The poetry of Ecclesiastes in Chapter 3 speaks of a shared experience in life: things come into being, serve a purpose, and then an ending happens. There is “a time to be born and a time to die” (3:2). This is the case for our human lives. This is the case for projects we work to advance. This is the case even for the life of congregations.
In June 2024, Central United Methodist Church of Lawrence, Kansas, gathered for its final worship service before discontinuing as a congregation. Central had served in ministry and mission with the Lawrence community for over 170 years. Pastor Amy Seifert, who shepherded them in this journey, stated, “The decision to close … was painful. However, as Ecclesiastes tells us, there is a season for everything, and the time had come for Central UMC to die so new things could be born.” The new things to be born are the focus of this story.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are a resurrection people, knowing that the end is not the final stop. The final breath is not the end of the whole story. We believe in the One who was raised to new life. Such is the situation for congregations that come to the end of the church’s lifecycle. A legacy of lives changed. Ministry that has made a lasting difference. It is a legacy that continues to bless others.
Key to the ministry of the Kansas Methodist Foundation is helping people be good stewards of the resources entrusted to them, to grow in generosity, and to leave a legacy for those who come behind us. More often, this is a ministry with people of faith regarding their lives and resources. However, our Kansas Methodist churches can also leave a legacy when an end comes.
Central UMC invested with KMF to support the church with restricted funds. When the end was in sight, a proposal was offered that the Kansas Methodist Foundation could create a Legacy Fund and the remainder of the resources could impact other ministries in the Lawrence Community. That is when the Lawrence Central UMC Legacy Fund was created. The remainder was placed into this fund. Now, annually, this fund makes charitable gifts to support the work of other Lawrence area ministries: Centenary UMC, First UMC, Indian UMC, Wesley KU, and Camp Chippewa.
If we are called to be good stewards of our lives, we live with the trust that God is at work through us and beyond us. We step out in faith, knowing that when an ending comes, God will bring new life beyond us for others.
The Kansas Methodist Foundation is honored to help support churches in being good stewards, providing investment and development services, and being asked to provide the long-term stewarding of legacy gifts. We can provide stability, hold to donor intent, and support the enduring work of the church beyond “a time to die”.
Thanks be to God for the work and ministry of Central UMC in Lawrence.
