Graham's Missions Policy

1. Purpose and Definition of Missions:

The scriptural purpose of GCC’s involvement in missions is the fulfillment of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, as stated in Matthew 28:19-20.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Additionally, GCC is involved in mission in order to be a blessing to all people and nations (Genesis 12:1-3)

Missions fulfills the Great Commission through evangelization, discipling, and planting churches while relating to the needs of the total man; spiritual, physical, emotional, and social.


2. Policy Purpose, Interpretation, and Maintenance:

This policy has been established in order to develop a loving accountability, direction, and consistency in our missions ministry. Any changes to the policy’s purpose and strategy must be approved by the elders as being Biblical and consistent with the ministry philosophy of GCC.

Exceptions to missions policy matters may be made by a consensus of the missions team.
Exceptions, along with accompanying rationale, should be carefully documented to avoid establishing irreversible precedents, and to accumulate a basis for policy revision.

The missions policy will be reviewed annually, in May. Revisions, as necessary, are to be approved by the elders.


3. Missions Team Structure and Member Selection:

The Missions Team authority, member selection, team size, and term of office are stated in the GCC constitution, Article 7, excerpted as follows:

Duties:
The Missions Team will assist the elders in promotion of Missions at Graham Church. They will bring recommendations to the elders and deacons concerning Missions Support. New missionaries receiving monthly support will be approved by a majority congregational vote after recommendation by the Missions Team to the elders. Missions Funds may be disbursed for missions needs by the Missions Team up to $2000. Over $2000 must be approved by the elders and deacons.

Selection:
There will be a recommended minimum of six members on the Missions Team, including an elder who will serve as facilitator. The members of the Missions Team will be appointed by the elders for a term of three years. The Missions Team will select one of their members to serve as Missions Treasurer.

• To optimize long term continuity of the missions program, a staggered approach to term expiration will be utilized.

• Missions Team meetings will be conducted once per month, with additional meetings to be scheduled on an as needed basis.

• Each Missions Team member must have an active interest in missions, and a commitment to regular prayer for missionaries supported by GCC. Additionally, each Missions Team member must meet the “Qualifications of Leadership”, as detailed in the GCC Constitution, Article 6, excerpted as follows


Qualifications of Leadership: Spiritual leadership is a responsibility and privilege (James 3:1-2). All persons who hold a position of leadership (including but not limited to elders, deacons, Church officers, Sunday School teachers, team members, and Church staff) must meet and maintain the following spiritual qualifications for leadership:

A. Have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
B. Be a member of Graham Church
C. Teach no doctrine contrary to the "Doctrinal Statement" in the Constitution of Graham Church.
D. Be known for a dedicated Christian life according to the standards of God's Word, and will purpose to put any sin, including doubtful conduct and conversation, out of his/her life so that his/her influence is helpful rather than a hindrance.
E. Fulfill such specific biblical requirements as may apply to the position of responsibility.

The missions team will encourage (and financially support) training opportunities such as attendance at missions conferences. Additionally, team member involvement in missions trip will be strongly encouraged.

4. Responsibilities and Goals of the Missions Team:

The responsibilities and goals of the GCC Missions Team are as follows:
• Mobilize the resources of the congregation for effective involvement in global evangelism
• Educate and inspire the congregation in the field of world missions
• Develop and oversee the missions strategy for the church
• Administer the funds allocated to missions
• Administer and evaluate the missions ministry
• Nurture and support field missionaries
• Care for the missionaries on home assignment
• Stimulate the church’s intercessory prayer for missions/missionaries
• Assure that missions specific prayer needs are integrated into the
GCC prayer chains
• Oversee GCC missions trips and projects and encourage church
members to visit missionaries on the field
• Help to stimulate and recruit candidates for missions service
• Host visiting missionaries and missions conference
• Update the missions policy

5. Responsibilities of the Missionary to the Church:
It is expected that any missionary supported by GCC will correspond with the church, by mail or by e-mail, at least once every two months. More frequent correspondence is strongly encouraged.
It is expected that a missionary supported by GCC will visit the church at least once during their furlough periods. The length of their visit to GCC should be proportionate to the support provided by GCC. During the church visit, the missionaries will be expected to visit with the Missions team for an interview.
Supported missionaries are expected to visit with the church at least once every 5 years. Exceptions to this must be communicated and approved by the Missions Team,
Missionaries will be required to make financial status available on an annual basis.
Missionaries are required to communicate, in advance, any anticipated changes in ministry assignments and furloughs

6. Church Members Living and Working in Cross-Cultural Situations:
We will recognize and encourage members who are involved in intercultural ministry.
If a member of Graham Community Church moves to another location for the specific purpose of personal evangelism, the church will recognize and encourage their mission. Though not necessarily included in our missions budget, they will be cared for in the same ways as any other church member.

7. Missions Budget and Expenditures:
The overall church budget will allocate a specific amount to be used for missions related work. Additional funds may be made available through special gifts, or missions focused offerings.
The Missions Team will approve all expenditures, including regular monthly support commitments and special support. Funds that are not already committed will normally be disbursed as needs arise.

8. Strategy for the Distribution of Funds
GCC acknowledges that there are places in the world where the Holy Spirit has prepared a great harvest. Additionally, GCC recognizes that a prioritization of other factors will better enable us to be conscientious stewards of God’s money. In addition to the criteria for considering support, the Missions Team will use the following guidelines.
GCC will focus our support toward ministries that fulfill our Missions Strategy (under development).
We will focus our support on missionaries who call us their Sending Church.
We will generally not provide financial support to administering agencies or parachurch organizations, in keeping with GCC’s desire to develop and maintain accountability in its relationships with individual missionaries. However, special funding, such as one time grants for special needs, may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

9. Relationship between Church and Missions Organizations

Missions organizations exist to assist the local church in their endeavor to support missionaries on the field.
The Missions Team may, in certain cases, request annual financial statements or status reports from agencies, organizations, and individuals whom the church supports. Additionally, we want to be informed and consulted regarding the developmental needs of missionaries which consider us their home or sending church, and missionaries with whom we share a significant relationship.
We want the organization’s help in recruiting potential missionaries from our church.

10. Procedure for Selecting New Candidates for Regular Monthly Support

We require a pre-selection questionnaire. Additionally, we require a pre-selection interview which will explore the missionary’s training, gifts, vision, philosophy, doctrine, preparation and suitability for the field, and financial support.
We require essential agreement with the doctrinal position of the church. Perspective missionary candidates will be given a copy of the GCC Statement of Faith and Missions Policy. Any issues that the perspective candidates have with the Statement of Faith and Policy must be discussed with the Missions Team. Doctrinal agreement will be a factor in support consideration.
We require a clear indication of conversion and desire for ministry.
Candidates must be a member of an accepted agency.
Missionaries who leave for the field under supported will be re-evaluated by the Missions Team.
Missionaries must meet the character standards of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

11. Support Strategies
The Missions Team will determine the amount of support allotted based on the following:
Alternative sources of support;
Level of personal involvement in GCC;
Length of time of involvement with GCC;
How the missionary fits into our missions strategy
(Kind of Ministry, Geographical Location, Targeted People [See Item 9]);
Total amount needed;
Type of work that will be done;
According to need;
Full or part time ministry;
Effectiveness of ministry.
Evidence of usefulness in speaking or serving ministries.

GCC will only support agencies that are like minded to Graham Church’s doctrinal position. Doctrinal questions will be reviewed by the elders.

GCC will only consider support of missionaries who are with boards which would accept someone from Graham Community Church

Generally, support will begin when the missionary leaves for the field or language training. We will consider budgeting, in advance, for specific outgoing expenses for missionaries we accept while under deputation.

Under normal circumstances, GCC will not support missionary candidates while receiving education prior to the field.

When considering support, GCC will consider the total needs of the family and/or individual. We will work with sending organizations to determine support needs.

Generally, support will be terminated when:
The missionary resigns or retires, except under special circumstances approved by the missions team;
The agency terminates the missionary;
The missionary fails to abide by the rules and request of our church;
The missionary’s doctrinal position differs significantly from that of our church;
The missionary consistently demonstrates inadequate accountability;
The missionary fails to maintain the standards used to originally qualify for support.

Generally, we will not drop support of a missionary on the foreign field unless there is a moral failure or significant doctrinal concern.


Support status and amount will be reevaluated when:
The missionary’s assignment or affiliation has changed;
The missionary fails to visit GCC at least once every five years;
The missionary fails to correspond regularly with GCC, as outlined in section 5;
The missionary stays at home for longer than one year.

The Missions team will annually evaluate each missionary’s financial needs and the adequacy of their support level.

12. Insurance for Missionaries

We require supported missionaries to carry adequate medical insurance to reasonably cover their needs. The Missions Team will consider emergency help in cases of disability, disaster, medical emergency, or loss of life.

13. Establishing Partnerships with National Workers and National Organizations

National workers will be supported only through known and trusted organizations which can provide ministry and financial accountability. GCC will consider partnering with nationals who are in relationship with other missionaries we support. Partnerships with national workers will be considered only for specific definable projects and for a specified period of time.

14. Short Term Missions Programs:

GCC will place a high priority on getting members actively involved in short-term missions, summer missions trips, and other missions projects. Additionally, we strongly urge that all career missionary candidates first experience a short-term project.

The Missions Team will approve Short Term Missionaries based on the following criteria:
A sincere interest in world missions
Parental support or approval (for a minor)
Evidence of faithfulness in ministry, cooperative spirit, submission
to authority, and fruit of the Spirit
Additionally, the Missions Team prefers that the short term missionary have a working knowledge of the culture of the country in which they are to serve.

15. Financial Support for Short Term and Project Missions

Participants in Short Term or Project oriented Missions are encouraged to raise their own support. Those who request financial support for short term projects must meet with the Missions Team for approval. Support level will be determined on the basis of individual needs
Approved individuals from the church who are going on an approved Short Term trip will receive funds from Graham’s Mission Budget
The congregation will be encourage to prayerfully and financially support Short Term Missionaries

16. Handling of Designated Giving

All designated gifts will be considered as an expression of desire, but subject to the discretion of the Missions Team. Designated giving will be allowed only for missionaries and projects which are already approved.

17. Honorariums for Visiting Missionary Speakers

We will provide an honorarium for Missions speakers from the Missions budget. In cases where love offering is taken, a guaranteed minimum (set, in advance, by the Missions Team) will be established. The Missions Team will cover travel expenses for guest missionaries.