Mission Opportunities
In the coming days, we'll be developing this new section of our website, giving an overview of mission work of the United Methodist Church and providing specifics about how you can be a part of those opportunites to serve those around you.
Mission Personnel—Part I of III
God calls all Christians to be in mission. Some are called to a particular mission witness and service through channels of ministry provided by the church.
General Board of Global Ministries
The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), the mission instrument of the United Methodist Church is authorized to:
Recruit, send, and receive missionaries, enabling them to dedicate all or a portion of their lives in service across cultural, national and political boundaries.. And to facilitate the receiving and assignment of missionaries from church in nations other than the United States in cooperation with the other general agencies and with annual conferences. (¶ 1302.3, 15, 2004 Book of Discipline)
Other responsibilities of GBGM are numerous. A long list of duties described in¶1302 2004 Book of Discipline, can be summarized around four goals:
- To make disciples of Jesus Christ
- To grow and strengthen congregations and their communities
- To alleviate human suffering
- To promote justice, peace and freedom
Mission Personnel Program Area
The GBGM Mission Personnel Program Area deals specifically with the identification, recruitment, selection, preparation, training, assignment, supervision, and support of mission personnel. It works with other units of the board in making decision about personnel placements and assignments. Whenever possible, the placement of mission personnel is done in cooperation with the United Methodist or other partner churches in the area of assignment.
The specific responsibilities of Mission Personnel office are:
- To promote the opportunities for mission service related to the GBGM throughout the constituencies of the Church.
- To recruit, select, prepare, and assign mission personnel, including, but not limited to, missionaries, deaconesses, US-2s, mission interns and church and community workers.
- To provide all mission personnel with preparation and training for effective service in mission.
- To evaluate mission personnel for appropriate placement.
- To recommend persons as candidates for commissioning as deaconesses and missionaries, and to supervise and confirm the completion of all requirements for commissioning ( see pp. 47-48)
- To engage in supervision and support of mission personnel through referral, transfer procedures, career counseling, missionary wellness, and personnel development, assisting them in the fulfillment of their mission vocation.
- To administer a diverse program of remuneration and benefits for personnel service.
- To offer training for mission service throughout the global church.
- To work with ecumenical agencies in fulfilling mission personnel responsibilities.
- To facilitate the receiving and assigning of missionaries-laity and clergy-from central conferences (outside the US) and from autonomous, affiliated autonomous, and united churches, in cooperation with other boards and agencies and with annual conferences.
- To foster the support of mission personnel by congregation and individuals through Covenant Relationship Program, a feature of The Advance for Christ and His Church( see ¶ 820, 2004 Book of Discipline); and expand other forms of mission commitment including Global Mission Partners( ¶ 1312.6 2004 Book of Discipline)
continued on Page II
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