Westminster Society
Hear from fellow parishioners
“We decided to become members of the Westminster Society out of gratitude for the pure love and joy that CHS brings to our family every week, for the profound peace and clarity that it has provided in times of grief, and for the hope that it gives us for the future.”
Including The Church of the Holy Spirit in your estate planning is both a privilege and a long-lasting blessing. Recognizing the solemnity and importance of planned giving, The Church of the Holy Spirit established the Westminster Society in 2010 to recognize those who have included the church in their estate planning. As of 2023 the Westminster Society has gifted almost $900,000 in bequests to the church. Such gifts have provided countless blessings over the years.
As a member of the Westminster Society your gift can be designated as you choose to enrich our mission—as planned gifts for the Holy Spirit endowment, capital projects or towards special places, such as Mary’s Garden.
A Prayer For Our Beloved
O Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, we abide grateful for being the beneficiaries of your many blessings. We are honored to participate in your generosity and enabled to share our blessings from the harvest of our lifetimes. Like the wise visitors welcoming the newborn Jesus with precious treasures, may these planned gifts carry with them the deep respect, love and affection of our hearts for the Loving Lord of our souls, Christ given for everyone. Amen.
The founders of the Westminster Society wisely understood that planned giving is a critical but often overlooked part of stewardship, and our church and community have benefited from their vision. We invite you to consider this opportunity to prioritize your commitment in supporting the Church of the Holy Spirit in this way— blessing others now, and long into the future.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Westminster Society and have questions regarding your bequest, please contact Fr. Luke Back. For those ready to include The Church of the Holy Spirit in your estate planning, please contact your financial advisor directly who can easily make the necessary arrangements with the church.
Helpful Option Suggestions
- Making a bequest to CHS in your will or trust—a straightforward option, requiring only a few keystrokes by your attorney to include The Church of the Holy Spirit
- Naming CHS as a beneficiary of an IRA, retirement plan or insurance policy—also a simple option and one that can be accomplished by completing designated beneficiary forms easily available from your broker or financial advisor
- Creating a Charitable Lead Trust, which can direct income to CHS for a designated period of, say, ten to fifteen years, after which the remaining corpus goes to your heirs or any designated beneficiary.
- Alternatively, establishing a Charitable Remainder Trust, which can give you predictable income during your lifetime, with the balance going to CHS at your passing
There are any number of nuances and variations that can be appended to these planned giving strategies. Your financial advisor or attorney can lead you through them.
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Questions?
Any amount is welcome! Some designate a percentage, while others give a specific dollar amount.
Every gift, regardless of size, helps strengthen CHS and sustain its mission for future generations. By including a testamentary gift in your plans, you make a powerful statement—to both CHS and your loved ones—about your deep commitment to the church’s witness and the values you cherish. Your generosity ensures a lasting impact, reflecting your dedication and vision for the future.
Simply delineate CHS as “The Church of the Holy Spirit, of Lake Forest, Illinois” in a retirement account or life insurance beneficiary designation, or provide the name to a legal advisor to include in testamentary estate plan documents, such as a will or revocable trust.