It's not that they don't have the knowledge basis they do. Planned giving officers, development directors and allied professionals belong to churches and synagogues. It's not that they don't have the need they do. More and more opportunities to serve are being presented to churches as the federal, state and local government bodies cut back on social programs. Like many other things, the reasons are many.
Mail regarding planned giving is sent to the church, opened by the clergy and often stops there.
Nothing in their education and training has equipped them to understand planned giving and make it an important part of their stewardship program. A second reason is budget. The clergy and, if they're fortunate, church secretary and part-time janitor run the show. The third reason is the misunderstanding and under-utilization of professional fund development principles. Workers in the local church tend to believe that what works in secular nonprofits won't work in churches.