Securing our Future
A parish legacy to nurture, encourage and grow
Like those who led before us, your commitment to our church family and to God is the foundation upon which Trinity Episcopal Church will continue to grow. In service to Him, and as stewards of our faith, your leadership and generosity will ensure our parish’s future and serve as a clear example of the power of Christ-driven lives.
Dear Members and Friends, For over 90 years, Trinity Episcopal Church has served our community. We have a rich legacy committed to living out the Gospel and loving those around us. While buildings do not define churches, a safe place to call home is extremely important. Trinity Episcopal Church has launched Securing our Future, an endowment campaign to preserve our parish for generations to come so that we may grow our ministries and serve our community as God called us to do. This is a time to celebrate our rich legacy, strong resolve, and desire to boldly move into the future as a parish on a mission to share the love of Christ, change hearts and serve others. Prayerfully consider your commitment to Securing our Future. Your generosity and financial support will continue to further our calling to serve one another and our Vero Beach community as a leading parish of the Diocese of Central Florida and the greater Anglican Communion. Yours in Christ, Fr. Christopher M. Rodriguez
SECURING OUR FUTURE ENDOWMENT GOAL : $6 MILLION OUR PURPOSE To maintain and manage the physical plant of Trinity Episcopal Church in perpetuity, ensuring we can focus our annual budget funds on ministries and missions. OUR MISSION In commitment to our mission as followers of Christ, Trinity Episcopal Church and its Vestry are embarking on an Endowment Campaign that will secure our parish legacy. By securing and managing an endowment fund of at least $6M, we will have the financial security and wherewithal to maintain our physical campus in perpetuity without impacting our church’s operating budget or expending reserves. In doing so, all tithes and donations can be allocated to Trinity Episcopal Church’s ultimate mission of ministry and service programs.
KEY DATES TO REMEMBER VISION WEEKEND FEBRUARY 18TH – 19TH Fr. Rodriguez introduces Securing Our Future, our vision and goals. Materials will be provided during the services. Parishioners will share their life-changing stories throughout the coming weeks. COMMITMENT WEEKEND MARCH 25TH – 26TH Securing Our Future financial commitments begin. CELEBRATION SUNDAY APRIL 23RD A celebration and announcement of total commitments to date for Securing Our Future at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Moving our Parish into the Future Our current generation of parishioners has been called to help lead Trinity Episcopal Church into the next century as a leader of the Christian faith. By His grace, every opportunity and obstacle in this parish’s history has been met with a determined family of followers who have answered the call to rise and meet the challenge to ensure our church’s very survival and growth. Our cause is great and members like you are our greatest blessing. With a successful endowment in place our ministries will flourish and confidently grow in a way that ensures future generations will always have a church home with a strong legacy. A safe, secure church home from which to operate new ministries is the foundation upon which our new programs will grow. It also aligns with our purpose as Christians doing good works in the world through service — and the church being the place to cultivate servants and followers like no other organization.
New Ministry Programs A glimpse into the future
Growth in new ministry programs is the vision of Trinity Episcopal Church. With the Endowment in place, new programs will better serve each of you as well as new members who continue to be drawn to our growing church family. From the young to our older adults, the following new programs represent how we can reach a wide variety of parishioners and prospective members. MOTHER’S MORNING OUT
Being a mom is a wonderful blessing. It can also be hard work. Our new program will provide relief to mothers who need a break. While some moms choose to use this time to run errands, others have the opportunity to gather and enjoy the company of other moms. ADOPT-A-SCHOOL
Our backpack ministry has created awareness of the needs of schoolchildren in our poorest communities. In our adopt-a-school ministry parishioners will adopt individual elementary classrooms, partnering with teachers to provide school supplies and personally meet the students.
SENIOR LIFE PREP
Aging is a reality. Physical disabilities, a shifting financial climate, familial difficulties and other unexpected changes can present its challenges. Our Senior Life Prep ministry will meet monthly. We will invite experts to address our group while fostering fellowship and mutual support with one another. BUS MINISTRY
There are retirement communities within a few miles of Trinity Episcopal Church, yet many residents are unable to join us for Sunday worship due to infirmities and mobility issues. Our Bus Ministry would provide transportation to those who would not otherwise be able to attend. RETIREMENT HOME MINISTRY
Members of our church will volunteer alongside Fr. Rodriguez and Deacon Gritter to bring a full worship service into retirement home communities each month, sharing in the fellowship of the Spirit through Word and Sacrament. ON-RAMP WORSHIP
When we worship using the Book of Common Prayer we stand not only with fellow Anglicans, but also with centuries of our brothers and sisters who came before us. For this on-ramp service, we’ll invite others to share in our tradition through creative worship, incorporating familiar worship songs with the beauty of our traditional heritage. GLOBAL MISSION
We believe in serving both our community and the world. Our desire is to partner with local Christians in foreign countries in mutual support and solidarity, embarking on overseas trips and supporting local missionaries. REACH OUT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY
There are numerous nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping the poor. While they provide basic necessities, we as Christians can provide our money, time, and the Gospel. This new program gathers Trinity Episcopal Church members who stand together serving others through their own initiative or in partnership with local organizations. FIRST STEPS
Hospitality and a welcoming spirit are hallmarks of our parish. First Steps is an opportunity for guests and returning members to meet with Fr. Rodriguez and become better acquainted with our parish, including Trinity Episcopal Church’s values and ministries.
The Endowment Campaign Constant upkeep to an aging campus requires that we continually dip into our reserves for physical plant projects such as replacing air conditioners, signage, lighting, painting, sound systems and other necessary maintenance. The reserves will eventually be depleted and negatively impact our ministry programs. This is not a viable long-term solution. With the endowment in place, Trinity’s vision can be fulfilled.
A SAMPLING OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS For a complete FAQ, visit TrinityVero.org/SecuringOurFuture
What will the money be used for?
The endowment funds will be used to manage Trinity Episcopal Church’s physical plant in perpetuity. This ensures that our campus will always be a safe and readily available parish for future generations, regardless of membership levels, tithing amounts or other unforeseen circumstances. How does the endowment relate to annual giving? The two are intrinsically connected. A successful endowment campaign will give us the ability to grow our ministry programs, which are funded via annual giving and tithes to the church. With the fund in place, we will allocate our annual giving dollars to ministry programs and not rely on them for physical plant maintenance. It will also ensure that modifications to buildings are made so that we have a safe place from which to operate our new ministry programs. Who will oversee the invested endowed funds, and is there a guarantee the funds will only be used as intended? The Endowment Fund will be managed by a registered investment advisor (RIA) and overseen by the Endowment Committee, which will be appointed by the Vestry. Governing documents will be in place to restrict the use of funds and regulate spending policy as it relates to physical plant needs. Additionally, as with our current financial process, in-depth financial reports will be available for members by request. What protections will be in place to ensure the funds remain at Trinity Episcopal Church? Governing documents will provide the terms and conditions of oversight of the fund by the appointed Endowment Committee, who will manage the relationship with our selected RIA. Our elected Vestry will appoint the Endowment Committee. This effectively provides three levels of oversight of the fund by registered financial professionals and our own parish members to ensure it is protected and always remains at Trinity Episcopal Church for the future. How can you engage with the Securing our Future campaign? • Pray • Maintain your current, regular giving • Discern the role that you wish to take throughout the campaign, including volunteering time and resources • Make the commitment that God leads you to make
Your Commitment Growing forward, together
Prayerfully consider your endowment commitment to Trinity Episcopal Church for the coming year and our members’ ministry vision for the future. The truest measure of stewardship is equal sacrifice, not equal gifts. Not everyone has the resources to make a large gift, but every person can meaningfully invest in what God is doing at our parish in proportion to their blessings. Determine if your priorities reflect your commitment and make the commitment that God leads you to make. HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT BEGINNING MARCH 25TH Commit Online at Trinityvero.org/SecuringOurFuture Quickly and securely complete and submit your commitment online. Weekend Services Simply pick up a commitment card as you enter the church and place your completed form in the offering plate as the usher makes it available. By Mail Pick up your commitment card at church or request that the parish mail it to you. Return the completed form to Trinity Episcopal Church, 2365 Pine Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. Planned Giving There are a number of opportunities for planned giving, including cash donations, real estate, stocks and appreciated securities, life insurance, charitable gift annuities, and giving of your time and talents. By appointment If you would like to make an appointment to discuss giving opportunities, please contact the parish office at 772.567.1146.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 CORINTHIANS 9:11
2365 Pine Avenue Vero Beach, Florida 32960 | 772.567.1146 | TrinityVero.org