Episcopal Press and News

Indianapolis Parish Gives $1 Million to Venture

Episcopal News Service. May 4, 1978 [78130]

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- An Indianapolis parish has become the first known major donor to the challenge gift phase of the Episcopal Church Venture in Mission with a $1 million undesignated gift.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church was one of the beneficiaries of the estate of the late Eli Lilly, who was known throughout the world as a philanthropist.

In announcing the gift to the national Venture campaign, St. Paul's rector, the Rev. Russell Staines, explained that the money would be given over the coming ten years with three-fourths of it going to the Venture coffers within five years.

The parish decided on the gift after a personal appeal from the Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, and Staines said of the decision: "This gift is made with the feeling that it is time to stand up and support the Episcopal Church and its mission programs in thanksgiving to a very great Christian who had been generous to us. The congregation wanted to share that generosity."

The Rt. Rev. Edward W. Jones, Bishop of the diocese, praised the gift as "a marvelous example of stewardship and concern for the wider mission of the Church. For the Diocese of Indianapolis it has been a great sign of support and a challenge to the rest of us that we might follow the example."