In 2001, I began writing this column and I want to thank the editors who have assisted me. In particular, Emily Rowe has been very helpful and patient, especially at times when I exceeded my word quota. The purpose of my writing was to raise awareness about the benefits of planned giving. Over the years, I have given numerous talks about planned giving to congregations, parish councils, vestries and individuals. We have seen some wonderful gifts happen through bequests from wills, insurance policies, shares in companies, and annuities.

This column gave me much pleasure, and occasionally I have wandered off from my core theme and chatted about some personal event. Often times, these would result in much feedback from my readers. I recall one when I wrote about being born a “blue baby” who wasn’t expected to live. My mother was determined that I would not die without a name so she called in the local school marm, Evelyn Roach, to baptize me. Well that column sparked many comments, including one from a lady in Centreville who related that when she was born, her parents felt she was about to die but her father picked her up and held her over the stove until she started to revive. It was a heart warming story.

 Another centred around events which preceded my mother’s death and how a priest was of great comfort to us. My mother was in palliative care, and Rev’d Linda Budden happened by her room. A soothing word, a touch, and a prayer from this lady was so much appreciated. Sometimes the clergy don’t realize the positive impact that they have on grieving families. That column sparked many replies as well.

Finally, a word—please ensure that you do have a legal will, and prayerfully consider leaving a bequest in your will for your church. There never was a time that such support was more badly needed.

One last comment: I want to thank my wife Kay for her support over the years. She has been my editor, my critic, and my supporter. She always had a way of softening my words and improving the message.

Kevin Smith was the planned giving officer for Anglican East NL.
For more information re planned giving, contact (709) 576-6697 or
Email: legacy@Anglicanenl.net

The post My Last Column appeared first on Anglican Life.

One story told of an uncle who left his entire estate to an Elvis impersonator. Another lady left most of her money to a local donkey sanctuary while comedian Jack Benny inserted a clause that stipulated that a rose would be delivered to his wife every day for the rest of her life. Billionaire Leona Helmsley left instructions for $4 billion fortune to be spent caring for her dogs. And, finally, a Portuguese aristocrat left his considerable fortune to 70 strangers randomly chosen from a Lisbon phone book.

Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.

What precipitated this train of thought? Well, my March column featured a story on Father Tom Hiscock who passed away in 1950 in Catalina. In his will, he left a bequest for the diocese to establish a pension fund for retired clergy. And, as the Rev’d Fred Marshall pointed out, this legacy has lasted for 73 years.

After my article was published I received a note from Bishop David Torraville who commented that he had just read my piece on Father Tom, and laughed saying that it brought back a wonderful memory of a story. This is what he wrote:

Mom and Dad were in Catalina in the 70‘s and I would visit occasionally. On one visit we were sitting with Clayton Bursey. Father Tom’s death came up and Clayton had a story to tell. His father must have been a pallbearer at Father Tom’s funeral. According to Clayton, Father Tom left a note with money. A particular lady was to make her fruit cake, a gentleman was to take the train to Clarenville to pick up a bottle of rum. The pallbearers were to dig the grave, and after the funeral, were to eat the cake, drink the rum and sing, “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”

Clayton said they ate the cake and drank the rum, but thought it disrespectful to sing, so they quietly recited, “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”

It must have been Clayton’s father’s story but Clayton told it with such joy and if it’s true, it shows a wonderfully playfulness in Father Tom.

Well, if indeed the story is true, it must have caused quite a chuckle at the time of Father Tom’s funeral.

The post Father Tom and A Sense of Humour appeared first on Anglican Life.

Legal experts tell me that you should know that it is extremely important that you have an up to date will. If you die without a will, the Intestate Success Act will decide, that is, the courts will decide, how your estate is distributed, and this may not be in the best interests of your loved ones. However, we do know that if you have a will, then the decisions are in your hands.

To die without a will is irresponsible and places a tremendous burden on your survivors. Do not put it off any longer. 

I sought advice from lawyer Glen Roebothan (of Roebothan, MacKay and Marshall) about a few common misconceptions: Here are his responses:

“It’s obvious who will get my estate. It will go to my spouse.”

Local laws will determine who will receive your possessions, which may or may not reflect your intentions. If you die without a will and you are married with children, all assets will not automatically go to your surviving spouse.

“I don’t have an estate of any value.”

Even if you don’t believe that you have an estate of any value, your death itself may generate a sizeable benefit. For example, your beneficiaries may be entitled to the proceeds of a life insurance claim, a wrongful death suit, a claim in the event of some negligence resulting in your death. These can be significant sums of money.

“I prepared a will twenty-five years ago when our last child was born. Isn’t that enough?”

No. You should regularly review your will to ensure that it meets your current family and financial situation. A will can be changed at any time by adding a “Codicil”, which is an addition or an amendment to your existing will, or by simply making a new will. 

Some circumstances that could require you to change your will include:

a) A change in marital status; if you marry, your will is automatically revoked;

b) The death of a beneficiary;

c) The death of an executor or trustee;

d) an executor or trustee becomes unwilling or unable to act;

e) a change in family circumstances; for example a friend or family member may have a special need that you may wish to provide for.

In conclusion, a legal will is especially important when you are considering leaving a bequest for your church.

The post Tidbits About Wills appeared first on Anglican Life.

The Rev’d John Thomas Hiscock has left a legacy that has continued for 73 years. Dr. Baker writes:

“‘Father Tom’ as he was affectionately known, was born in Catalina on July 14, 1879. His parents were John and Maria Hiscock of Catalina. After receiving his early education in Catalina, he attended Bishop Feild College at St. John’s and, following graduation, he taught school for a few years. In 1902 he entered Queen’s Theological College at St. John’s; he was ordained as a deacon in 1905 and as a priest the following year. In 1907 he studied in England at Durham University graduating in 1909 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was one of two Newfoundland Anglican priests to attend Durham at this time and their association with Durham allowed Queen’s College to affiliate with it. Hence, Queen’s students could take the Licentiate in Theology at the College and then proceed to Durham for the Bachelor of Arts degree.”

Dr. Baker went on to report that following his return to Newfoundland, Fr. Hiscock served in various outport communities, including Bonne Bay, Fogo, Newtown, and Catalina. In 1929 he joined the Faculty of Queen’s College where he became Vice Principal serving until 1942 when he retired to Catalina. His chief academic interest at the College lay in New Testament Greek and Christian Worship.

In his retirement, Fr. Hiscock remained very active in community and church affairs in the Catalina area.

 Dr. Baker continues:

“He became a Director of the Bonavista Cold Storage Company established at Bonavista in 1939 by Hazen Russell. This company was active in pioneering cold storage shipping in Newfoundland and Father Tom was an ardent supporter of this endeavour; He was also a member of the Board of the Joseph Clouter Free Public Library established at Catalina in 1937. This was the first public library to be established in Newfoundland outside St. John’s, where the Gosling Memorial Library had opened in 1936.”

Father Tom died in Catalina on August 24th, 1950 but not before leaving a legacy for the Church in Newfoundland. According to Dr. Baker, “During the 1930s and 1940s Father Tom had invested in the financial stock market. Following his death, part of the assets from his estate were used to help create a pension fund for retired Anglican clergymen in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Our Joint Committee Officer, the Rev’d Fred Marshall, reported on the benefits of the Hiscock legacy.

“Each of the three dioceses in NL share in the premium cost of the medical benefits plan for retired clergy based on years of service. Revenue from the Father Tom Hiscock Memorial Fund is received by the Tri-Diocesan Joint Committee and then distributed to the dioceses to offset this cost. Today, seventy-three years since his passing, 72 retired clergy benefit from Father Tom’s generosity and financial foresight.”

That investment and subsequent legacy gift is still contributing decades later.

The post The Rev’d John Thomas Hiscock: A Legacy Donor From The Past appeared first on Anglican Life.

Copies of these brochures will be shared with Central and Western Newfoundland if they wish to adapt the contents to their particular dioceses.

The purpose of these brochures is to introduce planned giving, and to encourage our faithful parishioners to get their estates in order and to prayerfully consider leaving a bequest or some other product for their parish, to their diocese or to the national church. It explains what planned giving is and discusses the various ways to give. These include bequests in wills, life insurance, gifts of property and gifts of appreciated securities.

It suggests that writing your will and planning your estate go hand in hand. Through careful planning, you can minimize taxes on your final tax return, and increase the amount that is left for the important things that you hold dear in your life—your family and the Church’s ministry. It also points out that planned gifts can be directed to support specific programs in your parish, in the diocese, or in the national church. Examples of this would be youth ministry, Christian education, Queen’s College, an outreach ministry, or the social justice of the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF).

Copies of this new brochure will be available sometime within the next few months.

“Living is giving. We live life best as we give our strengths, gifts and competencies in the service of God’s mission. We are called to serve, not survive. Our giving makes a difference in our families, our work, our community, our world and our church.”

– Kennon L. Callahan, Champion of Christian Stewardship

The post How Will You Be Remembered? appeared first on Anglican Life.

The subject of this month’s column centres around Powers of Attorney. What are they? Are there different kinds? In order to write this material, I had help from the PLIAN (Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland) and a Bay Roberts lawyer, Douglas Moores.

PLIAN states that a “Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives another person the legal authority to act on your behalf in relation to your finances while you are living and still have capacity. This power can be granted for a specific period of time and for specific financial tasks, or it can be very general.” The Association notes that the “Power of Attorney deals only with financial matters, and does not involve decisions about health care treatment or the authority to deal with a person’s estate after they die.” 

They further state that “An Enduring Power of Attorney is a specific type of Power of Attorney meant to be exercised after the person granting the power of attorney loses his or her legal capacity.” Completing this document and granting this power gives someone else the authority to handle your finances if you no longer have the mental capacity to understand the effects of your decisions and actions related to your financial affairs. 

Lawyer Douglas Moores says the chief difference between these two legal documents is that an Enduring Power of Attorney takes effect only on the mental incapacity of the Donor, whereas a regular Power of Attorney is effective upon execution of the document by the Donor.

Furthermore, Mr. Moores stated that it is highly recommended that a person should make sure that an Attorney is in place immediately—if required—or be executed to go in effect upon compromised mental capacity etc. He also said the Power of Attorney document can be adjusted to accommodate the needs of the person creating the Attorney.

PLIAN writes that some of the requirements for creating a legally valid Enduring Power of Attorney in Newfoundland and Labrador include that the document must be: 
•Written
•Signed by the person granting Power of Attorney (the “donor”)
•Signed by one independent witness (meaning someone other than the person receiving Power of Attorney or that person’s spouse or cohabiting partner)
•Written to include language that makes clear the Power of Attorney is meant to continue
•Having effect after the donor loses legal capacity.

Mr. Moores also suggested that people should also have an Advanced Health Care Directive signed as well.

The post Power of Attorney appeared first on Anglican Life.

Over the last 22 years I have written many articles, mostly about planned gifts or estate planning issues, but occasionally about personal issues. This column is about the latter but it illustrates a level of kindness that is so prevalent in this part of the world. And, it becomes all the more important especially at this time of the year.

My wife has a little craft business, and recently she asked me to do her bank deposit for her, and since I was available I quickly consented. She handed me her deposit book along with 30 twenty dollar bills, 15 five dollar bills, and a cheque. I then walked out though my door towards my vehicle. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed our garbage bin out by the sidewalk, and placing the deposit book on the hood of my Jeep, walked towards the bin to see if it had been emptied. Then I turned back and got into my vehicle, and proceeded up Strawberry Marsh Road where I live. I turned onto Allandale Road and then left until the Prince Philip Parkway, which some of you may know is a major four lane divided highway which cuts through Memorial University. As I was passing University Avenue, I noticed the deposit book on the hood and much to my utter horror, it flew off. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the bills flying around on the highway.

I quickly pulled off to the left and got out in a panic and tried valiantly to pick up these elusive bills which were blowing around on this busy highway. Another vehicle was approaching me and, to my surprise, it stopped, right in the middle of the road and essentially blocking traffic, while I frantically rushed around trying to retrieve the bills. The next thing I knew, the driver—an amazing woman—jumped out and began helping me pick up my wife’s deposit.

In short order, we had retrieved most of the bills but in the meantime, traffic was backed up because of this lady’s vehicle. I thanked her, probably not enough, but rushed back to my Jeep and drove away. I didn’t have time to adequately thank her or to offer her a reward for assisting me in this very difficult situation. I have no idea who she was but for that brief period of time—when all hell was breaking out for me—she was my guardian angel. And if by chance that she may be reading this, I want to say thank you to her for such kindness and fast attention to my plight. 

Now with Christmas coming on, I am reminded of a quote from Charles Schulz, the Peanuts cartoon creator who said that, “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” Well, that lady did something very big for me. Bless her. Rest assured that I will be paying it forward.

“With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”
– Max Ehrmann

The post An Act of Kindness appeared first on Anglican Life.

Denise was born in London, and served during World War II with the WAAF as a radar mechanic; she came to Bell Island in 1953 as a teacher. Three years later she married Gerald Rees in whom she was a faithful companion and support for many years.

The first year she was here in Newfoundland, she marched off down to the annual meeting of the church on the Island. She related this experience to the Newfoundland Churchman in 1991:

I was sitting there in a room full of men and just as the meeting was about to begin, one man stood up and wondered aloud whether Miss Hatton knew that women do not attend church annual meetings. I replied, “Oh yes, they do. I’m here.”

Denise went on to organize the Girl’s Auxiliary (G.A.), and was also involved with the Women’s Auxiliary in the 50’s and 60’s. She was diocesan president of W.A. and was president of St. Mary’s A.C.W. for two years. She became the first woman on the vestry on Bell Island, and on the diocesan synod, and served in a number of other capacities including as a delegate to General Synod. And, she matched her activities with continuing support for her parishes, the diocese, and PWRDF. The list goes on.

The Rev’d Canon Ralph Billard wrote the following in 2013 when nominating Denise for the Bishop’s Award of Merit:

“Denise Rees has been witnessing for Jesus Christ in a great variety of ways from her role in the life of the church, to being a faithful wife and helpmate. She is a glowing example of witnessing and evangelism.”

Another former rector of Denise’s, Bishop Cyrus Pitman, had these comments:

“Denise lived her whole life based on the call of Jesus to share in His ministry; and share she did!! In my time at St. Mary’s she was an  avid Sunday worshipper as well as daily worshipper in her home. She would often want to reflect and discuss the Sunday homily. She was also very passionate about youth ministry.”

The rector of St. Mark the Evangelist, the Ven. Amanda Taylor, said that while she had only known Denise for a few months, she “was riveted by the stories of her life that were shared with me. As she advocated for Women’s Rights, and stood in solidarity with the LGBTQ2S+ community (even attending a Pride Parade in her wheelchair!), Denise took to heart the baptismal call to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “respect the dignity of every human being.”

Bishop Cy has the last say about Denise: “There is much more I can say about Denise. She never wanted much said about her. She often said, “Always give God the Glory”.”

What a legacy! Thank you Denise.

The post Denise Rees: A Glowing Example of Witnessing appeared first on Anglican Life.

The post The Virtue of Gratitude appeared first on Anglican Life.

The question is: who will do all of these things? Who is authorized to make those decisions? Think about it. The spouse may be able to do some of it because he or she is a joint holder of the bank accounts, investments, and RRSPs. However, there comes a time when being a spouse is not enough to settle affairs.

You need the legal authority. What does that mean? You need a legal will drafted by a lawyer and duly signed and witnessed according to the law. That gives the executor/trix the right to make decisions on the loved one’s estate in dealing with banks, motor vehicle offices, etc. It allows him or her to close accounts, pay bills, and submit the terminal tax return to the Canada Revenue Agency. This is particularly important if the deceased is the owner of property.

It is sad to hear of the passing of friends and relatives but it grieves me considerably to hear that they died without a legal will. Please don’t wait until it is too late. See a lawyer and get a legal will drafted. The cost is insignificant in comparison to the grief that your family will have to go through after you die.

Listed below are some of the points that will require attention after a loved one’s death:
• Canada Pension: stop payments
• Death benefit: are you eligible?
• Survivor benefit
• Old age security allowance
• Social Insurance Card: should be returned with a death certificate to Service Canada
• MCP: a change of information form must be completed A1A4Z9
• Passport: the passport office should be notified of the death by sending a copy of the death certificate and a letter
• Life insurance
• Mortgage life insurance
• Personal pension
• Vehicle registration ownership
• Credit cards
• Bank accounts
• Make sure someone knows your Apple ID,  logins, and passwords
• Final income tax return: who is responsible?

In conclusion, these are but a few of the details that require attention. Please get a will, and, while you are doing that, prayerfully consider leaving a bequest in that will for your church.

The post Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late appeared first on Anglican Life.