God is the owner of all, yet He allows us to act as stewards of His assets. Such stewardship includes making provision for our personal and family needs, remembering we have nothing of our own and are responsible to a loving heavenly Father for what we use during our lifetime and any residue that remains.

Individuals differ greatly. Parental influences, training, and life experiences help determine giving habits and, consequently, support of church ministries. Trust services personnel must consider inspired stewardship principles and meet constituents where they are in terms of their individual philosophies.

Those who work in the trust services program of the church are responsible for sharing with constituents principles of stewardship and estate planning which will ensure a judicious use of God’s assets.

Those charged with trust services duties have the awesome responsibility of educating constituents about the methods of finance, stewardship, and estate planning which will help to ensure a thoughtful use of God’s assets both during and after life—making paramount the principle that God, the owner of all, requires us to be just and faithful stewards.

"Some wills are made in so loose a manner that they will not stand the test of the law, and thus thousands of dollars have been lost to the cause. Our brethren should feel that a responsibility rests upon them, as faithful servants in the cause of God, to exercise their intellect in regard to this matter, and secure to the Lord His own" (Counsels on Stewardship, p. 323).

Trust officers provide constituents with current estate and gift planning information, and encourage them to create estate planning documents by competent legal advisors.

Union trust service directors do not normally relate directly with church members, but serve as technical resources for local conference trust departments. We also assist local trust departments in getting accredited, and trust officers certified, by the North American Division Certification and Accreditation Committee. Union trust directors arrange for the annual continuing education required for trust directors to maintain certification and assist conferences in maintaining accreditation.

If you have questions and would like to speak with a certified trust officer, please contact your local conference. They would be glad to assist you.

Vernon L. Alger is the Lake Union Conference trust services director.