would like future generations to be inspired at Westminster as we have been.” Read more...
Karen Gasche
“In my role as Celtic Worship Coordinator for Westminster, I found this prayer attributed to St. Aiden of Lindesfarne (early 600s): May I live until my season of worship is complete. Designating Westminster in my will as the recipient of a Legacy Gift assures that my season of worship can be extended to this vibrant, supportive community even after my earthly life is done."
Ruth Lane
“I made a Legacy Gift to Westminster because it is the kind of church I’ve been searching for my whole life. It’s rooted in tradition, yet forward-thinking....open to sharing the faith in new ways."
Dureen and Rick Ruff: A Lifetime of Blessings and Faithful Membership
“After so many years of membership, making a Legacy Gift seemed like the natural thing to do.”
Read more...
Gratitude, Values, and Hope: Vince Thomas's Legacy Gift
By Mary C. Hess, Director of Legacy Giving
On Legacy Sunday this spring, Elder Vince Thomas decided to ask his attorney to complete wills for himself and his wife Barbara, and to include a bequest to Westminster in his will. He agreed to share his thoughts with me for this article. Read more...
Nancy Slaughter: A Legacy of Civic Leadership
A nearly lifelong Presbyterian, Nancy Slaughter grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota, where she was well-known in the neighborhood for her friendly visits to elderly people in need of a helping hand. This sense of responsibility for others has extended throughout her entire life and informed nearly all her decisions, including her decision to make Westminster a beneficiary in her will. Read more...
Estate Planning: Providing for What’s Meaningful
By Phil Asgian
My invitation to Westminster came in a tavern in North Germany. My then co-worker Barb Thomas, of Westminster, and I were training colleagues in Lueneberg, Germany, and stopped for dinner after a day’s work. At the time, I was looking for a new church home. Barb suggested Westminster. I had never set foot in a Presbyterian church in my life and knew little about this religious tradition. That was 1996. My first experience at Westminster was singing in the summer choir. Since then I have also served on several committees and task forces, became an elder, and served on session. My interests primarily involve helping build community through music, education and social justice. Westminster is an important part of my life. Read more...
Nancy and Jim Carter, continued from above
This year marked our 45th wedding anniversary, giving us yet another opportunity to reflect on the many blessings we’ve received during our lives together; what those years have brought to us, and what to hope for in the years to come. We’ve raised two really great children and delight in our almost 6-year-old grandson. Like many couples, we have had transitions over the years—jobs, moves around all regions of the country and Canada—which expanded our horizons and offered extensive travel opportunities.
Through all of these transitions, the one constant for us was to establish a church home. In the 1980s we landed in Minneapolis and started attending Westminster in the fall of ‘82, joining in fall ‘83. We immediately became active at WPC with FEAST, the kids in Youth Fellowship (we as youth sponsors), Nancy in choir and directing the Handbell program, Jim with Deacons and ushering, and whatever other things we might find as volunteers.
We skipped town again in the 90s with career moves to Toronto, Atlanta, and Allentown, Penn., returning in 2001. Westminster again became a focal point for us. We were welcomed—this time as empty nesters. Westminster was, and is, our family away from home.
We’ve been very active in Westminster’s programs with Global and Local mission outreach, ushering, trustees, various special campaigns, and of course the music programming. So, when the Legacy program began, we felt it a natural next step to discern how we could become part of that as well. Talking with Mary Hess, Westminster’s Director of Legacy Giving, we learned how easy the process can be using an IRA beneficiary designation. And, we are now part of the more than 100 people who have made Legacy Gifts to Westminster.
We find great joy in knowing our values will endure beyond our lifetime. One of our favorite Bible verses is from Galatians 6:9 (NRSV), “Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up.” As Nancy has said many times, “Westminster demonstrates caring and acceptance of all who walk through these doors; this combination of heritage and social outreach is what we want to see continue. Through our Legacy Gifts, we are planting seeds for the future.”
We are so mindful of Westminster’s open doors and the blessings which have been bestowed on us. It is very important to us that those doors remain open for the future as well. You see, we are—you are—the messages from our generation to the next. Thanks be to God!
Sarah and Brent Hall, continued from above
“Well, if you’re drafting your wills be sure to remember your alma maters and your church. Those institutions have had a big impact on your lives and part of the reason that they have is because people who came before you thought of them in their wills, too”. This insightful comment came from my wife Sarah’s mother several years ago when Sarah told her that we were drafting our wills.
Sarah’s family has always had a tremendous sense of stewardship. They pass stories and family heirlooms from one generation to another in a way that is quite at odds with our society’s tendency to acquire goods, use them up and quickly throw them away. Sarah’s family has a unique way of keeping long since departed relatives alive in their minds and hearts by re-telling their stories and seeing, whenever her family gets together, the family heirlooms that have passed from one generation to the next. They see themselves not as consumers of the family’s history and resources but as stewards of them.
In response to Sarah’s mother’s charge, we did, in fact, put Westminster as a bequest in our wills. That was approximately ten years ago and, to be honest, the amount we set aside was not very much. Our children were, and still are, relatively young. We have college educations, a mortgage, and retirement to pay for but we still wanted to carve out a little space in our wills for the church that has been such an important part of our lives. Over the coming years, we hope to increase the amount of money we have set aside in our will for Westminster as our assets grow and our liabilities diminish.
Westminster is a very special place that has been a true blessing to our family. We hope that by remembering Westminster in our wills we can help it to be a blessing to families like ours in future generations. We may never meet those families and we may never know just what good comes from our donations, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that we give to future generations to say thank you for the gift that previous generations have given to all of us. It isn’t instant gratification, but it is what Westminster’s Legacy Program is all about.
Lloyd Peitzman, continued from above
Our lives are filled with words. Most come and go, are used and tossed away. Others remain. Today I share three phrases which stay with me. The first two were spoken at funerals.At my grandfather’s service, the pastor told of a life committed to church and community and spoke of the “life void” now that John H. Rittgers was gone. The minister emphasized the need for filling that void, the need for someone to help replace that which would be missed and for someone to follow my grandfather’s example of giving as part of one’s faith and life. He spoke of more than finances; he was speaking of the living and giving for others. I always have remembered those words.
Years later, at my father’s service, I again heard words that have stayed with me. This time another minister said, “Earl L. Peitzman was a steward” and went on to describe how my father, a farmer, lived out his stewardship of caring and giving, whether for the soil, the livestock, or for his family. Those words also will not be forgotten.
Nor will the following words fade within me; they form one of my favorite phrases, written by Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one. But I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do, interfere with what I can do.”
My family and I have been blessed by God and Westminster’s people in so many ways as members and, in my case, also as part of the staff. Not to respond in some way to these blessings would be unimaginable. Therefore, several years ago, I decided to make a Legacy Gift to Westminster as a bequest in my will. Why do I participate in Westminster’s Legacy Program? The foregoing paragraphs answer that question: to fulfill a need, to be a steward of my possessions, and to do the “something I can do." Return to top.
Max Musicant, continued from above
In these turbulent economic times, offering a free summer intern to a faith-based, mission-driven organization increases its capacity to do good. Further, the student’s experience can serve as the launching pad into a career in the service of God’s community. For me, receiving the Meisel Scholar Grant the summer after my freshman year of college enabled me to work at the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH). During my tenure there I was able to meaningfully contribute to a number of advocacy campaigns, and strengthen my knowledge of and passion for revitalizing inner cities.
This internship gave me the experience and credibility I needed to fully pursue my new-found calling. Subsequent internships with a Hennepin County Commissioner and at a public affairs firm built upon my time with MICAH and allowed me to scale up my impact on the issues that I cared most about. These experiences led to employment at a non-profit doing economic development in Jamaica, Queens, New York City and eventual admission to the Yale School of Management where I am currently finishing up my MBA.
While not all of my success can be credited to the Meisel Scholarship, it has undoubtedly served as that all-too-important and elusive first step on a long journey serving communities in need. My experience with the Meisel Scholar Grant is not unique and serves as proof of the power of Westminster’s positive intervention in its young adults at a critical point in their development.
I would like to thank the Westminster community, once again, for their support and hope that my story would inspire continued involvement in this church’s young adults’ lives.”
The Meisel Scholar-Grant Program exists to influence young lives towards positive service to others. If you would like to learn more, contact Jacqui DeVries or Meghan K. Gage-Finn. Return to top.
Barbara Mauk, continued from above
“Everything I believe in deeply, I can do in some way at Westminster.”
A sense of possibility has guided Barbara Mauk’s involvement at Westminster for over 30 years. In the early 1970s, it helped her see the need for a stronger focus on families, and led to involvement in a pioneering effort to create the first ministerial position solely dedicated to Children, Youth and Families. In the 1980s, it caused her to accept Donald Meisel’s invitation to develop the Meisel Scholar Grant Program, a special fund of the Endowment that has helped over 43 college students enhance their education outside the classroom. In the 1990s, it took further shape with her participation on the Town Hall Forum’s Advisory Committee, a volunteer commitment that has endured ever since. She has served on Session, Deacons, the Mission Committee, as an usher (main floor, center aisle), and is now on staff as church librarian. Barbara has touched nearly every corner of the church and been an integral part of weaving possibility into its very fabric; bringing new meaning to the charge to “…find a place of service within our community.”
Connection is another theme that undergirds Barbara’s life. A Carleton College graduate, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education and went on to a career as teacher and librarian, with expertise in early childhood/special education. According to Barbara, one of the best parts of being Westminster’s librarian is helping people find books that inspire them, and connecting them with others of similar interests. She is a strong proponent of inter-generational connections and an active volunteer with both elderly and young people.
When Barbara did a will for her family some years ago, she included a bequest to the church, along with one to her college and “public radio, of course.” Her reason is consistent with the values that have guided her life, “As a child of God, I have been given many gifts, including the ability to see possibilities. I don’t know what the church will look like in the future, but I want to help make sure that it will continue to provide opportunities for people to connect and learn from each other, support human rights, and meet human needs.” Return to top.
Bill & Susan Sands, continued from above
The concept of a Telling Presence comes alive in the form of Bill and Susan Sands. Longtime business entrepreneurs and exceptional community leaders, Bill and Susan have deep roots in the Twin Cities that are nourished and inspired by their involvement with Westminster. Recently I met with Bill and Susan to hear their thoughts. Below is an excerpt from our conversation:
Bill, as Chairman of Western Bancshares, your extensive interests in the Twin Cities range from music, to housing, to health care. What drives you?
Someone once asked me, “What are you doing to make a real difference in the health of your community?” My vision is to help eliminate poverty and help the disadvantaged by focusing my activities in the areas of health, food, housing and community economic development. I was Chair of the Family Housing Fund for twenty-five years, and now represent Westminster on the Housing 150 Initiative. We are providing assistance for those who really need affordable housing, including homeless youth.
Why did you become involved at Westminster?
Besides wonderful ministering to its members, I respect that Westminster is committed to the people and community beyond itself. Westminster lives out the Telling Presence mission in everything it does. The annual budget gives a significant portion to the local community and mission, which is consistent with our values. In addition, Westminster’s Town Hall Forum broadens people’s ideas, and the high quality music and worship continually inspire us.
Susan, you are a national leader in women’s advocacy and social justice, having been the past Chair of the Jeremiah Program to end the cycle of poverty for single mothers, co-founder of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association for Women Business Owners, and now Chair of the Board of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. This is all in addition to your profession as a consultant to non-profits to help them expand or consolidate. Where do you find the energy?
Westminster’s weekly worship is one place I draw energy and inspiration to reach out to the community. It is important to me to have a spiritual center and religious practice. At the core of what Bill and I do is a strong commitment to social justice, which comes from a deep spiritual core.
You and Bill have recently updated your will, and decided to include a bequest to Westminster. What went into that decision?
We wanted to have a spiritual component to the causes we support after our death. Westminster believes in serving those who have difficulty finding their way, such as the homeless or those in poverty; and this was among the reasons we chose Westminster.
What was the benefit of that process for you?
It’s tough to think about death, but you know you have to. Planning can be hard work, but after it’s done, you feel a sense of liberation; of freedom. Also, we wanted to be the ones who made these decisions.
What is your hope for your Legacy Gift? That it be used by Westminster for local outreach, mission, and housing to benefit the people of our community, consistent with the mission to be a Telling Presence. Also, we would like future generations to have the opportunity to be inspired at Westminster as we have been. Return to top
Rick & Dureen Ruff, continued from above
Dureen and Rick Ruff have been an integral part of Westminster for 51 years. With Baptist and Congregational roots, the young couple visited several downtown churches back in the 1950s, but Westminster was clearly their choice after one visit. As the four Ruff children were born, each was baptized in the Westminster sanctuary, and spent formative spiritual years in the Westminster congregation before launching careers elsewhere.
Through the intervening decades, the Ruffs’ deep and faithful involvement has touched nearly all aspects of the church, including “Merriweds,” (young couples’ club), Mothers’ Club, Women’s Association, Choir, Church School, Christmas Dinners, and serving on the Property Committee and all three governing Boards. Being a part of the Sanctuary and Chapel Restoration and the New Addition planning committees was especially challenging and rewarding.
As their family grew up and moved away, Dureen and Rick decided to plan for the future, establish an estate plan and draw up a will. Their financial advisor and an attorney helped them think through the process, and create bequests to Westminster and their alma maters, the University of North Dakota and Stanford University. In Dureen’s words, “We were planning to leave gifts to family, and it just seemed natural to include Westminster, which we consider to be our extended family. We can’t imagine our life without Westminster. Over the course of our lives, we have been blessed with the love of wonderful children and grandchildren, rewarding careers and good health. Creating a gift for Westminster is one way of expressing our gratitude for those blessings and showing our appreciation for the joy we have experienced in being a part of this community for more than half a century.” Return to top
Vince Thomas, continued from above
You’re 48. Why did you decide to finish your will and make a Legacy Gift now, at a relatively young age?
Barb and I met with our attorney to prepare our wills when our children (Mary, 14, and Michael, 9) were younger, but put off the final work when things got really busy. As a lawyer, I know the importance of a will; it would be quite ironic for a lawyer to die and leave his heirs without a will. Although I’d look bad if that happened, it’s not about me. It’s about Mary and Michael, and the institutions I care about.
Was it difficult?
No. Our attorney laid out the entire process for us at our first meeting. After that, it was primarily assembling information that we already had. The Legacy Program made it easy to make a bequest to Westminster.
What motivated you to make a bequest to Westminster in your will?
Westminster has been a blessing to me and to my family, and I am grateful. I support the church now, with an annual pledge, and I want to support it when I die, with a Legacy Gift. As Clerk of Session, I’ve seen up close how important Westminster’s endowment is to its ministry. Previous generations, most notably, one of my predecessors as Clerk, gave money to the endowment in their wills to ensure that Westminster is sustained. It’s my generation’s turn. Third, I value philanthropy, and I respect people who give gifts to institutions at any time in their lives. Finally, I want to set an example for Mary and Michael, so that they know the importance of giving back. I hope they will remember this, and do the same thing for their churches when they are adults.
What has been the benefit of this process for you and your family?
This was an important “to do” item for our family, and now it’s done. Saying thank you to Westminster through a bequest was a natural thing to do when we’ve been so blessed. It feels good to know that my family has done something to be a blessing to others. Return to top
Nancy Slaughter, continued from above
A nearly lifelong Presbyterian, Nancy Slaughter grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota, where she was well-known in the neighborhood for her friendly visits to elderly people in need of a helping hand. This sense of responsibility for others has extended throughout her entire life and informed nearly all her decisions, including her decision to make Westminster a beneficiary in her will. Read more...
As one of two daughters of civic-minded parents in the early 1950s, Nancy was taught early the importance of taking responsibility for her own financial future and sharing with others. Her father would often sit with his daughters and explain how he made financial decisions and why he gave time and support to various causes. This sense of civic duty left an indelible impression and was one of the sparks that encouraged Nancy in her career as a teacher, fundraiser, and volunteer on many non-profit boards, including Presbyterian Homes and Services, Macalester College, The Women’s Foundation of MN, Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library, and numerous others.
Nancy joined Westminster in 1978 when she moved downtown. The church has since become a foundational aspect of her being. “Westminster was there for me at a crucial period in my life, when I lost my parents and good friend in quick succession. I met several very strong women role models who supported me through this difficult time. This community has become a regular focus of my week, kept me intellectually engaged, and provided me with many leadership and mentoring opportunities.” Nancy has become an integral part of Westminster, and over the years has served in a wide variety of leadership roles including Elder, Assistant Treasurer, Trustee, MRP, Stewardship, Town Hall Forum, and Sunday/Monday Connections.
Nancy first did an estate plan some forty years ago and periodically revises it to be in step with tax laws and her current needs and interests. At the recommendation of her attorney, she has funded her charitable bequests with tax-deferred assets, including her retirement accounts. This has helped her maximize the gifts to the causes and people she cares most about. In her words, “Adding Westminster to my will seemed almost automatic. It is my spiritual home, and I want to make sure that the next generation has similar opportunities that I have had through Westminster: to lead in creating a better society, to mentor others, and to serve the greater good.” Return to top
Phil Asgian, continued from above
In 2008 after talking with a couple family members and some close friends about their recent experiences on preparing wills, trusts and estate plans, I decided now was time to begin getting my own house in order and prepare an estate plan. I had a great clipping file of information on the subject, but most of that was outdated. I thought seriously about what has brought meaning to my life, how I could make things easier for family members, and how what I have accumulated could best further my interests. I met with an attorney and got started.
The process triggered several discussions. It forced me to think about priorities—what I had and how those assets might be of greatest use. When I listed what had brought the greatest meaning in my life in rank order, Westminster was near the top to the list.That told me a lot about what should be in the estate plan and how it should be executed.
I would strongly encourage anyone who, like me, thought about this process but just hadn’t taken that next step to make estate planning a priority—maybe even this year. It is very helpful to take stock of what we have, and to help ensure that that which has given us many riches lives on to enrich the lives of others. Return to top
For information on how you can create a Legacy Gift to Westminster,
contact Mary C. Hess, Director of Legacy Giving, 612.332.3421 or email Mary.
