September 25, 2006

New Law Allows Great New Giving Opportunities

Mark Klemm, Sr. Vice President of Development for the PC(USA) Foundation, sent the following message regarding tax law and giving opportunities:

“Congress has passed, and the President has signed, a new law that provides a new way for individuals to make a gift.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 allows IRA (Individual Retirement Account) owners age 70½ and older to make direct gifts to public charities from IRA accounts without reporting the gift as income! Up to $100,000 can be given in 2006 and 2007!

These direct charitable gifts will qualify for the Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) that must be made from IRAs by the owners. Business owners and professionals (current and former) may be among those in the best position to take advantage of this opportunity.

These direct gifts allow giving and reducing otherwise reportable taxable income. For some non-itemizers this allows the equivalent of deductible contributions. For other taxpayers who have carry-over contributions, it allows ‘over the top’ gifts. For itemizing taxpayers who have already made gifts in 2006, but haven’t yet taken the RMD, such direct gifts will enhance the tax savings of the gifts already made.

Like the Hurricane Katrina tax legislation of 2005, you will not be able to make an IRA direct gift to a private (grant making) foundation, a donor advised fund, a Sec. 509 (a)(3) supporting organization, or to the Foundation or any charity for a life income gift such as the charitable gift annuity. The entire direct gift amount must be charitable; there can be no goods or services extended to the donor.

Should anyone have questions [about giving to the PC(USA)], feel free to call Pat Ohlmann, Assoc. VP for Gift Planning at (800)858-6127 ext. 5957.”

For questions about giving to the Presbytery of Baltimore and/or its member churches, please contact Rita Walters at the Presbytery offices: (410) 433-2012 or e-mail rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org.

Blessings,

Rita Walters

Director of Development

Inside this issue

Events of the week:

9/28 Presbytery Meeting & Event

2 – 3:30 Pre-Presbytery Gathering

4:00pm Presbytery Meeting

both at Hunting Ridge PC

9/30 Creating the Church of the

Future, 9am – 4pm Woods PC

Take Note/Act Now

§ Celebrate the Bible

§ Pre-Presbytery Gathering 9/28

§ An Inconvenient Truth

§ LYRA – Russian Vocalists

§ Oktoberfest at MDPC

§ Board of Pensions: Retirement

§ Interim DCE Sought

§ Sept. 26 Peace Rally in D.C.

§ Hispanic Center for Ministry

§ Synod Bulletin Insert

Prayer Concerns

Kenwood PC

Dickey Memorial PC

People

Harry Holfelder was admitted to GBMC last Thursday, the 21^st.

Elizabeth Talbot, former pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Onancock (one of the 7 Makemie churches), died last week and her funeral was at First of Annapolis.

Julie Erickson has been named the chair for the Maryland Interfaith Legislative Council.

Jennifer DiFrancesco had a baby girl, Maggie Paulk, on 9/15. Father, J.T., big sister, Ellie, and Mom & baby are all doing well!

Prayer Concerns

Kenwood PC

asks for prayers:

· For 14 new members received on Sunday, 9/24, that God would continue to bless them and help them grow in the faith and love of Jesus Christ

· For their new choir director and her continued success in helping their choir and congregation sing praises and glory to God

· For their mission committee as it endeavors to guide them in the way of peace and as it promotes their peacemaking offering

Dickey Memorial PC

asks for prayers:

· For their member, Erin Counihan, who is serving as a missionary on the gulf coast in hurricane recovery through the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer program

· For their recently confirmed youth; for their continued learning and spiritual growth in the church

· Of thanksgiving and request for God’s continued presence in their children, youth and adult education programs

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items (dated items first, listed in date order)

Celebrate the Bible at a covered-dish supper at Northminster PC on Wednesday, Sept. 27^th from 6:30 - 8:30pm. Dr. Raymond Moreland, executive director of the MD Bible Society, is the honored guest speaker. All are welcome (more).

There will be a Pre-Presbytery Gathering on September 28^th starting at 2pm at Hunting Ridge PC. The gathering will include a State of the Presbytery presentation and a PUP Ramifications presentation and discussion (read flyer to learn more).

Are you concerned about Global Warming? In the coming weeks, through the efforts of the organization Interfaith Power and Light, congregations around the country will view what has been called "the most important film to be shown in America this year.” So far, there are three opportunities to view the recent movie, An Inconvenient Truth, in our Presbytery. Saturday, Sept. 30^th: at Brown Memorial Park Avenue PC at 7:30pm. Friday, Oct. 6^th: at Towson PC at 7:00pm and at Hunting Ridge PC at 7:30pm. All events are free and open to all. Discussions will follow (more).

LYRA, the Russian Vocal ensemble from St. Petersburg, will perform two a capella concerts of Russian sacred music and folk songs in the area. They will be at Light Street PC in Federal Hill on Thursday, October 5^th at 8pm and at Ashland PC in Cockeysville on Saturday, October 7^th at 3pm. Admission to both events is free; offerings accepted.

Maryland PC will host its annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 7^th from 9am-2pm. Come enjoy good German food, flea market, music and fun (more).

The Board of Pensions will be hosting two seminars in the Presbytery of Baltimore in January of 2007: Render Unto Caesar on January 17^th (for pastors, church treasurers, committee members, and staff involved with clergy tax issues) and Growing into Tomorrow… Today (for lay and clergy Benefits Plan members age 50 and older) on January 18^th-19^th. Both will be held at Lochearn PC in Baltimore City.

Churchville PC is seeking a part-time Interim Director of Christian Education (read more).

Synod and GA items

A group of Presbyterians, led by Rick Ufford-Chase, Director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, will be joining in the Declaration of Peace Week of Action, Sept. 21-28, an effort to end the war in Iraq. There will be a non-violent gathering, interfaith liturgy and procession in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 26^th (Read more: D.C. event and Rick’s comments)

Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education has a new Hispanic/Latino Center for Ministry which offers courses for lay leaders and pastors. All courses will be taught in Spanish (Learn More).

The Synod’s October Bulletin Insert and Military Prayer List are now available online.

Also on our website

Don’t miss all the new Local Church Announcements at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/announcements.html Presbytery Yearly Calendar

Past Issues of Tidings are available at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/midweekmail.html.

Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter

pnord@baltimorepresbytery.org

Bill Millen, Associate Executive

bmillen@baltimorepresbytery.org

Deb Milcarek

Associate of Mission and Justice

dmilcarek@baltimorepresbytery.org

Charles Forbes, Stated Clerk