Session Minutes July 28, 2008
THE MISSION COMMITTEE POLICY
First Presbyterian Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
I. Introduction
This Mission Policy is based on the beliefs that the mission of the church is the mission of Jesus Christ continued on earth through us.
It is governed and informed by the Statement of Mission, endorsed by Session, which states that:
"We are a church committed to evangelism and to the conviction that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is the primary task we have been given by our Lord to carry out in the world, which God so loves.”
We are a church committed to growth and to the conviction that God has not only given to us a responsibility to witness to others, but that he longs to add to his church "day by day those who are being saved." (Acts 2:47, 9:31)
We are a church committed to service and to the conviction that we, like Jesus, are called not to be served but to serve in this world, to love and help those in need as he did, to care about justice and freedom for those about us, and to be the salt of the earth in our community, our nation, and our world.
We are a church committed to the world-wide mission of Jesus Christ and to the spread of the gospel of His love and redemption throughout the world. We believe that we must be ''world Christians" in the sense that we must be concerned not only for the spread of the gospel in our "Jerusalem," but to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8; Genesis 12:3)
All projects that are supported by the benevolence budget of First Presbyterian Church must be consistent with this Statement of Mission adopted by the session.
This Mission Policy has been developed for these reasons:
•To give the church membership an understanding of missions and consistent guidelines for conducting outreach activities;
•To help the Global and Local Missions Committees achieve a clear sense of direction;
•To develop a living accountability in our missions program;
•To avoid making important decisions on an emotional or haphazard basis (e.g. charisma of speaker, "connections" of those seeking support, the committee's mood at the time a decision is made);
•To insure that each mission dollar is spent as God would have it spent;
•To bring new committee members up-to-date, allowing them to familiarize themselves quickly with the issues to be faced and the general direction of our mission policy;
•To maintain consistency as committees change membership;
•To work in harmony with church-wide leadership.
II. Committee Responsibility to the Church
The Committees’ specific responsibilities to the church will be to:
•Educate and inspire the congregation in the field of global and local missions;
•Help develop, send, and support candidates who carry out Christ's commission;
•Provide opportunities for the congregation to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of humankind;
•Stimulate the prayer concern of the congregation for world evangelism and for our missionaries;
•Administer the funds allocated to missions;
•Serve as a liaison between the church and its missions endeavors;
•Administer and evaluate the missions program;
•Update the missions program;
•Interpret the church's statement of faith to missionaries and agencies;
•Set goals which are measurable but which involve a step of faith and which are consistent with the purpose of mission and the needs of the congregation.
III. The Global Missions Committee Membership
The Global Missions Committee will consist of at least six voting members. Members should be committed on a year-to-year basis. Vacancies will be filled through appointment by the chairperson, subject to Session oversight. Membership will reflect the diversity of the church. There will also be a liaison person seconded from the Women in Ministry and the Diaconate. The Associate Pastor for Mission will serve as an ex officio member and staff resource person. (Travel experiences for the Associate Pastor will be covered for mission trips and conferences through a separate line item rather than out of the Global Mission Budget).
IV. The Local Missions Committee Membership
The Local Missions Committee will consist of at least five voting members. Members should be committed on a year-to-year basis. Vacancies will be filled through appointment by the chairperson, subject to Session oversight. Membership will reflect the diversity of the church. There will also be a liaison person seconded from the Women in Ministry and the Diaconate. The Associate Pastor for Mission will serve as an ex officio member and staff resource person.
V. Responsibilities of the Committee Member
It is expected that each committee member make a commitment to missions in the following ways:
•Attend the meetings;
•Be actively involved with the planned missions program;
•Maintain a regular prayer life, Bible study, and other aspects of Christian spiritual maturity;
•Pray for the missionaries and mission projects that are supported on a regular basis;
•Maintain communication with supported missionaries;
•Be engaged in a continuing program of study on missions;
•Bear the burdens of other Missions Committee members in supportive fellowship;
•Be familiar with the Missions Policy of the church.
Continued service on the Global or Local Missions Committee is contingent upon a committee member's active commitment to the above responsibilities.
The ideal committee member is one who:
•Practices a faithful, personal relationship with Jesus Christ;
•Has a deep interest in mission;
•Someone who has a “Heart for the City” or a “Heart for the World”;
•Is committed to missions as having a primary role in the life of the church;
•Desires to learn more about missions;
•Has a willingness to work hard in a missions capacity;
•Is willing to undergo initial training and to learn this Mission Policy.
VI. Committees Officers and Duties
The Committee Chairperson is a Session member assigned by the Session to lead the Mission Committee. The Chairperson has the following responsibilities:
•Schedule, coordinate and facilitate the Mission Committee meetings, (the Chairperson will notify the Church Staff Support of meeting dates – Church Staff will send meeting notices to Committee Members),
•Administer the programs by delegating workload,
•Oversee the Mission Committee budget,
•Motivate and evaluate committee members,
•Encourage volunteers,
•Keeps Committee members up-to-date on current status of missionaries and mission projects,
•Be knowledgeable about the entire missions program at the church and missions in general,
•Serve as the key contact person and liaison for other church committees, missions’ agencies, and other churches unless otherwise designated.
The Committee Secretary is a member of the Committee appointed by the Committee Chairperson. The Secretary has the following responsibilities:
•Take minutes of meetings and distribute copies shortly afterwards,
•Keeps the records for the Committee actions, decisions, and communications,
•Inform Church Staff Support of
• Act as the primary source for publicizing the Missions Program.
The Missions Conference Coordinator is a member of the Committee appointed by the Committee Chairperson with the responsibility of acting as the primary organizer (with help of entire committee and others) of the Annual Missions Conference.
VII. Committee Meetings
The Global and Local Missions Committee will meet separately on a regular basis and as needed. Joint meetings of both committees will take place as needed. Subcommittees may be formed to fulfill specific needs and meet as often as is dictated by these needs.
VIII. Participation in Conferences and Mission Trips
Committee member attendance at other churches' or organizations' mission conferences is encouraged, but not required. The Missions Committee will pay part of the expenses of those committee members or specially chosen delegates who attend regional or national mission conferences, especially in cases of financial need.
In addition, the Global Missions Committee will supplement the cost of sending Committee members on trips approved by the Committee. (This is usually one third of the total cost of the trip but is not limited to that amount if the Committee approves.)
IX. Mission Committee Budget
The session has defined benevolence dollars as:
"Money spent in support of a ministry to a group composed of people primarily outside of this church or in support of an individual whose ministry is or will be primarily outside of this church, and is freely given with no expectation of benefit."
Funding for Mission Programs is accomplished through the general church budget, with the exception for special projects and appeals approved by the Session (e.g. Missions Conference).
The Missions Committee will prepare an annual missions budget, subject to evaluation and approval by the session and approval by the congregation at the annual meeting. The presented budget will outline expected expenditures. Money will only be spent as it is available. Unobligated expenses will be paid on a priority basis, determined by the Missions Committees.
The Mission Committees will strive to establish a balance in budgetary items between an emphasis on evangelism and emphasis on ministering to physical needs.
The emphasis of the Global Missions Committee will be on supporting people with the option to consider support of worthwhile agencies and projects. In evaluating support, the Committee will strive to ensure that at least 90% of all the money that the agency receives goes for the missionary or cause.
The emphasis of the Local Missions Committee will be on support of projects and agencies that reflect the commitment of the church to witness and service in the local community.
The budget will provide funds to support and encourage the participation of church members in Global Missions (short-term mission trips, conferences, etc.).
The Global Missions Committee will determine which denomination projects to support as well as church involvement with independent faith missions boards. The goal is to first consider support of evangelical missions-sending agencies created within or affiliated with our denomination to increase the mission emphasis and outreach.
Criteria for Evaluating Mission Projects:
The Mission Committees will use the following criteria in considering and prioritizing decisions about utilizing the Missions Budget for mission projects.
•Does the project have a desire to win people to Jesus Christ?
•Does the project have a concern for the people’s most critical and urgent needs?
•Does the project have a desire to cooperate with biblically committed Christians to extend Christ’s Kingdom?
•Does the project have a concern for Jesus’ emphasis on caring for the poor and the oppressed?
Criteria for Evaluating Personal Support:
The Mission Committees will use the following criteria in considering and prioritizing decisions about utilizing the Missions Budget for personal support:
•Previous active service in a church.
•Evidence of past commitment and dedication to following God's will.
•Appropriate training or education.
•Information or recommendation from the denominational source or sending body.
•Members will be accepted and receive priority over non-members.