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Methods of Giving

Our ability to give financially is affected by various factors at various stages of our lives. Yet there are a variety of ways we can contribute to mission. This means that our response to God’s grace can take many forms, but nonetheless still be a valuable response. Below is a listing of ways that you can consider to make a response to mission.

You'll find on this page ...click to go to one!

 

We have also prepared a document detailing these Ways to Give that you may download and print out.  (This document opens with Adobe Reader)

We’re here to help

For help in any of these Methods of Giving, contact the Mission Participation Resource Unit.top

Give Spontaneously… When You’re Called to Give NOW

Sometimes a sudden call urges us to give. We are touched by particular event – a moment of inspiration, a moment of possibility, a moment of tragedy – and feel the need to show our support financially – RIGHT NOW!

If you feel such a call you can give to the Uniting Church spontaneously using your credit card or by posting a cheque/money order:

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Give Consistently… To Make a Routine Gift

The contributions made spontaneously, as above, are one off actions. However contributions can also be made through the regular contributions.

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Give Congregationally… Planned Giving, Planned Giving by Direct Debit, Other Programs

  • Congregational Planned Giving: Planned giving is the regular contribution by congregation members to the mission of their congregation. When congregations wish to undertake an intentional review of planned giving (and encourage members to reflect upon and review their contribution), the Mission Participation Resource Unit can assist with this process. MPRU offers assistance at different levels ranging from provision of materials through to on-the-ground assistance in running a planned giving program. For more information about current programs please see the document Review of Planned Giving: Options for Congregations (This document opens with Adobe Reader)
  • Direct Debit Offering: To simplify the process of planned giving, take the easy way to give regularly to your congregation. Read and download the document Direct Offering. You’ll also find an application form to fill in and return. (This document opens with Adobe Reader)
  • Other Activities: Of course congregation members will not only wish to respond to God’s grace through planned giving. ‘Giving Events’ with a specific missional focus can also form a valuable part of congregational life. The Mission Participation Resource Unit would be delighted to talk to you about other creative ways to link giving to mission, learn, have fun and be generous.
    The document Making the Mission Specific Funds Part of Our Mission may also be a source of inspiration for congregations. (This document opens with Adobe Reader)
  • Mission and Service Contributions: Once congregational members have contributed to the mission of their congregation, the congregation makes a contribution to the mission and management of the wider church. To gain further information about Mission and Service Contributions and the work they enable, contact the Mission Participation Resource Unit.

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Give Assuredly … Keep Your UCA Giving ‘On Schedule’ with Clear Power of Attorney Instructions

An Enduring Power of Attorney allows an individual to specifically identify who will make financial decisions if that individual is unable to do so. In Victoria and Tasmania it also allows a person to identify express conditions for the identified attorney to follow. Thus, when completing a Power of Attorney form, the person could request (for example) that a weekly offering to a Uniting Church congregation should continue. This would oblige the Attorney, when managing the person’s financial affairs, to continue the weekly offering.

Information about Enduring Power of Attorney is available as follows:

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Give Significantly… Through a major gift ……

  • Major Gifts: At certain times in our lives, we may be in a position to make a major contribution to mission. Through good planning and good financial management, through sale of assets, through receipt of a retirement lump sum – all of these may give us an opportunity to make a larger-than-usual financial contribution to the Church.

See Giving Significantly...Making a Major Gift to the Uniting Church for further details about making a major gift. (This document opens with Adobe Reader)

  • Using the Value of a Major Asset (the 'Equity Release' Method): Due to recent significant increases in the value of residential property, many people now find themselves ‘asset-wealthy.’ Yet their level of cash-in-hand may never be sufficient to make a major gift. In this circumstance, some people now use a very small portion of their homes’ value as a way to make a major gift.

This approach will not suit everybody’s circumstances and should be undertaken carefully and prayerfully. But some people may find it useful – as a way to keep mission and ministry alive in the world.

For more details about this approach see the section Using the Value of Major Asset in Giving Significantly...Makin a Major Gift to the Uniting Church.  (This document opens with Adobe Reader)

ALSO note the the Australian Securities and Investments Commission launched a guideline paper for remortgage products in November 2005. Click here to download the ASIC Executive Summary and here for the full document.  (These document open with Adobe Reader)

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Give Enduringly… with a Bequest in Your Will

Nobody likes thinking about death, especially their own. Yet is it essential that everybody over the age of eighteen who owns property or financial resources has an Estate Plan. Such a plan is not difficult or expensive to develop. However it will ensure that, in the event of your death, your possessions and financial resources will be distributed as you intended.

A Will written to reflect our Christian faith can also witness to our belief in sharing the gifts given to us during our lifetime. This might be accomplished by leaving a bequest to the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania generally, to the SHARE Community Appeal or to the Mission Support Fund. For further information about making a Will, reflecting your life in your Will and making a Bequest, see the document Every Line Tells a Story (WARNING Large Document: Contact Us to arrange one to be sent to you if this is too large to download. This document opens with Adobe Reader)

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Give In Memory ….with a Memorial Gift

For the most sensitive of life’s certainties there is the opportunity to remember and celebrate a life with a gift to the church. This is a fitting memorial for someone who has been committed to ministry or mission in Victoria and Tasmania or where the person making the gift is similarly committed.

 

Download a copy of the Memorial Gift Form and send to the Mission Participation Resource Unit. (This document opens with Adobe Reader)

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Give In Celebration… with a Celebratory Gift

For the person or people who are passionate about seeing mission and ministry grow in the Uniting Church, what better way to celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries or wish them a joyous and peaceful Christmas than with a gift to the Church.

Download a copy of the Celebratory Gift form and send to the Mission Participation Resource Unit.  (The form opens with Adobe Reader)top

Give Interestingly… with Funds Management

  • An Investment with UCA Funds Management: UCA Funds Management is the funds management arm of the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. An investment with UCA Funds Management can assist the Uniting Church in Mission in two ways.
    • An investment in one of UCA Funds Management’s investment products not only assures an ethical investment base and a competitive rate of return. In addition the entire after-cost amount of the management fee is donated to the Uniting Church, Synod of Victoria of Tasmania to fund mission activities.
    • For each investment made, UCA Funds Management can also arrange for all or part of the investment income to the contributed to Uniting Church congregations, SHARE Community Appeal, the Mission Support Fund or a range of other Uniting Church organisations.
    For more details about these options see the UCA Funds Management website, phone 1800 996 888 or e-mail funds.management@vic.uca.org.au.top

Give Repeatedly… by gifts of share income

  • Giving of Shares or Share Income: Over time – in our day-to-day financial dealings - we may gather small parcels of company shares. These may not be a key part of our broader financial plan. So an opportunity may exist to:

    • give them away as a gift to the Uniting Church, for support of ministry or mission activities - or
    • keep the shares but direct the dividend payments to the Uniting Church, for support of ministry or mission activities. This option also allows the donor to take advantage of franking rebates, if any exist.
    By giving away the shares (the first option above) we may, in some circumstances, have to pay Capital Gains Tax. It is therefore important to carefully consider this option and, if necessary, consult financial or taxation advisors. The Mission Participation Resource Unit cannot offer taxation or finacial advice. However we may be able to work with you to ensure that you are refunded the amount of the tax impost (if one exists) out of the value of your gifted shares. This ensures you are not disadvantaged by gifting your shares.

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Give Physically… though property sale proceeds…

This ‘method of giving' involves a congregation or agency which wants to make the most faithful use of available property resources. In many cases this might mean selling some of that property. Doing this will provide resources to improve the remaining property (so as to continue being a missional heart for its community). However there may also be additional finances released from the property sale which can be applied to ministry and mission projects on a broader scale.

To get a glimpse of the possibilities when we make maximum use of our resources, see the section As a congregation or agency, consider improving your own church property while making additional contributions to a Mission Specific Fund wihin the document Making the Mission Specific Funds Part of Our Mission. (This document opens with Adobe Reader)

For information about the policies relating to the sale of congregation or agency property see the BOMAR Policy Manual.top  (You may want to start at section 16 on page 52)

Give Collectively… through the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship or your own Giving Circle…

  • Uniting Church Adult Fellowship (UCAF): Adult fellowships are an important facet of the life of most Uniting Church in Australia congregations. Each is the coming together of women and men for a wide variety of spiritual, social, educational, service and mission support activities.
    It is particularly through the mission support activities that people have the opportunity to contribute financially to mission and also be involved in fundraising activities to support that mission. However the spiritual, social, educational and service elements of UCAF mean that this is a group environment for giving.
  • Giving Circles: Giving circles are small groups of people that get together to give in response to God’s grace. They are concerned with how they can pool their resources to learn about and contribute financially to a particular area of ministry or mission. They may exist in congregations, agencies, schools, presbyteries or Synod offices. They may be groups from across congregations or even across denominations – for a real ecumenical flavour. The arrangements for giving circles are usually kept relatively informal. For more information and ideas about giving circles see the document Giving Through Giving Circles. (This document opens with Adobe Reader)

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