Make your will

Global Ministries is happy to work with donors who are considering making a bequest to Global Ministries in their estate plans to provide future support for the work of Global Ministries. Below you will find suggested wording for such bequests.

If you have any questions on this, or would like to discuss other opportunities for deferred giving or estate plans that benefit Global Ministries through either the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or Wider Church Ministries(UCC), please contact:

Office of Resource Development
Global Ministries
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1986
Phone: 317-713-2558
Fax: 317-635-4323
gifts@dom.disciples.org

If you intend to designate your bequest for a particular use, it is best to contact Global Ministries first to confirm that your gift can be accepted under the specific wording you put together, in order to ensure the intended use.

Suggested Wording for Bequests through the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

To Make a Gift That Supports the Total Program Global Ministries:

I give, devise and bequeath to the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), whose principle office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the sum of _____ dollars, or the following stocks, bonds or other property, or _____ percent of my residuary estate.

I instruct that all of my charitable gifts shall be made, to the extent possible, from property that constitutes “income in respect of a decedent” as that term is defined in The Internal Revenue Code.

To Make a Gift That Supports a Specific Overseas Project or Area of the World:

Use the previous wording, adding the following:

to be distributed to ___________. (name of specific geographic area, country or program).

To Make a Gift That Creates or Adds to a DOM Named Endowment Fund:

Use the suggested wording for support of the total program of Global Ministries and add the following:

to establish the ___________ Endowment Fund for the support of ___________ (DOM general or specific project or area of the world). In the case that the (name of fund) Endowment Fund has been established prior to my death, I desire that the above-listed amount/percentage be directed to that Fund. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, I acknowledge that the Board of Directors of the Division of Overseas Ministries shall have final authority over the management of the gift assets and distribution of the earnings or assets of the Endowment Fund.

To Make a Gift of All That Remains After Taking Care of Family and Other Interests:

All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property, whatsoever and wheresoever located, I give, devise and bequeath to the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) whose principle office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Suggested Wording for Bequests through the Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ

To Make a Gift of Cash or of Personal/Real Property That Supports the Total Program of Wider Church Ministries:

I give, devise and bequeath to Wider Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having an office in Cleveland, OH the sum of _______ dollars [or other specifically described personal or real property] for its general uses and purposes.  [See below for wording for specific designation.]

Specific Percentage

I give, devise and bequeath to Wider Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having an office in Cleveland, OH, an amount equal to ___ percent (____%) of the value of my gross or net estate at the time of my death for its general uses and purposes.    [See below for wording for specific designation.]

Residual Bequest

I give, devise and bequeath to Wider Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having an office in Cleveland, OH, all of the residue of my estate, both real and personal, for its general uses and purposes. [See below for wording for specific designation.]

Contingent Bequest

If the above-named beneficiaries should predecease me, then I give, devise and bequeath to Wider Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having an office in Cleveland, OH, all of my property and estate, both real and personal, for its general uses and purposes.  [See below for wording for specific designation.]

To Make a Gift That Supports a Specific Project, Program or Area of the World:

Use the wording mentioned above but add:

to be distributed to [name of specific geographic area, country or program].

To Make a Gift That Creates or Adds to a WCM Named Endowment Fund:

I give, devise and bequeath to Wider Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having an office in Cleveland, OH [the sum of _________ dollars] [_______ shares of stock] [________ percent of my estate] to establish the (full name) Endowment Fund for the support of (WCM or specific project or area of the world).  In the case that the (name of fund) Endowment Fund has been established prior to my death, I desire that the above-listed amount/percentage be directed to that Fund. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, I acknowledge that the Board of Directors of Wider Church Ministries shall have final authority over the management of the gift assets and distribution of the earnings or assets of the Endowment Fund.

To make a Bequest to Establish a Life-Income Gift for a Surviving Spouse or Other Persons:

To create a Charitable Gift Annuity:

I give [$_____] or [____% of my disposable estate] to the United Church of Christ, through United Church Funds (an Associated Ministry of the United Church of Christ) with an office at 475 Riverside Drive, new York NY 10115, which shall issue its standard form of Gift Annuity Agreement to [name individual], by which it agrees to pay him/her an annual annuity, determined by multiplying the value of said amount so transferred, by the applicable annuity rate based upon his/her age at the date of my death.  Upon [name of individual]’s death, the obligation to make annuity payments shall terminate, in accordance with the provisions of the Gift Annuity Agreement, and thereupon the bequest shall be available for the general [or state specific designation here] purposes of  Wider Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having an office in Cleveland, OH.  If [name of individual] shall predecease me, the said bequest shall be distributed outright to Wider Church Ministries to be used as indicated above.

To Create a Pooled Income Fund:

I give [$_____] or [_____% of my disposable estate] to the United Church of Christ through United Church Funds (an Associated Ministry of the United Church of Christ), with an office at 475 Riverside Drive, New York NY 10115, to acquire, with the value thereof, units in the Pooled Income Fund of United Church Funds under an agreement for the benefit of [name of individual].  The said agreement so established shall terminate upon the death of [name of individual], and thereupon the property represented by the units of the Fund shall be distributed, free from trust, to Wider Church Ministries to be used for its general purposes [or state specific designation here].  If [name of individual] shall predecease me, the said bequest shall be distributed outright to  Wider Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having an office in Cleveland, OH to be used as indicated above.  A copy of the United Church Fund’s Pooled Income Fund Declaration of Trust, presently in existence, is attached hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Charitable Remainder Trust

Wording for various types of Charitable Remainder Trusts can be provided upon request.