Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church (CMPC) Mission Committee Policy. Section I. The Committee s name shall be Mission Committee. Section II: Purpose

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1 Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church (CMPC) Mission Committee Policy Section I The Committee s name shall be Mission Committee Section II: Purpose The purpose of the Mission Committee shall be to oversee and plan, under the direction of the Session, a program of emphasis, support and administration of the congregation s participation in missions both domestic and international. This Committee shall include under its area of concern the following: A. The permanent committees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) including Mission to North America (MNA) and Mission to the World (MTW). B. The permanent committees of the North Georgia Foothills Presbytery including MNA and MTW. C. Opportunities for the support of individuals whose purpose and goals are to fulfill Christ s great commission and are consistent with CMPC Mission Policy as outlined below. D. The partnership committees that CMPC has joined or formed. E. Administration of CMPC mission journeys both adult and youth. The Committee shall keep itself informed about the current state of the above committees/matters and shall exercise such means as are necessary to insure that the congregation and the Session are kept informed concerning the needs and opportunities. Section III: Strategy CMPC seeks to be a catalyst to assist, encourage, facilitate and support planting Reformed, reproducing churches with indigenous leadership in key areas around the world for the glory of God. CMPC also seeks to be catalyst to assist, encourage, facilitate and support CMPCers who are called by God into full-time ministry, including those who are called as church planters, campus workers and as cross-cultural missionaries. To accomplish this, the strategic focus in our missionary support, Page 1 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.

2 short-term journeys, and other mission related activities (e.g., Mission Conference, Mission Moments, missionary prayer s, etc.) is: A. Supporting work in North Georgia, North America and the world as outlined in Section VIII Financial Section. B. Supporting the work of formal partnerships. C. Supporting and developing full-time workers from CMPC. D. Increasing mission awareness, mission mindedness and mission participation among the entire congregation. E. As an additional step towards ministering to those at CMPC who feel called to the ministry, in 2010, the Session established the Called to Ministry (CTM) Sub-Committee in order to oversee the mentoring and training of those who sense God s call into full-time ministry in order to fulfill our desire that CMPC seeks to be catalyst to assist, encourage, facilitate and support CMPCers who are called by God into full-time ministry. This sub-committee will be made up of three ruling elders with the pastor and associate pastor(s) as ex officio members. The CTM may recruit people who will assist the sub-committee by being mentors and trainers but who will not become members of the sub-committee. When a person progresses to the place where they are entering a field of labor that requires them to raise support, whether they are still a CMPC member or have since become a member of another evangelical church, it will be the responsibility of this CTM sub-committee to recommend to the Session whether the person s ministry mandates financial support, and whether their ministry financial support should come from the Mission Fund or the General Fund. Section IV: Authority The Mission Committee shall be under the authority of the Session. It shall receive its direction from the Session, shall advise the Session on all matters within its area of concern and shall make specific recommendations to the Session. Section V: Committee Membership A. Number. The Mission Committee shall consist of the following: 1. Chairman (who shall be a member of the Session) 2. Four members of the congregation at large 3. A Women s Ministry Liaison 4. A Youth Liaison 5. A College Liaison 6. A Mountain Climber Liaison 7. At least one ex officio member representing the pastoral staff 8. The Mission Conference Chairman 9. Any other teaching elder who is not a staff member (e.g., retired pastor) may be invited as an ex officio member. Page 2 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.

3 B. Terms: 1. Session members will serve on the Committee as designated by the Session. 2. The Women s Leadership Team Liaison will serve on the Committee for the duration of her two-year term on the Women s Leadership Team. 3. The Youth and College Liaisons will be recommended each year by the Minister to Students to serve a minimum of one year and a maximum of three. 4. To provide a qualified and experienced Committee, members from the congregation at large will serve on a rotating system for three years each. 5. The Mission Conference Chairman shall be recommended for approval by the Session by the Mission Committee. 6. The Committee may nominate a person who has had at least one year off the Committee; no at-large member may ordinarily succeed himself. The terms of office shall be on a yearly basis. Voting privileges reside with all members, except ex officio. The Chairman will vote only in the event of a tie. C. Election Procedures: 1. Each Committee member must be approved by the Session before s/he is contacted. 2. The Chairman will be appointed by the Session and will normally have served on the Mission Committee. D. Removal of a Member. Any member may be recommended for removal, with just cause, by a three-fourths vote of the entire Committee. Section VI: Officers A. Number. The officers will consist of a Mission Committee Chairman, Secretary and Mission Conference Chairman. B. Powers and Duties 1. Mission Committee Chairman a. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings. In the absence of the Chairman, the Committee shall elect an acting chairman to preside. b. He shall see that all policies and decisions of the Session, as well as the Committee are carried out. c. He shall appoint the Secretary at his pleasure. If not appointed, the Chairman shall assume the role of the Secretary. d. He shall attend to all correspondence and communication on behalf of the Mission Committee and perform all duties incident to that of being Chairman. e. The Chairman shall, in addition, perform other duties as assigned to him by the Session or the Committee. Page 3 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.

4 2. Mission Committee Secretary a. If designated by the Chairman, the Secretary shall prepare the minutes of each meeting for distribution to the Committee and approval. b. S/he shall act as custodian of the records. c. S/he shall attend to all correspondence and perform all duties incident to being Secretary or assigned by the Chairman. 3. Mission Conference Chairman a. The Mission Conference Chairman shall be recommended by the Mission Committee and approved by the Session. b. The Mission Conference Chairman shall be responsible for the organization and implementation of the Mission Conference. c. The Mission Conference Chairman shall have served previously as the Assistant Mission Conference Chairman. d. The Mission Committee shall appoint an Assistant Mission Conference Chairman as needed. Section VII: Meetings A. The Committee shall normally meet once every month. The Committee s stated meetings are the second Sunday of the month at 5pm. B. The Chairman of the Mission Committee shall call each meeting. The purpose of the meetings may include: 1. Prayer for missionaries 2. Coordinate with the Mission Conference Chairman 3. Nominating incoming class of Committee members 4. Reviewing and recommending missionaries for financial support 5. Reviewing and recommending mission journeys and participants 6. And any other business needing the attention of the Mission Committee 7. Drafting a budget 8. Reviewing and recommending policy revisions as needed. C. Special Meetings. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairman or upon written request of three members, due notice having been given. D. Quorum. A quorum at a Committee meeting shall consist of at least 50% of the voting members of the Committee. Page 4 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.

5 Section VIII: Financial A. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Mission Committee shall begin on April 1 and end on March 31. B. Allocation of Resources. The Mission Committee shall endeavor to allocate 35% of the budget to work in North America and Georgia with a particular emphasis on Georgia Foothills Presbytery, Church Planting efforts. The Committee will endeavor to allocate 65% to work overseas. Additionally, the following policies are to be applied when considering allocation of resources: 1. CMPC will not ordinarily support missionaries who are in seminary. 2. The Mission Committee focuses primarily on church planting and campus ministries. Priority for church planters and campus workers will be given as follows: a. International Church Planting and Campus Outreach b. Domestic Church Planting and Campus Outreach i. Those within Georgia Foothills Presbytery or those who are part of the CMPC family. ii. Those who are in geographically adjoining Georgia presbyteries iii. Those in destitute parts of the nation as indicated in the Book of Church Order. (That is, areas of the country where the local churches are not able to accomplish their church planting vision without outside financial help). 3. The Mission Committee will consider supporting International Word and Deed and Mercy Ministries provided that: a. The ministries are connected with the local church and church planting endeavors; and/or b. The ministries are connected to our own CMPC family. 4. The strategic focus in our missionary support and short-term journeys includes the following guidelines: a. Primarily, CMPC seeks to support missionaries who are involved in being catalysts to assist, encourage, facilitate and support planting Reformed, reproducing churches with indigenous leadership. This involves support of those who are Church Planters, those whose ministries are identified as supporting church planters and indigenous church planters. b. Primarily, CMPC targets support of ministries with whom we have formal partnerships and/or active, strong personal relationships. c. CMPC seeks to support members of the CMPC family who are involved in campus ministry, cross-cultural ministry, and/or church planting. C. It shall be the practice of the Mission Committee to budget in faith, 100% of the Faith Promise Commitments that are received. Page 5 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.

6 D. Candidates for financial support must complete an Application for Financial Support for review by the Mission Committee and recommendation to the Session. Decisions regarding support should normally align with the stated Mission Strategy and Vision. E. Whenever CMPC decides to provide financial support to missionaries, the missionaries will be informed that they will receive financial support over the course of the fiscal year (April 1-March 31). Whenever CMPC provides financial support to missionaries, CMPC will not ordinarily stop supporting any missionary who is serving while they are actively on the field; such termination of support will normally occur at the end of their Home Ministry Assignment (a period of time not to exceed one year) or at the end of the time originally specified. 1. Missionaries will be expected to maintain at least quarterly, preferable monthly, c communication with CMPC through updates or written letters. CMPC reserves the right to cancel support at any time during the fiscal year if reasonable efforts to encourage and maintain communication with the supported missionary have failed. This decision will require a majority vote by the Mission Committee and be approved by the Session. When new missionaries are picked up for financial support by CMPC, it will be explained to them that they will receive financial support over the course of the fiscal year (April 1- March 31), with a good faith intention that CMPC will continue providing support as long as (1) they are on the field, and (2) and they provide us with regular ed ministry updates at least on a quarterly basis. They will also be informed that their support will continue as long as the Lord continues to provide Faith Promise funding and they meet their correspondence requirements with CMPC. Additionally, CMPC supported missionaries will be informed that should they change sending agencies, field assignments or undergo another material change in their status, CMPC reserves the right to reconsider whether to continue providing them with financial support. Section IX: Mission Conference A. Purpose. The purpose of the Mission Conference is to: increase mission mindedness of the congregation; fellowship and deepening of relationships with missionaries; generate faith and promise commitments for the upcoming fiscal year; and serve as a catalyst for those interested in becoming long term missionaries. B. Organization of Mission Conference. It will be the responsibility of the Mission Committee with the input of the Pastor to determine the theme and approve the schedule of events during the Mission Conference. The selection of the plenary speaker is generally done several years in advance under the guidance and direction of the Pastor and Associate Pastor. C. The administration and implementation of the conference is the responsibility of the Mission Conference Chair who is responsible for recruiting the various coordinators and committee leaders. Page 6 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.

7 These include the Prayer Coordinators, Children s Group, Men s Group, WIC, Youth Group, Worship Group, Communications, Missionary Ambassadors, Thursday Round Robin, Facilities/Cleanup, International Dinner, Recorder/Accountant. D. Conference activities generally include the following: 1. Men s Prayer Night 2. Preparation services by the Pastors 3. Day of Fasting and Prayer on the Saturday prior to the Conference 4. Wednesday Night Service 5. Thursday Night Dinner / Round Robin / Coffee & Conversation 6. Friday Night Pizza Dinner and Service 7. Saturday Men s Breakfast 8. Saturday Women s Brunch 9. Saturday night International Dinner and Service 10. Sunday Morning Services 11. Sunday Schools 12. Sunday Evening Service E. Extension of Invitations 1. All currently supported missionaries and those seeking support (who have been approved by the mission committee) will be officially invited to participate in the mission conference and all of the related activities. The cost of attending conference will be reimbursed upon completion of the Missionary Expense Form. Section X: Mission Journeys A. Mission Journey destinations and objectives shall be reviewed by the Committee and recommended for approval to the Session. Individuals seeking to lead a journey shall complete a Mission Journey Leader Application and submit their completed form to the Mission Committee. Mission journeys should support the stated strategy and vision for missions of CMPC. B. Youth mission journeys shall be coordinated through the Youth Ministry and generally follow the four-step process: 1: Mission Camp 2: Stateside Journey 3: International 4: Challenging International or Servant Leadership Team C. Individuals desiring to participate in a youth or adult journey shall complete an application each year (youth or adult) to be reviewed by the Mission Committee which will make a recommendation to the Session. Page 7 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.

8 D. All participants on a Mission Journey shall receive and agree to comply with the policies for journeys as defined in the Guidelines for Mission Journeys Participants. All youth shall sign and have a parent sign the Expectations of Team Members and Parents. All adults shall sign the Confirmation of Mission Calling. These documents are located on the Mission Page of our website ( XI: Amendments The policies of the Mission Committee shall be subject to alteration, amendment or repeal by the Session. Additional Information Mission Committee: Our Mission Committee meets the second Sunday of every month at 5pm. During this time the Committee reviews our missions giving, mission journey applications, support requests and prays for our various supported missionaries. During our Sunday morning worship services, a member of the Committee briefly shares specific prayer requests from one of our supported missionaries with the congregation. Prayer s: Supported missionaries send us regular prayer request s and we forward these on to those in our church family who are interested in praying with and for them. If interested in becoming part of this vital ministry, send to chestnutmountain@gmail.com Mission Journey Commissioning: The Sunday before a short-term CMPC team leaves for their mission journey, they are commissioned by the elders during the morning services. The pastor reads a passage of Scripture and gives a charge after which he and the other elders lay hands on the mission team and the pastor prays for them. Mission Journey Reports: Upon returning home from their short-term mission journey, the team will give a report during an evening service, sharing what the Lord did in and through them while on the journey. Page 8 of 8 Revised January 24, Last previous revision: August 12, 2010.