Faith Fact- Wills and Giving

In The Episcopal Church, we don't have a whole book of doctrine we adhere to. In fact, our Catechism is only 19 pages in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP 845-862 to be precise). We have always adhered to the idea that "the rule of practice is the rule of belief". In other words, if you want to know what we believe, pick up the BCP.

That couldn't be more true with our thoughts on making wills. That is something you would expect to see in the Funeral service. Instead, it is mentioned at the very end of the service for "Thanksgiving for a Child." On BCP 445, it reads:

The Minister of the Congregation is directed to instruct the people, from
time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent 

provision for the well-being of their families, and of all persons to make
wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their
temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for
religious and charitable uses.

We're called to make wills, especially to prevent those who follow us from getting into fights over who is owed what. And we are called to leave behind goods for "religious and charitable uses."

Just as our funerals are meant to reflect our life as people of faith, our giving in our wills to religious and charitable causes should reflect our giving in life. In other words, the BCP is not only telling us to make wills, it is calling us to responsibly stewardship as Christians and to give of our time, talent, and treasure in service to our Lord.