The Rev. Loren Mead, founder of the Alban Institute and author of Financial Meltdown in the Mainline, spoke at an interactive telecast, "The Future of Episcopal Philanthropy," Oct. 19, sponsored by the Episcopal Church Foundation and broadcast live from Trinity Parish, New York City, to 91 downlink sites across the country.

"Money, and the idea of asking people to plan their estate so as to include the church, are most often taboo subjects, especially for clergy," he said. "We won't talk about it. We're scared of it, and I think we clergy are the worst offenders."

With his co-panelists Suzanne Mink, vice president of advancement at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and Larry Carr, president of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation, Fr. Mead predicted substantial difficulties for mainline churches unless they change their ways.

According to his research, he sees the traditional financial anchors for mainstream churches melting away over the next decade due to several factors: a decline in membership, the aging of many current donors, a legacy of unrepaired buildings, an increasing inability of congregations to afford trained clergy and continued, if not escalated, pressure on diocesan and national budgets.

Coupled with these issues, said Ms. Mink, is the financial forecast that an unprecedented sum of money from older Americans will be passed down to their children, the government (via taxes) and various charities. "Some $10.4 trillion will be passed to the next generation by 2035," she said, "and most of that by 2005."

Mr. Carr, who oversees the management of more than $1 billion in planned gifts for the Presbyterian Church, believes all church leaders first need to be less apologetic about raising money.

"Church leaders at all levels need to understand their vital role and responsibility in developing the financial resources required for the church's vital mission in the name of Jesus Christ," he said.

Communicating our faith-into-works philosophy on a parish level needs to work in three directions, Fr. Mead said. "A parish should always be thinking on three different levels: annual pledge campaigns, an occasional capital campaign, and planned giving."

Nancy Berry, planned giving officer for the Diocese of West Texas, stressed the need for every congregation to begin an effort, even if minimal at first. In West Texas, a comprehensive program has been put in place, consisting of investment alternatives for congregations, a range of planned giving vehicles available to individuals, guidelines for endowment trusts, recommended annual parish planned giving programs, and three years of special programs which any congregation can carry out. Other dioceses are doing similar things.

"The window of availability is closing," Mr. Carr said. "If we don't put these mechanisms in place during the next 15 years, it will be too late for funding 21st-century ministries."