from the Post-Gazette... Jim and Mary Sample are pretty typical members of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. The Samples told us, "We try to pledge as much money as we can to support our church, but with 2.26 children about to go off to college, a mortgage on a house with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, and a lifestyle where we eat out 2.13 times per week, we haven't been able to contribute as much we'd like.”

Well, Jim and Mary have lots of company. This newspaper has learned that there are other members of Ascension who'd like to give more in financial support to the church but can't do it out of their current income. That's why they'll all be excited to hear about the Ascenders Society.

The Ascenders Society is the new planned giving program at Ascension where members can make a long-term difference in the health of their church by designating in their wills that a portion of their assets be given to the church upon their death. There are other ways to make a planned gift, too.

As Mary said, “We Samples aren't rich -- we have only average savings and investments -- but we can leave a real legacy to our church, and feel great about it, by deciding now to give away a portion of our hard-earned money upon our deaths. Hey, the kids don’t need all of it!”

David Green and Jim Delamater, two parishioners who happen to be experts in financial planning, are helping to form the Society. Green says that plans are in the works to hold a kickoff event in January where church members can compete in a Do Wop contest. Prizes will be given to those coming up with the best 50’s or 60's-style song promoting generous planned gifts.

How To Become An Ascender

Becoming an Ascender can be as easy as adding language to your will, or by making a separate declaration. Here's sample text to use in that legal document in order to specify your wishes upon your death:

“Dear Lord, I’ve worked hard most of my life and have managed to accumulate a lot of stuff. Some of it is worth a good chunk of change. Some of it is junk. Anyway, after the kids and the lawyers duke it out, I hereby declare that 10 percent of my cold, hard cash should go to the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. The one in Stillwater, Minnesota, if there's more than one. The place has meant a lot to me during my lifetime, and I want to help make sure that it's there for others.”

Note: The Vestry of The Church of the Ascension (the one in Stillwater, Minnesota) has asked this newspaper to advise possible Ascenders to have this wording checked by their own financial and legal professionals.