M

Ministries
of the
United Methodist
Foundation
of Arkansas
Summer 2008
Local church leaders learn how
to make endowment funds bloom
More than 30 lay leaders and clergy from 18
pated or to fund church programming and missions close
churches throughout Arkansas met with United
to their hearts on a permanent basis.
Methodist Foundation of Arkansas staff in Hot Springs
“I understood more about the nature of a generous gift
May 9-10 to learn how to make their local church
our church received by going to the seminar in Hot
endowment funds grow.
Springs,” said Brian Ratcliff of First UMC, El Dorado. “I
“It was a very helpful seminar and very well done.
didn’t realize that the
The materials I received will help me make presentations
value of our $1 million
at my church,” said
endowment will continue
Gwynne Hinterthuer of
to grow, as will the yearly
First UMC, North Little
amount our church
Rock. “The accommodareceives. It helped me
tions and enjoyable spare
appreciate the importance
time activities were great.”
of endowments.” Those
Don Johnson and Skip Holland of Hot
Keynote speaker David
who attended the seminar Springs
Battles, executive vice
learned the value of how the fund can inspire others and
president of the Oklahoma
enhance ministry in their church.
David Battles of the Oklahoma United United Methodist
The need for a part-time or full-time staff member to
Methodist Foundation
Foundation, presented spetake on the tasks of building relationships and promoting
cific examples of strategies local churches have used to
a local church endowment was discussed at length by
grow endowment funds. He also talked about missed
those attending the conference. Many participants were
opportunities that occur when members don’t have
determined to take the idea back to their churches as a
enough information.
way to grow their funds and expand church ministries.
“Many people are not aware that the opportunity
On Saturday, the group visited Garvan Woodland
exists for bequests and other endowment gifts to their
Gardens in Hot Springs for a guided tour of the property
local churches. Others have an idea it is possible, but
by Outback Jack, a master gardener who made a 90don’t know how to begin,” Battles said. “It is important
minute trek seem like a short walk, with insights on plant
to keep the opportunity for giving
life, buildings and landscaping. After
in front of the congregation so that
a box lunch, the participants hit the
when the time is right, they have
road back to their churches with new
the information they need to make
information and new contacts to help
this type of gift.”
their endowments “bloom.”
The endowment gift is a third
“I came to the conference thinkcategory of giving in addition to
ing that establishing or improving
Helen Herr and Brad Jordan of Little Rock, Barbara and Bill
annual budget and capital camyour church’s endowment can be
Miller of Texarkana
paign giving, Battles explained.
very complicated, but David and
It doesn’t take the place of either
the Foundation broke it down into a
of those types of giving, rather it
simple action plan that got everyone
serves a completely different
there excited about going back and
purpose. It allows members to
sharing what we learned with our
fund future needs of their local
church,” said Bert Kell of Central
Karen and Brian Ratcliff of El Dorado, Mark and Gwynne UMC, Rogers.
churches that haven’t been anticiHinterthuer of North Little Rock
UMFA helps Carl Crow help his clients
UMFA Board Member and attorney
Carl A. Crow Jr. of Hot Springs uses the
resources of the Foundation when his clients
want to direct funds to their local United
Methodist church or other Arkansas
Conference ministries.
“When I talk to my clients about estate
planning, the primary issue is to determine
what the client wants to do, then get it done,”
Carl said. “The United Methodist Foundation
Carl Crow
is perfectly suited for this process. It exists to
assure clients that gift assets will be wisely managed
and safeguarded. And the Foundation has extremely
competitive fees compared to corporate trustees.”
A five-year board member of the Foundation,
Carl became involved because UMFA President Jim
Argue was a friend from Hendrix College. Carl is a
member of the Board of Trustees and the Endowment
Foundation Board at First United Methodist Church in
Hot Springs.
Carl says it’s the greatest feeling in the
world when clients come to him and express
their wish to make a bequest to their church or
another United Methodist ministry or institution. “I know the assets will be appropriately
administered for the care of the church and the
person can place whatever restrictions wanted
— they might decide to put the money toward
music ministry or for the benefit of youth of
their church,” he said.
He characterized the staff at the Foundation as
eager to help and very professional. “The work product
is excellent and they are prompt, thorough and reliable,”
he said. Carl believes the work of UMFA frees the
church staff from burdensome administration, provides
professional management of the endowment funds and
allows the donor or the church to direct the assets
according to their preferences.
Faith in action: Clergy Spouse Retreat
Clergy spouses got practical, entertaining
suggestions from Dr. Mackie Norris, a clergy spouse
with a health education background, at the Arkansas
Conference Clergy Spouse Retreat in April. The retreat,
funded by the United Methodist Foundation of
Arkansas, is a ministry of renewal and revitalization
for spouses of clergy.
“We know clergy spouses play a vital role in the
ministry of the church,” said Foundation President Jim
Argue, “and we were pleased to offer this grant to
support them.”
“This was the first year we had a diverse group,
and that greatly added to the participation and perspectives shared,” said Sandra Haustein of the Clergy
Spouses Retreat Planning Committee. A total of 31
clergy spouses represented all areas of the state,
including both men and women, African American
and Caucasian.
Mission Statement
SEND US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
The mission of the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas is to
create and administer permanent charitable endowment funds to
strengthen and expand United Methodist ministry in Arkansas.
We would like to email you our
newsletter. Send your email address
to: [email protected]
The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas
Jim Argue Jr., President/CEO
Bill Webster, Vice President
Roger Bryles, Vice President/CFO
Janet Kernodle Marshall, Vice President
Linda Orell, Accountant
Brenda Pagan, Administrative Assistant
5300 Evergreen Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
phone (501) 664-8632
toll free (866) 281-8914
fax (501) 664-6792
website: www.umfa.org
Legacies is published by the United Methodist
Foundation of Arkansas solely for educational
purposes. It is not intended to offer legal or tax
advisory services. For advice and assistance in
specific cases, the services of a qualified professional advisor are recommended. (c) 2008 United
Methodist Foundation of Arkansas Inc.
UMFA
Board
Members
W.E. “Buddy” Arnold
North Little Rock
United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas
5300 Evergreen Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
(501) 664-8632
Charles H. Blanchard
Russellville
Allen J. Bush
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Little Rock, AR
Address Service Requested
Permit #2297
Blytheville
Richard C. Butler Jr.
Little Rock
Earl Carter
North Little Rock
Daryl Coker
Little Rock
Robert Crossman
Conway
Carl Crow Jr.
Hot Springs
Beth Deere
Little Rock
Sam Gibson
Benton
Pam Harris
Little Rock
Mary Ellen Jesson
Fort Smith
Chester Jones
Hot Springs
Walter Kimbrough
Little Rock
Hugh R. Kincaid
Fayetteville
Stark Ligon
Little Rock
C.E. McAdoo
Hot Springs Village
Herschel McClurkin
Alma
Michael Mattox
Little Rock
Jack Meadows
Fayetteville
Maurice Mitchell
Little Rock
Joyce Peck
Little Rock
Peggy Polk
Paragould
Raye Rogers
Batesville
Stacy Sells
Little Rock
Susan Skillen
Wynne
Dewitt Smith
Bella Vista
Sandy Smith
Little Rock
John F. Stroud Jr.
Texarkana
Ex-Officio Members
Bishop Charles N.
Crutchfield
Little Rock
Todd Burris
Conway
Roy P. Smith
Little Rock
Clefton Vaughan
Little Rock
James B. Argue Jr.
Little Rock
Roger K. Bryles
Little Rock
Board member spotlight:
Joyce Peck sees UMFA
as resource for wise investments
Joyce Peck continues her
long-time service on the UMFA
Board because she is committed to
the Foundation’s role as a resource
for wise investments and as a
grant maker to Conference
ministries.
“The Foundation just gets
better and bigger each year,”
Joyce said. “I’ve met some of the
nicest Methodists from throughout
the state on the board, people who Joyce Peck
are interested in doing the work of
the Church. Jim Argue, Janet Marshall and all
the staff do just a great job.”
Joyce became a member of the board at
the suggestion of her late husband, Cliff, who
had been a UMFA Board member for many
years. She and Cliff were instrumental in
founding St. James United Methodist Church
in Little Rock in1969. Joyce says that many
of her closest friends attend St. James,
where she’s served on numerous
committees and was president of
UMW for several years.
Two children – a daughter who
owns a Honda dealership in Jackson,
Mississippi, and a son who is a
veterinarian in Ferndale – have given
Joyce five grandchildren. Luckily, she
sees both sets of grandchildren often,
and she plans to split her time between
Jackson and Little Rock after recently
selling her farm.
Joyce is on the Internal Review Board
at the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences and an active member of Chapter
C of PEO, an organization dedicated to
education for women. She served three
times as president of the PEO chapter and is
active in its efforts to provide scholarships,
grants and loans to women.
FOUNDATION ❖ NEWS
New Board member welcomed
physical or development disabilities
by providing year-round camping
and recreational opportunities.
Dr. Walter Kimbrough,
President of Philander Smith
College in Little Rock, became the
Meredith O’Hara wins award
newest member of the Board at the
Foundation’s May meeting. Dr.
Arkansas Conference Child Care
Kimbrough is one of the youngest
Liaison Project Director Meredith
college presidents in the nation and Board members (from left) Chester Jones, Dewitt Smith, O’Hara was named an Outstanding
Walter Kimbrough, Jim Argue and Buddy Arnold
is the son of Rev. Walter L.
Early Childhood Professional by the
Kimbrough, pastor emeritus of Cascade United Methodist
Arkansas Department of Human Services in April. The
Church in Atlanta, and Marjorie L. Kimbrough, author
Child Care Liaison project receives funding from UMFA.
and lecturer. He and his wife, Adria, have a daughter,
We’re proud to be part of Meredith’s hard work to
Lydia, and are members of Wesley Chapel UMC, Little
improve child care ministries.
Rock. We welcome Dr. Kimbrough
and look forward to benefitting
from his leadership as we serve the
Church.
Foundation stays on the road
Meeting with United Methodist
groups to provide information and
resources to United Methodists all
over Arkansas is part of the way
England First UMC
the Foundation staff works to
accomplish their mission. Recent journeys include trips
to All Souls Church, Scott; First UMC, England, Forrest
City, Rogers and Siloam Springs; Mount Sequoyah
Conference and Retreat Center, Fayetteville; Med Camps
Inc. Board of Directors meeting at Camp Aldersgate in
Little Rock; and Trinity UMC, Little Rock.
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Congratulations to Camp Aldersgate, named
Nonprofit Organization of the Year at the Arkansas
Business of the Year Awards in February. UMFA has
been a long-time supporter of the Camp in west Little
Rock and recently made an additional grant to help the
Camp complete its match and receive a substantial grant
from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. Aldersgate
enriches the lives of families with children with medical,
Siloam Springs First UMC
Trinity UMC, Little Rock
Ready for Annual Conference
Roger Bryles (First UMC, Little Rock) and Janet
Marshall (St. James UMC, Little Rock) served their
churches as lay members to the Arkansas UMC Annual
Conference in Hot Springs on June 8-11. Jim Argue also
served as a lay member representing the Central District.
Attendees to Annual Conference received canvas tote
bags compliments of the Foundation. We are pleased to
provide these gifts for the second year to about 1,200
pastors and laity.
Board member retires
Nick Margrave, formerly of Camden, now a resident
of Texarkana, Texas, joined the UMFA board in the
spring of 1993 and retired at its May meeting. We so
appreciate his 15 years of dedication and service. “Nick
and Martha have been enthusiastic and generous supporters of the
Foundation,
always faithful in
their attendance,”
said Jim Argue.
“Everyone will
miss their
gracious,
smiling spirits.”
Rogers First UMC