Charles and Mable Warner were members of First Lutheran Church, Los Angeles. They had no children and loved their church as evidenced by the following quote from their will:
“…The entire remainder of the trust estate shall go and be distributed to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the Southwest, Los Angeles, California, with the request that such estate be used in the construction of Sunday School facilities and to further youth Christian education.”
As legal successors to the Southwest Synod, the principal was divided among the five ELCA synods in Region 2. The principal from the fund has been placed in the ELCA Mission Investment Fund and the interest is made available annually in March, as grants. Depending on interest rates we anticipate receiving about $20,000 on our investment and other sources this year that will then be distributed as grants.
The Warner Trust Fund Committee, appointed by the Pacifica Synod Council, is empowered to review all grant applications and recommend grant awards. The recommendations are reviewed by the Pacifica Synod Mission Funds Committee and Synod Council Executive Committee provides final approval of all grant awards.
Any prior year grant recipient will not be eligible the next year but may apply again in the third year. Funds may be used for the construction of Sunday School facilities and/or to further youth Christian Education, including curriculum and technology needs. Please note that any recipient of a previous Warner Trust Fund Grant award MUST have filed the required follow-up report to be considered for any future awards.
The 2023 Warner Trust Fund Grant period is now closed and awards have been distributed. The application period for 2024 will open in October 2023 and close on January 15, 2024. The application will be posted here when the application period opens.
If you are a 2023 grant recipient and need to file your required report, you may download a fillable report here.
If you have any questions, please contact Terri Robertson at 714.629.2791, ext. 732 or by email at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org.
