Memorial Fund Committee
Wesley United Methodist Church
Memorial Fund Committee Report - 2026
Memorial Fund Committee Report - 2026
Members: Joanne Miyahara (Co-Chair), Robert To (Co-Chair), Kathy Haneta, Mary Sasaki, Lori Tabuchi
The Memorial Fund of Wesley United Methodist Church of San Jose, California has been established to honor and remember those who have passed away through gifts given in their memory. These contributions–a reflection of love, gratitude and faith–serve as a lasting tribute to the lives they touched. Memorial gifts will be used to support the life and mission of Wesley UMC in ways that reflect compassion, service, and care for others. Whenever possible, the spirit and values of the person being remembered will guide how funds are used.
We are extremely grateful for the Wesley community and their generous donations to the Memorial Fund in honor of loved ones. As the Memorial Fund has been growing over the years, the Finance Committee wanted to establish a formal process to thoughtfully disburse the money. An ad hoc Memorial Fund Committee was created in July 2026 to research the Wesley UMC Memorial Fund and make recommendations to the Administrative Board.
After extensive searching, a formal charter or governing document was not located. We learned that the Memorial Fund was created when the sanctuary building fund was depleted; prior to this, all memorial gifts went directly into the general fund. We interviewed a range of Memorial Fund donors to determine if they had any expectations of how their donations should be spent, and all assumed that their contributions were applied to the general fund for the needs of the church.
After considering donor intent, organizational needs, the importance of a memorial-specific fund and administrative simplicity vs. purpose, we presented several options to the Administrative Board. We recommended formally establishing a Memorial Committee to distribute the current balance ($347,504.80 as of 10/26/26) and continuing the “Memorial Fund” category giving option with contributions directed to the general operating budget as of January 1, 2027. We also recommended that the Lay Leadership Committee formally appoint Memorial Fund Committee members, ideally with diverse representation, before the disbursement of any funds. The Administrative Board approved our recommendations and the charter for the Memorial Fund Committee. We created a funding request application and have communicated updates via the church newsletter and announcement slides.
The Memorial Fund Committee seeks to honor those being remembered by supporting programs that promote wellness, fellowship, and the nurturing of healthy lives in body, mind, and spirit. Beginning January 2027, the Memorial Fund Committee will begin reviewing proposals that focus on serving the congregation and the wider community, outreach and acts of care for those in need, worship and spiritual growth, and improvements that enhance the church’s space for gathering and ministry activities.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Miyahara & Robert To, Memorial Fund co-chairs
The Memorial Fund of Wesley United Methodist Church of San Jose, California has been established to honor and remember those who have passed away through gifts given in their memory. These contributions–a reflection of love, gratitude and faith–serve as a lasting tribute to the lives they touched. Memorial gifts will be used to support the life and mission of Wesley UMC in ways that reflect compassion, service, and care for others. Whenever possible, the spirit and values of the person being remembered will guide how funds are used.
We are extremely grateful for the Wesley community and their generous donations to the Memorial Fund in honor of loved ones. As the Memorial Fund has been growing over the years, the Finance Committee wanted to establish a formal process to thoughtfully disburse the money. An ad hoc Memorial Fund Committee was created in July 2026 to research the Wesley UMC Memorial Fund and make recommendations to the Administrative Board.
After extensive searching, a formal charter or governing document was not located. We learned that the Memorial Fund was created when the sanctuary building fund was depleted; prior to this, all memorial gifts went directly into the general fund. We interviewed a range of Memorial Fund donors to determine if they had any expectations of how their donations should be spent, and all assumed that their contributions were applied to the general fund for the needs of the church.
After considering donor intent, organizational needs, the importance of a memorial-specific fund and administrative simplicity vs. purpose, we presented several options to the Administrative Board. We recommended formally establishing a Memorial Committee to distribute the current balance ($347,504.80 as of 10/26/26) and continuing the “Memorial Fund” category giving option with contributions directed to the general operating budget as of January 1, 2027. We also recommended that the Lay Leadership Committee formally appoint Memorial Fund Committee members, ideally with diverse representation, before the disbursement of any funds. The Administrative Board approved our recommendations and the charter for the Memorial Fund Committee. We created a funding request application and have communicated updates via the church newsletter and announcement slides.
The Memorial Fund Committee seeks to honor those being remembered by supporting programs that promote wellness, fellowship, and the nurturing of healthy lives in body, mind, and spirit. Beginning January 2027, the Memorial Fund Committee will begin reviewing proposals that focus on serving the congregation and the wider community, outreach and acts of care for those in need, worship and spiritual growth, and improvements that enhance the church’s space for gathering and ministry activities.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Miyahara & Robert To, Memorial Fund co-chairs
Posted in Charge Conference 2026