| MARTENSDALE
COMMUNITY CHURCH - MISSIONS POLICY |
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| I.
Purpose of Missions |
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| Fulfill the
Great Commission (Matthew 28:19 & 20,
Mark 16:15, John 20:21) |
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| II.
Definition of Missions |
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| A. Ministries
extending beyond the congregation, the church
facilities, or the local sphere of influence
of the church. |
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| B. Activities
that are directed toward evangelism, discipleship,
church planting and leadership training.
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| III.
The Missions Policy |
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| A. Its
purpose |
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| 1. To help achieve
a clear sense of direction. |
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| 2. To avoid
making important decisions on an emotional
or haphazard basis. |
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| 3. To ensure
that each missions dollar is spent in the
wisest possible way. |
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| 4. To bring
new missions committee members up to date
quickly, allowing them to familiarize themselves
with the issues to be faced and general
direction of our missions program. |
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| 5. To maintain
consistency as missions committee membership
changes. |
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| 6. To develop
a loving accountability in our missions
program. |
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| 7. To work in
better harmony with the church wide leadership. |
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| B. Its
flexibility |
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It is intended that the mission's policies
be generally followed. Exceptions can be
made at any time, with the approval of the
Board of Elders. |
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| C. Its
revisions |
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| The missions
policy and priority grid (attached) may
be revised as often as needed, with a thorough
review every odd-numbered year. The Deacon
of Missions, or Director of Outreach, will
appoint a review committee. The review committee
will report its findings to the Missions
Committee no later than June. The Missions
Committee will present any needed revisions
to the Elder Board for review and approval
prior to the annual congregational meeting. |
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| IV.
Responsibilities of the Missions Committee |
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| A. The
committee shall set one-year goals and develop
or refine the missions program from these
goals. A report on achievement or measurement
of effectiveness shall be included in the
annual missions report. |
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| B.
The committee shall stimulate intercessory
prayer by the congregation for foreign missions
and for our missionaries. |
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| C.
The committee shall educate and inspire
the congregation in the field of missions
and help encourage volunteers for mission
service. |
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| D.
The committee shall serve as a liaison between
the church and missions organizations, agencies,
associations and missionaries with whom
we work. |
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| E.The
committee shall assure the care of our own
missionaries on furlough. Visiting missionaries
will be the responsibility of the committee
while in our local church area. |
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| F.
The committee shall interpret the church
statement of faith and missions policy to
missionaries and agencies. |
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| V.
Committee Personnel |
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| A.
Criteria for consideration of candidates
shall be: |
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| 1.
Observable spiritual maturity. |
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| 2.
Genuine interest in missions. |
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| 3.
Faithfulness in the life of the church. |
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B.
Appointment of the committee shall be by
the Deacon of Missions (Director of Outreach),
subject to Elder Board confirmation.
Note: Both men and women may serve on the
Committee. The chief requirement will be
the evidence of godly character. |
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| C.
The committee shall consist of 6 to 12 member,
including the Deacon of Missions (Director
of Outreach), and an Elder. |
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| D.
The term of office shall be two years, not
all ending at the same time. Consecutive
terms will be allowed. |
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| E.
Each member shall: |
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| 1.
Attend the scheduled meetings of the committee. |
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| 2.
Serve on or lead one or more of the sub-committees. |
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| 3.
Pray on a regular basis for the missionaries
that are supported. |
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| 4.
Participate in reading updates/bulletins
on world missions. |
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| 5.
Be familiar with the missions policy of
the church. |
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| VI.
Subcommittees of the Missions Committee |
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A.
The Missions Committee may delegate some
of its responsibilities to subcommittees.
These subcommittees shall exist only for
the duration of the need. |
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| B.
The number to be on a subcommittee shall
be left to the discretion of the Deacon
of Missions (Director of Outreach) and need
not be limited to missions committee members.
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| VII.
Responsibilities of Supported Missionaries
& Organizations to MCC |
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| A.
Furlough - We encourage supported missionaries
to spend time with MCC in proportion to
the level of support we provide. |
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| B.
Fundraising - Missionaries should not solicit
funds on their own from individuals within
the church. They should present their needs
directly to the missions committee. This
does not preclude approved general presentations
to the church body. |
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| C.
Correspondence - We request that supported
missionaries correspond with MCC, through
the Director of Outreach, at least quarterly.
Some remote missionary locations may prevent
quarterly communication, however, if contact
has not been performed in a six month period,
the Director of Outreach will make efforts
to determine why and try to establish a
communication medium. If efforts to communicate
fail, efforts will be made through the missionaries
sending organization. |
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| D.
Insurance - All insurance needs are the
responsibility of the missionary or their
agency. |
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| E.
Missionary Retirement - MCC assumes retirement
plans are the responsibility of the missionary
and his agency |
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| VIII.
Short Term Missions |
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| A.
The committee shall endeavor to assist qualified
individuals who have indicated a desire
for short term service, to find an agency
or program through which to work. |
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| B.
Criteria for selecting candidates for short-term
work: |
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| 1.
They must have a sincere interest in missions. |
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| 2.
Parental approval, if under the age of 21. |
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| 3.
They or their immediate family be active
participants in our local church. |
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| 4.
Education requirements to be per the applicable
mission agency requirements. |
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| 5.
They must be willing to present their work
to the church beforehand and to give a report
afterwards. |
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| C.
The approval of candidates shall be by the
Missions Committee, with concurrence of
the Elder Board, taking into account both
the agency's selection process and type
of work to be performed. |
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| IX.
Doctrinal Requirements for Missionaries
and Agencies |
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| A.
All Missionaries, agencies, or other outreach
programs that we support must have doctrinal
positions/beliefs that are in accord with
our (MCC) statement of faith. |
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| B.
The Board of Elders shall make the above
determination. |
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| X.
Missions Budget Preparation |
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| A.
The budget shall be prepared by the Missions
Committee after prayerful consideration.
The budget will then be presented to the
Board of Elders for review. After making
any adjustments in conjunction with the
Missions Committee, it will be submitted
to the congregation for final approval at
the annual meeting. |
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| B.
Priorities in the Mission Budget |
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| 1.
Both home and foreign missions are considered
part of our responsibility. The
priority grid should be used for guidance. |
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| 2.
Consideration should be given for the annual
budget to include provisions for the Deacon
of Missions (or authorized representative
approved by the Board of Elders) to spend
up to two weeks with one (preferably two)
supported missionaries for the purpose of
experiencing first hand accounts of their
mission field; observing their work; providing
support; and of reporting to the congregation
those accounts upon his return. |
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| C.
Strategy for Distribution of Missions Funds. |
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| It
shall be our policy not only to give to
the support of individual missionaries but
to also make contributions to the general
expenses of missionary organizations. |
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| XI.
Determination of Missionaries & Agencies
to Support |
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| A.
We believe that missionaries are more effective
when working as a team. This will normally
be under the direction of an established
mission organization. Therefore, we will
not ordinarily provide support to missionaries
who go out independently. Instead, we will
study the doctrinal position, the financial
practice, the cost of administration, the
type of governing structure and other pertinent
information about the particular mission
board before recommending the support of
any mission or candidate. We will only work
with agencies that have been approved by
the Board of Elders. |
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| B.
Criteria for Selecting New Candidates to
Support |
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| 1.
Missionary candidates will meet for a pre-selection
interview conducted by the Elder of Missions,
Deacon of Missions (Director of Outreach),
and one person from the pastoral staff. |
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| 2.
If the candidate is approved by the pre-selection
committee, he/she shall be recommended to
the Missions Committee. If the Missions
Committee’s review indicates that the
missionary should be considered for support,
they will propose it to the Board of Elders
for final approval. |
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| 3.
Those who are active participants of MCC
will receive priority over those who are
not. |
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| 4.
The following criteria will be used for
selection: |
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| a.
Evidence of a personal commitment and dedication
to follow God's will. |
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| b.
Active service in an evangelical church
for at least 2 years. |
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| c.
Full agreement with the statement of faith
of our church. |
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| d.
If the missionary is a part of a mission
organization, that organization must be
approved by the Board of Elders. |
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| e.
Proper training, experience, or education
appropriate to his/her assignment. |
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| f.
Through God’s providence, all qualified
candidates will be considered. However,
crucial consideration will be necessary
when it becomes evident that the addition
of any new missionaries will adversely affect
[see paragraph C(1)] MCC’s ability
to provide adequate financial support to
those already supported. |
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| g.
Close coordination between the Board of
Elders and the Director of Outreach is critical
when determining the support for additional
missionaries. Therefore, it will be necessary
for unanimous agreement and approval between
both parties prior to adding additional
missionaries. |
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| 5.
The
priority grid should be used for guidance
in all selections. |
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| C.
Support levels for Missionaries |
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| 1.
It is our goal that missionaries going out
from within the congregation shall receive
substantial support from MCC. Substantial
support shall be defined as 10-25% of the
requirements set by the mission organization.
Major consideration will be given under
the philosophy that it is better to support
fewer missionaries with more than it is
to support more with less. |
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| 2.
Support shall be reviewed annually with
particular consideration given to those
missionaries in regions where the American
dollar value has substantially decreased.
This is necessary in order to maintain the
proper level of support. |
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| D.
Initiation and Cessation of Support |
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| 1.
Support shall begin when the missionary
begins full time service. Any change in
assignment or organization requires re-evaluation
by the Missions Committee or the Board of
Elders. |
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| 2.
During regular and emergency furloughs,
support for our missionaries will continue.
If furlough is extended beyond the normal
length set by the mission, support may be
continued only if approved by the Board
of Elders following recommendation by the
Missions Committee. |
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| 3.
If it becomes necessary to reduce or withdraw
support of a missionary, it shall be done
during furlough if possible. Missionaries,
who change their doctrinal stand or are
dismissed by a mission, may be withdrawn
immediately. Under normal circumstances,
missionaries shall be given 90 days notice
prior to reduction or withdrawal of support,
unless support is no longer needed. |
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| E.
Evaluation and Revision of Support |
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| The
Missions Committee shall review levels of
support annually at the time of preparation
of the budget. The mission agency for each
missionary will be contacted to determine
if needs are being met and if additional
needs are anticipated for the coming year.
Support may also be reviewed at other times
in the case of special needs. |
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| F.
Support of Student Preparing for Missionary
Service |
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| No
provision shall be made in the missionary
budget for support of individual students
preparing for missionary service. Financial
aid may be available from other funds within
the church, such as a scholarship fund. |
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| XII.
Designated and One Time Gifts |
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| A.
Designated missions giving shall be forwarded
as gifts over and above budgeted commitments.
Individual personal gifts (birthday, Christmas,
etc) shall not be given through the church. |
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| B.
Designated gifts for mission organizations
that are not approved by the Board of Elders
will be returned to the giver with a tactful
explanation by the Elder of Missions or
one of the pastors. |
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| XIII.
Discretionary Fund |
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| Approximately
ten percent of the annual missions budget
will be designated as a Discretionary Fund.
This fund will be used to meet emergency
needs of missionaries, or special projects
approved by the Missions Committee. Not
more than $200 may be spent on any one project
without prior Elder Board approval. |
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| XIV.
Allocation of Expenses Relating to National
Missions Conference/Field Trips |
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| If
possible, money will be allotted each year
for one or more to attend. This money will
cover registration fees, travel expenses
and lodging. |
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| XV.
Honoraria for Visiting Missionary Speakers |
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| Honoraria
for visiting missionaries speaking will
be paid out of the missions budget. |
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