- Welcome
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- Mission Statement
- History
- Board of Directors
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- Privacy Statement
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Greetings from our Executive Director
Welcome to the Foundation’s website. We hope that the information that is provided here will assist you in knowing and using the resources available through the Foundation. If you have questions or desire further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our mission is to support congregations and institutions in the New Mexico Annual Conference to fulfill the unique and distinctive missions to which God calls them. We begin to achieve this by assisting individuals, couples, and families to grow as faithful and effective stewards of the resources God provides them. Whether this is through development of comprehensive congregational programs on faith and money or through gift and estate planning, the Foundation’s services focus on strengthening discipleship in accordance with the teachings of Jesus that have been passed down to us.
Sanford Coon
Greetings from our Bishop
As committed as John Wesley was to lively and meaningful ministry in the name of Jesus Christ, I cannot help but believe that today he would gladly point to the ministry of our Foundation to help us grow as stewards of both our incomes and our estates. Even though we live in a different era from Wesley, we can take to heart and demonstrate in deed the same conviction he had to use every pound of his treasure to serve the Lord.
I invite you to explore the resources of our Foundation’s website with openness and readiness. We can all grow in faithfulness in our living.
D. Max Whitfield
Sanford Coon: Executive Director
Sanford Coon is an ordained elder and member of the Southwest Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is appointed by the bishops of the Southwest Texas and New Mexico Annual Conferences to the extension ministry of the position of Executive Director of the New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation. He came to the position in March 2001 following 19 years of pastoral ministry and over a decade of experience in the field of financial development in the church. Immediately prior to coming to New Mexico, Sanford served as a stewardship consultant with the Texas Methodist Foundation. In that role, he facilitated capital campaigns with congregations throughout the state of Texas and was instrumental in the development of resources and models for teaching in local churches in the field of faith and money.
Following completion of his Bachelor of Arts degree at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Sanford completed his Master of Divinity degree from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has addressed local chapters of that organization in several states. He is also a member of the Christian Stewardship Association and the National Planned Giving Council and its New Mexico Chapter.
Sanford’s philosophy of financial stewardship—the spiritual relationship between faith and money—is based on the Judeo-Christian biblical foundation and Wesleyan heritage of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. He delights in the process of sharing and learning that brings about a new understanding of the dynamic relationship of faith and money, a new commitment of faith, and the new resources that enable churches to fulfill their mission.
Sanford and his wife, Mary Ellen, have two grown children. Their son, Kenner, is married, lives in San Antonio, and is the father of two of their grandchildren. Their daughter, Ashley, brought the newest granddaughters into the world--one in July 2003 and another in August 2005. She, her husband, and their children live in Austin.
TOPMolly Emkes: Executive Assistant
Molly has been the Executive Assistant at the Foundation since August 1997 and is responsible for maintaining the financial records.
Molly and her husband, George, have been married 37 years and have one son, Paul. Paul, his wife Karen, and two sons, Andrew & Ryan, live in Virginia.
Molly is a charter member of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church in Albuquerque where she has served on most of the boards and committees, taught Sunday School, and served as the church treasurer for “a long time.”
Besides family and Church, Molly’s other passion is soccer. Other interests include hiking and quilting.
Jennifer E. West: Communications Coordinator
Jennifer joined the Foundation staff in late September 2007. Her responsibilitlies include producing The Cornerstone, designing interpretive resources and maintaining a database. She bought a home in Rio Rancho in 1996 after living in Albuquerque since 1978. An Air Force brat, Jennifer ended up in New Mexico when her late father retired at Cannon AFB near Clovis. She graduated from Eastern New Mexico University and also attended University of New Mexico. Jennifer enjoys using computer software on the job, has been a writer and currently is working to become a better oil painter.
Mission Statement
The New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation, Inc. enlarges and develops the financial resources available to churches, institutions and agencies in the New Mexico Annual Conference in order to carry out their missions and ministries.
We do this by:
- Maintaining faithfulness to God’s covenant and openness to God’s guidance;
- Providing opportunities for people to expand ministries during their lifetimes and to continue ministry beyond their lifetimes;
- Being the provider of choice for socially responsible investment management and expertise;
- Stimulating awareness of biblical teachings and Wesleyan theological perspectives on faith and money;
- Providing counsel for safe debt management and providing affordable loans;
- Giving grants for selected ministry projects;
- Raising financial resources through spiritual growth and commitment in capital stewardship programs; and
- Providing leadership to enable faithful use and management of God’s resources.
The History of the Foundation
Following a number of months of discussion and deliberation, a report including several recommendations was brought to the New Mexico Annual Conference session in 1965 by the Conference Staff Reorganization Committee. One of those recommendations called for the establishment of a New Mexico Conference Foundation. It was also recommended that a new director of stewardship and finance provide leadership through the formative period of organization. The purpose of this new foundation was “to receive, invest, and administer funds derived from gifts, wills, and legacies for the benefit of the New Mexico Conference and its projects and institutions, and local churches.” (1965 Journal, page 111)
Doctor Earl Nowlin was appointed in 1965 to serve as a director of stewardship and finance. Organization of the Foundation began immediately as did a broad campaign to distribute information to local churches throughout the Conference. In February 1966, the first annual meeting was held for which minutes were recorded. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were developed, and a slate of board members was prepared for submission and election at the 1966 Annual Conference session.
The Foundation’s initial Board of Directors and Officers elected in 1966 were: Dr. Ralph Seiler, President (Albuqueruque), Paul H. Barnes, Vice President (Albuquerque), James F. Elliott, Treasurer (El Paso), Dr. George W. Prothro, Secretary (Clovis), E. W. Faegin (Gallup), Paul W. Petty (Albuquerque), Caswell S. Neal (Carlsbad), Dr. R. L. Willingham, Dr. Boadace Elkins, and Fred Blocksom (Roswell).
Although growth of the funds was slow in the beginning, a major shift occurred in 1969 when the Conference sold the Bataan Hospital property in Albuquerque and invested the $2 million dollars proceeds from the sale in the Foundation. That asset became the primary endowment for the Conference. Through the years the Conference has received $6,492,580.65 in distributions from that endowment for its various endeavors. Other additions have been made from time to time, and the current market value of the endowment is $3,462,792.
For a number of years the Foundation was guided by individuals who maintained other responsibilities in the Annual Conference or who served the Foundation in less-than-full-time capacities. In 1984 the Reverend Doctor Jerald Jackson was selected to bring the Foundation to a new stage of its ministry by becoming the first full-time Executive Director. Doctor Jackson came to the post from his appointment as senior pastor of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In that congregation he had been instrumental in developing a comprehensive endowment program, and he brought that experience, commitment, and vision to his new responsibilities in New Mexico.
Doctor Jackson’s leadership proved crucial to the further development of the Foundation, its management style, its financial assets under management, its Board of Directors, and its outreach into the Conference.
Following Doctor Jackson’s retirement in 1997, the Reverend Doctor William W. Hutchinson was selected to become the new Executive Director. At the time of his selection, Doctor Hutchinson was serving as senior pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. Doctor Hutchinson had grown up in the New Mexico Conference and had served his entire professional career in pastoral and administrative appointments with the New Mexico Conference. His familiarity with the Conference, its churches, and Methodists throughout the Conference allowed him access to many friends and colleagues. He was able to effectively share information and perspective about the ministries of the Foundation, the importance of financial planning by congregations, the role of endowments for congregations, and the significance of charitable trusts and gift annuities in the estate plans of individuals and families. Building on the dependable framework developed by Doctor Jackson, Doctor Hutchinson guided the Foundation through an extraordinary interval of financial growth.
Following Doctor Hutchinson’s election to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church in July 2000, the Reverend Doctor Leonard Gillingham, a recently-retired member of the New Mexico Annual Conference and long-time member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, stepped forward to provide interim guidance to the Foundation while a new permanent Executive Director was selected.
On March 1, 2001, the Reverend Sanford D. Coon assumed the responsibilities of the role of Executive Director of the Foundation. Reverend Coon had previously served 19 years in pastoral ministry and over a decade in various roles in the field of church financial development. Immediately prior to coming to the New Mexico Conference Foundation he was serving as a stewardship consultant with the Texas Methodist Foundation.
Today the Foundation continues to be overseen by a strong Board of Directors who bring various personal talents and professional qualifications to their roles. These 15 elected Directors plus 3 ex officio Directors are representative of Methodists across the geographical expanse of the Conference. They are elected by the New Mexico Annual Conference following recommendation by the Foundation’s Board.
Growth of assets and services has been a perpetual mandate for shaping the ministries of the Foundation. Currently the Foundation manages over 320 separate accounts for congregations, institutions, and agencies throughout the Conference and over 80 gift annuities and charitable trusts. The total assets under management are approximately $36.8 million.
Tom Archibald
Thomas Archibald was elected to the Board in 2008. He is a member of First United Methodist Church in Artesia, New Mexico.
Tom retired in 2002 from his position as Vice President, Information Technology, Valdosta State University (Georgia) after 22 years work in higher education. He had previously retired as a Lt. Colonel from the United States Army. Tom still operates Archibald Associates, his computer consulting company in Artesia, New Mexico.
He brings extensive management experience in the field of information technology/data communications and financial development to his role as a board member of the New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation.
Tom and his wife Miriam have two adult daughters and three granddaughters.
Laura Armstrong
Laura Armstrong joined the Board of Directors February 2009.
Laura Armstrong is a resident of Belen, N.M., and a native of New Mexico, born in Las Cruces.
Laura brings not only her life experience as the spouse of Methodist clergy but also her work as a Certified Public Accountant in the private sector. She currently serves at chief financial officer for Ambercare in Belen.
The wife of the Rev. Jay Armstrong, Laura serves with Jay as church music director at First United Methodist Church of Belen.
Laura and Jay share two children, Rebecca, 22, and Wesley, 19.
Barbara A. Bauernfeind, Secretary
Barbara was elected to the Board in 2005. She is a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in El Paso, TX where her husband, Rev. Paul E. Bauernfeind, is associate pastor. Barbara has served in various positions including serving as a member and as an officer at various times on the following committees at First United Methodist Church, Midland, Texas: Administrative Board, Finance Committee, Building Committee, and Board of Trustees.
Barbara is a civil trial attorney who has been practicing law for over 20 years. She is with the law firm of Craig, Terrill, Hale & Grantham, L.L.P., which has offices in Odessa and Lubbock, Texas.
Layloni Drake
The Rev. Layloni Drake
began her appointment to Asbury United Methodist Church in Albuquerque following the 2009 Annual Conference in Odessa, Texas.
She will be welcomed to her first committee and board meetings Aug. 7, 2009.
Layloni is a graduate of El Paso’s Coronado High School, McMurry University and Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.
She brings a background drenched in her lifetime involvement with the military. Born at Patrick Air Force Base where she lived until seven years old, Layloni’s future included entering the Air Force as a military chaplain, serving at Peterson and Lowry AFBs and Osan AB.
In 1980, Layloni was ordained Deacon and graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky before her first pastoral assignment at Wesley United Methodist Church in Alamogordo, N.M. and Cloudcroft United Methodist Church in Cloudcroft, N.M. Following her two years pastoring, she was ordained Elder. Her assignments also include associate pastor for two years at St. Mark’s United Methodist church n El Paso, senior pastor for four years at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in El Paso and seven years as senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Gallup, N.M.
Husband Raymond, who is also a military veteran, and Layloni have two sons and one daughter.
Mike Kelly
Mike was elected to the Board at the New Mexico Annual Conference in May 2006. Mike is a life long member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mike is a Financial Advisor with the UBS Financial Services.
Mike and his wife Heidi have two children, Sam and Luke. Mike enjoys playing drums, gardening, writing and history.
LaDoyce Lambert, President
LaDoyce has been a Board member since 2000. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Odessa,Texas and has held numerous positions, including Administrative Board Chairman and Lay Leader. He is currently serving on the church foundation board and is a member of the Communications Ministry Team.
LaDoyce is Senior Vice-President of West Texas State Bank in Odessa, Texas. He and his wife Gloria, a retired secondary school history teacher, have been married for more than 35 years. They have one daughter, Amy, a pharmacist in Midland Texas.
LaDoyce enjoys bridge, reading, crossword puzzles, and working out at the gym.
Rev. James Large
A native of Albuquerque, James attended Albuquerque High School, the University of New Mexico, and Perkins School of Theology at SMU. He also received certification in the Management Program of the Anderson School of Management at UNM.
James was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 1980 and has served congregations in Lordsburg, New Mexico, Fabens and Clint, Texas, Belen New Mexico, and Asbury United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. From 1998 - 2008 he served as the Director of Mission and Administration for the New Mexico Annual Conference. Currently, he is senior pastor at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
James and his wife Marilyn have three sons: Colin, Nathan, and Scott.
Rachelle Luna
Rachelle Luna of Albuquerque, N.M., joined the
Board of Directors May 2010.
Rachelle's hometown is Roswell, N.M. At St. John's United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, she is on the Welcoming Committee, is Circle Treasurer and is United Methodist Women's Treasurer.
Rachelle and her husband Larry have two children, Lisa and Leigh. She is a staff accountant and enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling.
Max Myers
Max was elected to the Board in 2002. He is a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is serving as Chairman of the Administrative Council.
Max and his wife Linda are the parents of three boys: Reese, Blake, and Eric.
Max is a banker at the Century Bank in Santa Fe. He enjoys his pastimes of skiing, golf, and squash.
Dennis Peterson
Dennis Peterson joined the Foundation board of directors in January 2010. He and wife Joanne reside in Farmington, N.M.,
and have four children, eight grandchildren and five-great-grandchildren.
Dennis retired from a banking career in 2000, having worked at Farmington’s First National Bank and San Juan National Bank, Colorado National Bank South in Denver, Citizen’s Bank in Farmington and City National Bank in Nebraska.
He is a member of Farmington United Methodist Church where he served on the Building, Finance, SPRC and Administrative Board. Dennis and Joanna also participated in mission trips to Mexico, St. Bernard Parish and Port Arthur, Texas.
He serves on the San Juan Medical Foundation and was its second president. He was among a group who established the foundation that provided his community with an eight-unit temporary home for cancer patients, their families and their caregivers.
Dennis served as chairman of the Finance Committee for San Juan Regional Medical Center and was elected to the board in 2000. He also served two years as chairman on the hospital board.
Toby S. Rue
Toby was elected to the Foundation Board in November 2006. He is active in St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and serves on several church councils.
Toby is a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and participates in community organizations and activities.
Toby and his wife Sonya are the parents of three children.
Sidney Strebeck
Joining the Foundation’s board of directors in 2007, Sid Strebeck joined the board in 2007 and serves as chairman of the board’s Task Group on Seminary Scholarships.
Sid’s professional experience includes owning new car dealerships, real estate development, general contracting, farming and ranching.
Sid holds a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from New Mexico State University. He also has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Foundation, appointment to the state highway commission and New Mexico Drug Enforcement Advisory Council,.
Sid is a lifelong resident of Clovis, N.M., where he and his wife of 35 years, Selena, are members of Kingswood United Methodist Church. They have four sons of whom they are intensely proud: Ryan, a student at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky; Brent; Jordan; and Layne, a student at Texas Tech.
Tom Toevs, Vice President
Tom has been a Board member since 2004. Tom and his wife Becky and their two children are members of St. Stephen's United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tom is a member of the Praise Band and has served on the endowment committee.
Tom is a director and share holder at Hurley, Toevs, Styles, Hamblin & Panter, P.A . He has presented lectures to civic, educational and professional groups on such topics as estate planning, income tax, and business planning issues.
Tom and his wife Becky have two daughters, Courtney and Niquel.
Nancy VanDevender
Nancy has been a Board member since 2000. She is a member of First United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, where she has served on the Church Council and is currently a member of First Cornerstone, the Church’s foundation. Nancy also chairs the Board of Trustees at Albuquerque Academy.
Nancy and her husband Pace have three children: Laura, a financial analyst in Atlanta; Kate, an actress in New York; and Aaron, a physics graduate student at the University of Illinois.
Nancy retired as Vice President of Tuition Plan Consortium, a nationwide organization of over two hundred private colleges involved in helping families save for tuition.
Rich Wallace, Treasurer
Rich has been a Board member since 2003. He is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, and has served as member and chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, member of the Finance Committee, leader of the Youth Puppet Ministry and mid-high Sunday School teacher.
Rich and his wife Marsha are the parents of three children: Jennifer, Sarah, and Patrick.
Rich is an Instructor in the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program with the United States Department of State.
Rev. David Weyant
Rev. David Weyant of Odessa, Texas, joined the Board of Directors February 2009.
Rev. Weyant was born and raised in Bedford County, Pa., where he graduated from Bedford High School. He graduated from Ferrum (Va.) College, McMurry University and Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa.
He was ordained as an Elder in 1976 in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church. After transferring to the New Mexico Conference in 1977, he served under appointment until he retired in 2005.
Rev. Weyant’s appointments since 1977 were: Iraan, Texas; Kermit, Texas; Highland UMC, Odessa, Texas; First UMC, Hobbs, N.M.; Monahans/Wickett UMCs, Texas; El Paso District Superintendent, Odessa District Superintendent.
Committee assignments included: member, secretary and chair of the Equitable Compensation Committee; member, registrar and chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry; numerous district committees.
Rev. Weyant also served as alternate delegate to Jurisdictional Conference in 2004 and as alternate delegate to General Conference in 2008. In the 1980s, he served on the first general church committee on Equitable Compensation.
The late Carol Weyant and he shared two daughters, Janet and Amy, who are now grown.
Directors Ex Officio
Bishop D. Max Whitfield
Bishop Whitfield grew up in Arkansas. His undergraduate degree is from Arkansas State University, where he graduated in 1966. This degree was followed by two-post graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology, SMU, in 1969, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1983. McMurray University conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity on him in 2001.
Elected to the Episcopacy of The United Methodist Church in July 2000, Bishop Whitfield currently serves as the Episcopal leader of the Northwest Texas/New Mexico Area. He serves as President of the South Central Jurisdiction’s College of Bishops, Chairperson to the National Committee for Communities of Shalom, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the General Commission on Religion and Race, and Secretary of the Mt. Sequoyah Board of Trustees.
He and his wife Valerie, enjoy their five grown children, their spouses, and six grandchildren.
Rev. Tom Nagle
The Rev. Tom Nagle, newly appointed District Superintendent for the Albuqueque District, is also a new ex official member or the Foundation Board. Following Annual Conference, Tom and wife Trish were moved from St. Mark's UMC in El Paso where he served as pastor for the past 18 years.
Toms' accomplishments include chairing the Board of Ordained Ministry, Called to Making Disciples and the Conference Envisioning Team and serving as alternate for the 2004 Jurisdiciontal Conference 2004 and membership on the Conference Ministry Team.
Rev. Dr. Bill Sylskar
Bill is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before hearing the call to ministry, Bill served in the military with the United States Air Force. In 1979 he received his Masters of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology. Bill completed his doctoral work in Congregational Transformation from McCormick School of Theology in 1990.
Bill is currently serving the New Mexico Conference as the Director of Mission and Administration.
Bill and his wife Mille Ruth have a blended family that includes four children and five grandchildren. Bill enjoys snow skiing, golf, tennis, camping and riding his striking green Valkyrie motorcycle.
Bishop Charles and Karen Crutchfield Scholarship Endowment
The Reverend Doctor Charles N. Crutchfield, a former member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, was elected to the Episcopacy by the lay and clergy delegates to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas. Following the election, Bishop Crutchfield was assigned to be the episcopal leader of the Arkansas Annual Conference. At the time of his election, Bishop Crutchfield was serving as senior pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. In earlier years of service, he served as pastor of Trinity-First United Methodist Church in El Paso and as the superintendent of the El Paso District. During this interval Bishop Crutchfield was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of United Methodist related Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso and was actively engaged with the Institute as president of it’s Board.
In August 2004, only weeks after Bishop Crutchfield’s election, the Foundation’s Board of Directors voted unanimously and enthusiastically to establish a permanent endowment fund to provide a scholarship at Lydia Patterson Institute bearing the Crutchfields’ name. Since Lydia Patterson Institute belongs to the South Central Jurisdiction, Bishop Crutchfield will continue to have oversight of and interest in the Institute. The Foundation’s Board anticipates that the scholarship endowment will eventually grow to provide a full scholarship to a student. The financial aid provided through the endowment will be without restriction, but it can be used to encourage students considering ministry in The United Methodist Church.
The Foundation established the endowment with an initial gift of $5,000. Both clergy and lay persons throughout the New Mexico Conference whose lives have been touched by Charles and Karen Crutchfield are invited to contribute to the endowment. The Crutchfields will be advised of all contributors to the fund. Gifts may be sent to the Foundation at any time.
Bill and Kay Hutchinson Leadership Development Endowment
From time to time, people touch our lives in remarkable and life-changing ways. Such was the gift that Bill and Kay Hutchinson gave to us through their years of ministry and service in our midst. From the time that Bill was first appointed in 1967 to establish the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Hobbs until his election to the episcopacy in 2000, they blessed us with their loving care, visionary leadership, and passion for Jesus Christ.
In response to the gifted leadership that Bill and Kay provided, the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Conference Foundation established the Bill and Kay Hutchinson Leadership Development Endowment to assure the continuing presence of skilled leaders across the years and decades to come. The endowment will be a demonstration of our faith that God will continue to raise leaders among us, and it is our role to assure that they are equipped for those tasks.
The purpose of this Endowment is to develop and enhance leadership skills within the New Mexico Conference. Through leadership training courses, scholarships and grants offered to clergy and laity, these leaders can better fulfill their missions.
For further information about the Bill and Kay Hutchinson Leadership Endowment or to make a gift of pledge to the endowment, go to "Contact Us" on this website or call the Foundation office. Unless otherwise instructed, the Foundation will provide the names of the contributors to the Hutchinson and publish listings of donors in its newsletter, The Cornerstone. We have the opportunity to share in Bill and Kay’s vision, in preparing leaders to serve God faithfully, effectively and powerfully.
Emily Sannebeck Scholarship Endowment
Emily Sannebeck was an active member of The United Methodist Church for many years. She cared deeply for the development of Christian values and sought to provide opportunities for women to advance their careers.
Ms. Sannebeck initiated an endowed scholarship in 1997 with Asbury United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. The scholarships are tuition grants, and recipients are to be enrolled in a technical or vocational school, college, or seminary. In establishing the endowment fund, Ms. Sannebeck requested that in granting scholarships, priority be given to single women and individuals who do not have other resources available to pay their educational expenses.
This endowment is a blessing to many young women seeking a college education. Emily Sannebeck’s generosity will endure.
Thompson Endowment: First United Methodist Church of Artesia Receives Endowment Gift
Grace and Ernest Thompson grew up in Texas and graduated from high school together in Talpa. In 1942 they married and lived in Loco Hills, New Mexico, where Ernest was working.
In 1951 they bought a home in Artesia and adopted a son, Robert, who was seven at the time. As Robert reflects on those days he says, "This is where I grew up and learned how to be a good person by watching the examples set by my parents. We went to the First Methodist Church and were very active in all church functions. Dad was active in the fund raising efforts to build the new sanctuary. I was a Boy Scout at the church in Troop 28.”
Grace and Ernest's generosity of time and resources persisted. They were active in community affairs, and Ernest was mayor of the City of Artesia for 26 years. In 1994 Grace and Ernest established a Charitable Gift Annuity with the New Mexico Conference Foundation with a gift of $117,658. In the years that followed the Foundation regularly provided them with monthly checks that totaled more than $98,000.
The Thompsons leave an amazing gift that will keep on giving. They had selected their church to receive the remainder in their annuity upon their deaths. That gift exceeded $134,694 and formed the new Ernest and Grace Thompson Endowment Fund for the church. Distributions from that endowment will perpetually assist the congregation to expand its ministries and fulfill its God-given mission. Lives will be changed this year, next year, and scores of years from now.
FUMC Scholarship Tithe Values Perpetuated Through Bequest: Inez and Leonard Wallace Tithe Estate
Inez and Leonard Wallace met for the first time in the El Sombrero Café on South Yale in Albuquerque in the spring of 1949. After two years of courtship, Leonard proposed, and they began their life together in marriage in September 1951. In 1976 they joined First United Methodist Church. The Twosomes Sunday School class gave them a special community of relationships. Leonard could be seen ushering and providing security on Mondays when the church provided food for homeless persons. Inez would be seen in her circle gatherings, and they might be seen together giving care in the nursery on Sundays.
Both Leonard and Inez pursued some higher education after high school but regretted that they never finished college. They were self-educated and wide-read. They believed education broadens a person’s understanding of the global community. It was altogether appropriate, then, for Inez and Leonard to designate that a tithe of 10% be given from their estate to the scholarship fund of First United Methodist Church. Their daughter, Lynne, presented the check that represented that tithe to the Foundation. When it was added to the Church’s Ivy Scholarship Fund, it raised the principal or the fund over the threshold to allow for plans for the first scholarships to be awarded.
The commitment of Inez and Leonard will literally live for generations to come. A simple plan to tithe the residual amount of their estate when they no longer needed those financial resources will change lives and give opportunities to others that they were not able to enjoy for themselves. What a remarkable plan and gift!
Privacy Statement
The New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation, Inc., has always been, and will continue to be, protective of the privacy and confidentiality of all persons whom it serves. As an administrator and fiduciary of many types of charitable funds, gift arrangements, and charitable transfers of property, the New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation receives certain personal information directly from donors or with the authorized consent of donors or their families. All such information is held in confidence by the New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation and is not released or disclosed to persons beyond the immediate staff in the course of regular operating duties, except as agreed to by the donor, or as required or permitted under applicable law.
Donors, congregational leaders, participants in workshops, and other individuals are invited to allow their names to be added to our mailing list for general and specialized mailings. This list is never sold or provided to any other entity for any purpose.
In order to recognize and thank donors and to encourage others to give charitably, the names of donors are sometimes published in the Foundation newsletter, The Cornerstone. No such publication occurs, however, if the donor requests anonymity. In order to interpret the value of various services and products provided by the New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation, the stories of individuals, families, and congregations are told through various media and may, with permission, include names, and occasionally, photographic or artistic likenesses.
In order to guard donors’ non-public personal information, the New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with professional standards.