Mission Opportunities Part II
Mission Service Types and Categories
There are three primary types of relationship between mission personnel and the GBGM (General Board of Global Ministries.)
- Commissioned personnel are missionaries, deaconesses, and other with whom the Church has established a covenant involving the “the laying on of hands” for mission service.
- Non-commissioned personnel have not entered into a covenant but serve in a variety of capacities and locations.
- Person in Mission (PIMs) are mission personnel of central conferences and partner churches outside the US that the board helps to support.
Commissioned Personnel
Missionaries
Missionaries serve in a wide variety of ministries around the world, including the US. They are assigned according to their gifts and abilities and mission needs at the time. Missionaries may be evangelists, pastors, doctors, nurses, teachers, agricultural specialists, youth workers or social service providers. The may work in rural or urban settings; many serve women and children, and people who are poor, hungry, homeless or otherwise pushed the margins of societies.
United Methodists missionaries serve outside and within the US ; there are several US-based groups of missionaries, including persons assigned to the Alaska and Red Bird (Kentucky) Missionary Conferences. The Church’s National Plan for Hispanic and Latino Ministries incorporates a category of missionary service. These assignments are made in conjunction with annual conferences. The category of “home missionary” is no longer used for newly commissioned persons but there are individuals commissioned prior to 1988 who retain that designation.
Deaconesses, who are laywomen, and home missioners, who are laymen are professionally trained persons who have been led by the Holy Spirit to devote their lives to Christ– like service under the authority of the Church. They are approved by the GBGM (upon recommendation for Mission Personnel Program Area) and commissioned by a bishop at a session of the GBGM. They shall have a continuing relationship to the The United Methodist Church through the GBGM ( see ¶ 1313.2 Book of Discipline)
Deaconesses and home missioners are available for service with any agency or program of the The United Methodist Church. (They) may also serve in other that UMC agencies or programs provided that approval be given by the GBGM in consultation with the bishop of the receiving area. ¶ 1313.2 Book of Discipline
Deaconesses and home missioners function through diverse forms of service directed toward the world to make Jesus Christ known in the fullness of his ministry and mission, which mandate that his followers:
- Alleviate suffering
- Eradicate the causes of in justice and all that robs life of dignity and worth
- Facilitate the development of full human potential.
- Share in the building of the global community through the Church Universal
¶ 1313.1 Book of Discipline
The Office of Deaconess was first authorized by the General Conference of the The Methodist Episcopal Church in 1888 and was subsequently authorized in each of the predecessor organizations that now comprise The United Methodist Church.
Continued Part III
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