Helping St. John’s Move into a Second Century

Oct 29, 2021

St. John’s Second Century Endowment Committee members Michael Childers, from left, and Pixie Martin, Jay Erstling, John Apitz, and Michael Collins, with the Rev. Andrew Warner. (Not pictured: committee member Lee Baker and the Rev. Rachael Bauman).

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. John’s of La Pointe, Wisconsin. As Julie Stryker said in the new centennial book about the congregation: “St. John’s is the visceral connection of our quirky community.”

The congregation decided to launch an endowment building campaign with the Rev. Andrew Warner to ensure St. John’s remains strong for the next 100 years, too. “This COVID pandemic has taught us that the future is unpredictable,” said Lee Baker, a leader on the committee. “Tomorrow’s challenges are uncertain. I, for one, feel a sense of urgency to invest in St. John’s and to create a measure of certainty for this church, for this community, and for our future.”

A church member stepped forward with a significant challenge, offering to match up to $250,000 in gifts given by Jan. 31, 2022. “Every dollar added to the Second Century Endowment, now, will begin, immediately, to expand our support of spiritual, artistic, social, and economic needs of those who call Madeline Island home,” said St. John’s pastor, the Rev. Rachel Bauman.

At the same time the congregation is promoting planned gifts that may not come to the congregation for many years. Whether it’s by making a gift in a will or trust or through other estate planning options, people on Madeline Island are investing in the future of the Wisconsin Conference.

“We’re excited about the investment people are making in our community,” Baker said. While the campaign is far from over, the congregation already raised more than $2.5 million in gifts, pledges and planned gifts.

Please contact the Rev. Andrew Warner at 414-758-6233 or by email at awarner@wcucc.org if your congregation would like to partner with the Wisconsin Foundation UCC to promote planned giving and grow the endowment of your congregation.