Bequests and wills

The Uniting Church is grateful for every contribution made to further God’s mission in South Australia.  The Uniting Church Synod of SA welcomes all gifts and endowments to continue and grow the life, work and mission of the Church.  Gifts and endowments can be bequeathed to the Church in your will.  Every gift and endowment is valued and is carefully stewarded.

Gifts and endowments can be directed for a specific purpose (e.g. theological education) or for the benefit or use of a beneficiary (e.g. a particular congregation).  Gifts of any amount will be utilised as they are received.  An endowment often requires a fund to be established in perpetuity. The income the fund generates will be used as directed.  The minimum amount to establish a new, specifically named endowment is $100,000.  Lesser amounts received can be added to existing endowments.

How to leave the Uniting Church a gift in your will

You can leave a bequest to the Uniting Church specifically to the Uniting Foundation, or to your local congregation or a particular congregation, or to a particular part of the Uniting Church. In the Uniting Church, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) is the legal entity in which all property and finances are vested. Hence the Property Trust needs to be named in your bequest and then additional information provided to direct your gift accordingly.

We suggest seeking legal advice from a solicitor or legal advisor to ensure that taxation and other implications are fully considered for your particular circumstances.

Bequest wording

The following bequest wording is provided to assist people who wish to leave a gift to the Uniting Church in their will.

I give and bequeath ......
(description of gift, eg specific amount or percentage of estate or balance of estate)
to The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.)

a) for the use and benefit of ...... (name of beneficiary – examples listed below)

* (name of congregation) Uniting Church, (address) - eg West Uniting Church, 7 West Tce, Adelaide
* the Uniting Foundation
* Uniting College for Leadership & Theology
* the Synod of South Australia
* UAICC (Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress)
* Frontier Services
* the Uniting Church in Australia (Assembly)
* name of Uniting Church body or group

OR

a) for the purpose of ...... (optional – if the bequestor is wishing the bequest or legacy to be used for a specific purpose)

* mission outreach
* children's / youth / seniors' ministry
* pastoral care
* social justice
* international or cross cultural mission
* Indigenous ministry
* theological education

b) If this gift cannot take effect for any reason for the use and benefit of such congregation, foundation, institution, council, committee, department, college, board or agency of the Uniting Church in Australia as The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (S.A.) considers most nearly fulfils the charitable purposes I intend to benefit.