All About FPC’s

Trustee Funds

By Margie Ralston

FPC Trustees’ Brochure

Makes Giving Easier!

        A tri-fold entitled Trustee Funds now occupies a space on the kiosk in the narthex. This brochure gives the congregation a short explanation of how monies given or bequeathed to the church are used. The brochure should help give members some ideas about how they may want to direct their gifts. It is helpful to the trustees, elders, and investment advisors who manage our investment funds to have such direction from the gift-givers. Time given to the perusal of this brochure will be well spent, as will be the money you donate!

Trustee Funds: what are they, who administers them, how are they used, and how can you, as a member of Fairfax Presbyterian Church, add to them?        

I, as a member of FPC’s Board of Trustees, will attempt to answer some of these questions and describe the funds currently being tracked by the trustees.

Gifts to the church may be designated or undesignated. Only dividends and interest are to be used for the purpose of enhancing church programs and property and for providing financial support for Christian mission beyond FPC's annual giving program.        

Permanent Endowment Fund

The establishment of the Permanent Endowment Fund was approved by Session on December 12, 1993. The initial source of monies for this fund was one family's undesignated gift to the church.        

The purpose of the Permanent Endowment Fund is “to establish a permanent reserve and obtain additional income for use as specified in writing by the donor, or for other special projects approved by the Session relative to unspecified gifts and devises to enrich directly and specifically the mission of the church.”        

The Trustees’ goal is to achieve one million dollars in principal in this fund. This fund is administered by the Trustees. Changes to it are subject to the approval of Session.

Henry A. Bauman Education Fund

It’s time to see how often money in the different funds is called upon to help those in need of assistance. The fund that quickly comes to mind is the Bauman Education Fund, established in 1992 in honor of the Rev. Henry A. Baumann. The purpose of the fund is “for education assistance for seminary students who are members of the congregation.” Currently, Jennifer Thalman, a student at Wesley Theological School in Washington, DC and a member of FPC, is benefiting from this fund. Jennifer is in the first year of the three year Wesley program.  

The initial source of the funds came from surplus contributions to Henry’s pastor emeritus retirement gift. The purpose of the fund is “education assistance for seminary students who are members of the congregation.” Session also must approve the expenditure of money from this fund.  Other members of Fairfax Presbyterian Church have also benefited from this fund, including Eric Larsen and Todd Wright.. At present, Eric is working at the placement office at Union Theological Seminary while he awaits a call. Todd is a Presbyterian minister in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  The current balance of the Baumann fund is $16,529.22. Members can contribute to this fund at any time.

Glebe Fund

The Glebe is not a line item in the church budget. The Glebe fund is used to cover the ongoing costs of the Glebe, including spring annuals and tree maintenance. Donations are always welcome.        

Courtyard Fund

Once adequate funding is available, the courtyard fund will be used to develop the area between the two buildings. Plans for completing the project are in place.        

Organ Fund

The organ fund will be used for major repairs which will have to be done at some future date. Concert offerings are deposited to this fund.

Handbell Fund

Handbells require maintenance as well, and the handbell fund is used for this as well as for the purchase of new bells. The fund receives money from individual donations as well as concert offerings.        

Caregiving Fund

The caregiving fund is a new fund established recently with seed money given by a non-member in recognition of the work the individual observed being done by two women of FPC who cared for sick and elderly members of the church. Donations to this fund can be given any time.  

Parlor Fund

General Memorial Fund

Another fund that FPC trustees are responsible for is the General Memorial Fund. The money in this fund comes from the “consolidation of numerous small personal funds.” The session of the church determines how money from this fund is to be used.        

William E. Naeher Memorial Endowment Fund

The William E. Naeher Memorial Endowment Fund for Mission was established in September 1997 by an act of session. This fund is named for the son of Will and Doris Naeher, whose initial contribution established the fund for use in “mission projects determined by session.”        

Money can be contributed to these funds at any time. Both are invested and managed by a broker at Johnson Lemon.  

VIVIAN'S FUND

This fund was established by a generous gift of $15,000, given to Fairfax Presbyterian Church by Kristen Stowe in memory of her grandmother, Vivian F. Kritzer. It is designed to provide support to the homeless and the hungry and to extend Christian education to anyone in need of spiritual support.

This year, the fund provided an honorarium of $300 to the Rev. Dr. Gregory Seckman of Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, who came to FPC and gave us three talks on the Presbyterian Peace, Unity, and Purity Report. It is also funding an honorarium of $400 to Dr. Suzanne Doherty of the Center for Pastoral Counseling to facilitate a Depression Support Group at FPC. We could not offer these programs without the support of this fund, and we thank Kristen for her generosity.

If you would like to expand this ministry through a special gift, write a check to FPC, and designate "Vivian's Fund" in the memo line.