Bishop Sterling Legacy Society
About
the Legacy Society
Established in November, 2004, the Bishop Sterling Legacy Society is in memory of The Right Reverend William Sterling (retired). It provides perpetual support of Trinity Episcopal Church, Houston, through gifts to the Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., by various means, including bequests.
Created in His image, we are engaged in a lifelong quest to be as generous as God has been to us. The Bishop Sterling Legacy Society will encourage and assist us to remember the Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., while considering the disposition of our worldly goods — like planting a shade tree under which we know we will never sit.
Membership in the Legacy Society
Every person, member, or friend of Trinity who provides for a planned financial contribution to Trinity Church Endowment automatically becomes a member of the Bishop Sterling Legacy Society.
With their permission, members’ names will be added to a plaque to be permanently displayed in Trinity Church.
At their annual meetings, Bishop Sterling Society members will recognize the generosity of new members, and crosses will be placed by the names of any members who died during the previous year.
Current Legacy contributions may be made by sending the rector a check payable to Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., giving the donor the satisfaction of seeing his or her generosity put immediately to work.
Deferred contributions may be made by writing the rector a letter stating that you have made or intend to make provision for Trinity Church Endowment, Inc. in your will or by some other financial plan. The amount need not be mentioned.
All gifts to Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., are invested so as to produce income for the expenses and programs of Trinity Church, Houston.
Giving Without Using Your Checkbook
Outright Bequest. The simplest permanent gift is naming Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., as a beneficiary in your will, designating a dollar amount or a percentage.
Appreciated Stock. By transferring appreciated stock or other securities in kind to Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., you avoid capital gains taxes due on the sale, increase the size of your gift, and receive a tax deduction for the full value of the gift.
Life Insurance. The value in a life insurance policy can be used to make a contribution by leaving instructions to your executor or naming Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., as beneficiary.
Charitable Gift Annuity. By purchasing a charitable gift annuity, you can lock in an income for one or two lives, receive a current income tax deduction and designate that the remainder will go to Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., at your death.
Residuary Bequest. The remainder of an estate, or a set percentage of the remainder, may be left to Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., after all specific legacies, as well as debts, taxes, and expenses have been paid.
Retirement Plan. To avoid the double taxation of both estate and income taxes, you can designate Trinity Church Endowment, Inc., as the beneficiary of a retirement plan or an IRA.