3 August 1997
Dear Parishioners,
ST JOHN'S CHURCH GORDON FOUNDATION TRUST
When our 125th Anniversary Year was launched at a Festival Eucharist on 27th October 1996, it was the commencement of a very special 12 months in our Parish. Many events have been planned and have taken place. Many more will take place and on 26th October next it will be 125 years to the day since the foundation stone of the original Church was laid. What a great occasion to celebrate! Perhaps the biggest event of this 125th Anniversary Year is the establishment of St John's Church Gordon Foundation Trust, a Trust Fund with the three Churchwardens as Trustees, which can accept donations, bequests, gifts, etc of money and property for use of and generation of income for, our Parish. It has taken some months with legal matters and Diocesan requirements to be dealt with and incorporated in a Trust Deed, but this is now all finalised. It is "up and running" so to speak. At the luncheon following the Festival Eucharist last October, the Churchwardens handed out a brochure and there was some discussion. A copy of this brochure is included with this letter and I ask you to please read it and be familiar with all the questions that can arise and the answers thereto. In looking to the future, we have a great need for the continuation of the ministry and the maintenance of the property. Property can be given or willed to the Trust and likewise money. The income from the money invested can be used for the above-mentioned need.
As Chairman of our 125th Anniversary Year, I urge all parishioners to consider how you can assist. The wording for a bequest form is set out in the brochure and many questions are answered for you.
Yes, we celebrate our past 125 years at this time! Let us dedicate ourselves to planning and giving for the future.
Yours sincerely,
John C Moon OAM Chairman 125th Anniversary Committee
As part of the special events for the 125th Anniversary Year, the churchwardens put in motion this trust and engaged specialist solicitors to advise and draw up a Trust Deed, which would be acceptable to the Diocesan authorities. The Deed has now been signed and some donations to the Trust Fund have been made.
The main purpose of the Fund is to accept donations, bequests, gifts, etc of money and property. In the case of money, it will be invested to generate income.
The administration of the Trust Fund will be by the Trustees in accordance with the Trust Deed and those people are the churchwardens from time to time.
Our Church has a place in the history of the upper North Shore. I have recently completed the writing of a history of the last 25 years which, together with the 100 year history written in 1972, will become one for the whole period of time. It will be available about September of this year.
I have also had the pleasure of being the "Founder" of the Trust, which I believe in implicitly and I hope that parishioners will now realise that there is a great opportunity to act in one or more of the following ways:
To make a gift now in cash
To make a gift of property.
To make provision in a Will to leave a bequest of cash or property, or both. (Contact a solicitor.)
The cash assets of the Fund will be invested and income therefrom used for the ministry at St John's. In particular, we have a great existing need for a young assistant priest (with family) but our week by week giving does not make this possible. Money for a stipend as well as accommodation is required. I guess that sometimes we forget about the great heritage we have and with which we are blessed today because so many men and women of yesterday not only worked tirelessly for their church but they also left a legacy at the time of their death. In the same way, we can all be part of the work of Christ for generations to come by giving to the Foundation Trust.
I ask all parishioners to please consider this matter prayerfully.
John C Moon, O.A.M., Chairman
125th Anniversary Committee
"I bequeath to the Trustees for the time being of the St John's Church Gordon Foundation Trust, Gordon, New South Wales, the sum of $......... free of all duties for the purpose of the Trust. I declare that the receipt by any one of the Trustees of the Trust shall be full and sufficient discharge to my executors."
If you wish to make a gift of property other than money, the Trustees suggest that you seek legal advice as this may well involve Capital Gains and other taxation issues.
