Planning as a Spiritual Discipline

Estate planning in your mid-30s might not be the norm. But for Ron and Kasey Beaton, preparing for death is a key part of Christian life.

“Life is fragile and Duke Divinity School instilled in us what it means to die well as Christians,” Ron says. “Planning a will is a spiritual discipline of confronting mortality.”

Ron, senior pastor at Memorial United Methodist Church in Farmington, Missouri, and his wife, Kasey, received their Master of Divinity degrees from Duke Divinity School in 2012. The couple say the school transformed how they approach death and other faith topics—both in family life with their children, Isaac and Hannah, and in ministry.

“The Divinity School gave us a completely different language to the faith,” Ron says. “By emphasizing both the pragmatic side of ministry and the cerebral side of theology, it’s equipped us to connect the church with current issues, reminding us what it means to be the body of Christ.”

Ron and Kasey avoided significant student debt thanks to scholarships made possible through gifts alumni included in their estate plans. Through the Beatons’ own estate gift, the couple ensure future students can access the same education and formative experiences.

“We’re very passionate about how the school extends the church beyond four walls of a building through holistic thinking about mind, body, and soul,” Kasey says. “We want that legacy to continue and for finances to be a barrier for no one who desires this experience.”

You can join the Beatons by making a future gift to support Duke Divinity School. For details, contact Betsy Poole at 919-660-3456 or external@div.duke.edu.