September 2007 Newsletter
A bequest of $894,000 has been received by the Virginia United Methodist Foundation to assist the work of the Foundation and five other United Methodist causes. The bequest comes from the estate of Mrs. Reba C. Rickard, the wife of a deceased former chaplain and clergy member of the Virginia Conference, the Reverend Harry C. Rickard. The last will and testament of Mrs. Rickard directs the Conference Foundation to hold and manage the funds and make annual distributions to six causes according to a formula outlined in the will: 40% for scholarships or loans for persons preparing for church-related vocations; 15% for the Retired Clergy Housing Corporation; 15% for Virginia United Methodist Homes; 10% for Virginia United Methodist Family Services; 10% for the work of evangelism within the Virginia Conference and 10% to support the work of the Conference Foundation. “This is a wonderful example of a couple who believed profoundly in the connectional work of the church and left a major portion of their estate to assist these causes,” said Jim Bergdoll, president of the Conference Foundation in announcing this gift. The funds received in the bequest will establish the Harry C. and Reba C. Rickard Endowment Fund in the Virginia United Methodist Foundation. Chaplain Rickard was a member of the Virginia Conference for 42 years but served in the chaplaincy of the US Army for 20 years. He and Mrs. Rickard retired in Strasburg following his last appointment at Greenville-Mint Spring in the Staunton District. He died in 1999. Mrs. Rickard was in a nursing home in Woodstock at the time of her death in April 2006. She had worked in the area of Christian education and was active in various church work. During retirement, she and Mr. Rickard had been associated with Strasburg United Methodist Church and were supportive of that church through the years. The Reverend Dr. H. Randolph Arrington, a former executive director of the Conference Foundation who was instrumental in securing this gift, called Mrs. Rickard a wonderful servant. “She and Mr. Rickard wanted to do something that would be a living memorial to their love for the church.” The Conference Foundation will administer the scholarship and loans program. A procedure for applying for these funds annually will be announced at a later date.
Lambuth Clarke Scholarship Established A gift has been made to the Virginia Conference Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship at Centenary United Methodist Church in Lynchburg in memory of Lambuth M. Clarke . The scholarship fund, established by the Clarke family, will assist students who are attending Randolph College (formerly Randolph Macon Woman’s College). Clarke served as president of Virginia Wesleyan College from 1966 to 1992 and then served as interim president of RMWC 1993-94. He attended high school in Lynchburg and attended Centenary UMC while his father, H.P. Clarke, served as superintendent of the Lynchburg District. He graduated from E.C. Glass High School there. His wife, Alice Acree Clarke, is a native of Lynchburg and a graduate of RMWC, as is his daughter, Leighton. William T. Powell, treasurer of Centenary, said: “This is a very appropriate way to honor Lambuth and will give our church another important way to relate with our neighbor, Randolph College.” Clarke served as a delegate to both the Jurisdictional and General conferences and served a term on the University Senate, the accrediting agency of the United Methodist Church, and on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He was a recipient of the John Wesley Distinguished Service award for “extraordinary service to higher education within the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Foundation Assets Exceed $32 Million Assets in the Virginia United Methodist Foundation passed $32 million at the end of June 2007. A major portion of that, $21 million, represented investments by local churches, districts and agencies of the Conference. More than $6 million is in permanent endowment accounts which are being administered by the Foundation to benefit various United Methodist related causes. The Foundation has $1.5 million in charitable gift annuities and charitable trusts.
New Directors Five new directors have joined the Virginia United Methodist Foundation board: Ronald Hardman, former Conference lay leader from the Portsmouth District; Minnis Ridenour, retired senior vice president of Virginia Tech from the Roanoke District, Philip Paulette, an investment counselor from the Farmville District, the Reverend Carl Ulrich of the Rappahannock District, and the Reverend Gene Tatum of the Petersburg District.
The Reverend George Neas is occupying an office in the Foundation offices at the UM Center in carrying out his new responsibilities as Conference Director of Stewardship. He is working closely with the Foundation in these duties. You may reach him there at 1- 800-768-6040, ext. 121 ( 804- 521- 1121) or GeorgeNeas@vaumc.org.
Foundation Presents Programs on Planned Giving The Executive director of the Foundation participated in a workshop on estate planning and planned giving at Aldersgate UMC in Alexandria and presented a workshop on endowment and planned giving at Court Street UMC in Lynchburg in May. Churches interested in similar programs may contact JimBergdoll at 1-800-768-6040, ext 120 or JimBergdoll@vaumc.org.
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Bequest to Benefit Conference Causes