Policies from the 1999 Book of Discipline

FREE METHODIST WORLD MISSIONS

B/490. The Free Methodist Church accepts responsibility to obey the Great Commission of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). Missionaries are sent into all the world to evangelize and make disciples for the Lord, to build them together in His church (1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:20-22), and to engage in ministries of compassion and human development in the name of Christ. The Free Methodist World Missions shall carry the gospel into areas where there is no ministry of the Free Methodist Church and serve in partnership with the national church in evangelization and church planting.

1. The Board of Administration shall constitute the General Missionary Board which has authority over world mission functions.

2. Missions Committee. The Board of Administration shall elect a Missions Committee of up to twelve members. All members, including the chair, shall be elected by the Board with nominations from the nominating committee. The Canadian General Conference shall have a representative on the Missions Committee. Terms of service on the Missions Committee shall be for the interim of general conference.

3. In consultation with the Executive Director of World Missions, the Missions Committee will:

• a. recommend policy regarding World Missions to the Board of Administration;
• b. review the World Missions budget, and send recommendation to the Budget and Finance Committee of the Board of Administration;
• c. consult with the Executive Director regarding World Missions vision and strategy, and their implementation;
• d. advise missions leadership with the intent of increasing ownership and giving within the Free Methodist Church of North America;
• e. review developments in World Missions.

4. The Board of Bishops will consult with the Missions Committee chair and the Board of Administration chair regarding the Board of Bishops' recommendations in the selection and/or termination of the Executive Director of World Missions.

B/491. Missions Executive Leadership Team. The Missions Executive Leadership Team includes the Executive Director of World Missions, on site directors, and overseas area directors. They shall, under the leadership of the Executive Director, oversee all missionary work originating in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and directed toward peoples outside of those countries, except for areas which the Board of Administration may assign elsewhere, and shall have the following responsibilities:

1. Finance

• a. devise methods and programs for funding that portion of the United Ministries for Christ that pertains to Free Methodist World Missions;
• b. be responsible for receiving and appropriating all moneys allocated for foreign missions to the purpose for which they have been contributed or budgeted;
• c. prepare the annual budget in consultation with the Missions Committee, the Operating Committee, and the Budget and Finance Committee;
• d. review and approve a call for funds for special projects; and
• e. review and approve loan applications from overseas churches to the Free Methodist Loan Fund. The missions administration will co-sign the loans assuring repayment and be responsible for collecting payments from the churches with outstanding loans.

2. Personnel

• a. recruit, appoint, license, and commission candidates for missionary service;
  b. appoint all short-term VISA personnel;
• c. decide the status of missionaries not on their field of assignment for other than a normal furlough.

3. Overseas Church Planting

• a. encourage and aid church planting outside Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States among all population groups in cooperation with a national church, whenever possible.
• b. recognize that in areas not presently served by the Free Methodist Church, the work shall first be a mission district under the jurisdiction of Free Methodist World Missions or of another General Conference before being established as a provisional annual or annual conference.