Sending

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SENDING MISSION WORKERS FROM A DIOCESE

"The desire to serve is holy.

The call to serve is a call of the Church;

it is the call to be a missionary."

As the method of engaging in global mission changes, requiring more responsibility at the diocesan level, it will be important for each diocese to develop a sensitive and effective SENDING PROCESS. This section is intended to offer guidelines for use in responding to persons who have sensed a call to mission service.

DISCERNMENT

At The Parish Level . . .

Persons who experience a desire to enter mission service usually first express that desire to the rector of their congregation. The rector, having some knowledge of the person, can informally assist in the early stages of discernment. The next step should include the aspirant, the rector, and selected members of the parish to form a discernment/support group. Areas to be considered might be:

How can the aspirant’ desire be honored?
How can the desire be tested?
How can the aspirant be assisted in exploring what the mission desire means and what it requires?
What skills/talents can he/she offer?

After several meetings, and perhaps having the aspirant engage in some type of parish outreach activity, the rector and parish should be able to perform an evaluation and offer validation of the person’s call to mission service. It is at this point that application and/or referral should be made to the World Mission Committee.

The Work of the World Mission Committee . . .

Each World Mission Committee will most likely have developed its own method of moving the aspirant through a more formal and extensive discernment process (perhaps similar to the Commission on Ministry format for prospective Deacons). The diocesan Bishop should be a part of the Committee’s process. It is suggested that a series of meetings be scheduled with the aspirant, with their rector and a representative of the parish discernment/support group being included in at least one of the meetings.

The initial World Mission Committee interview should be an opportunity for all present to get to know one another. The Committee's purpose should be explained to the aspirant, and the aspirant should be invited to describe their sense of the call to mission service. This may also be a opportunity to hear about the aspirant’s personal life, educational history, professional and volunteer experiences, and home parish involvement. Subsequent meetings might explore the following questions and issues:

Knowledge of Episcopal Church

Spiritual and Emotional Maturity

Prayer Life

Cross-Cultural Experiences

Other Languages Spoken

Health/Medical and Psychological Assessments

Review of Required References

Willingness To Learn From or Be Supervised By Others From Different Ethnic/Cultural/Social/Educational Background

Ability To Live At Poorer Standard Of Living

Sensitivity To Social Mores of Other Ethnic/Cultural Groups

Desired Service Location

Willingness To Represent The Episcopal Church, Home Diocese and Home Parish

World Mission Committees are not limited to the suggested examples of interview questions, but it is important to explore questions which will enable the Committee to ascertain the aspirant’s appropriateness for the service in the mission field.

Upon endorsement of the aspirant, the Committee should make written referral to mission agencies that are seeking persons with their skills to serve in areas that may have been identified during the Committee interview. The referrals should include specific requests for mission opportunity lists, service applications, brochures, acceptance policy, and names of former volunteers (who may have served in areas and jobs that the aspirant is interested in). Each mission agency will advise the diocese of its policies regarding acceptance, required orientation and training, language study, health/medical requirements, health/life insurance, approximate financial costs, and other important information.

THE SENDING PROCESS

After completion of what is required by Parish Group, World Mission Committee, and chosen mission agencies, the applicant for mission service is ready to begin the SENDING PROCESS. First, notice will be received of an applicant’s acceptance by the mission agencies. This is usually followed by an invitation to serve, from an overseas Bishop, along with a summary of the mission job. The World Mission Committee and Parish Group should work as a team to assist the applicant to comply with all required physical and/or psychological examinations. The diocesan bishop and the Committee should be in contact with the Bishop of the diocese where the applicant is to serve.

A "Letter Of Agreement" should be developed and signed by both Bishops. The letter will outline the applicant’s work description, housing and board accommodations (whether they will be supplied by the receiving diocese, or expected to be financially supported by the sending diocese), starting date, length of service, average monthly support need (based on standards of the host country). days of work/vacation time/R&R time off, and other specifics as may be deemed necessary. The applicant’s diocesan Bishop is the one to authorize fund-raising for the applicant throughout the diocese. Spearheading the fund-raising activities should be the applicant’s home parish, under the leadership of the rector and the parish discernment/support group. The amount to be raised before departure will have been specified by the mission agencies. The mission agencies may also be the best resource to advise how to transfer funds safely to the mission worker in the field. It is recommended that fund-raising continue during the mission worker’s assignment, so as to spread out support needed for the entire length of service. This is also wise in order to cover any emergency situations.

The mission agencies will advise the applicant when and where mission orientation/cross cultural training and language study is to take place. Many mission agencies provide for required training and study. They will also help to identify an acceptable time frame for travel to mission assignment, and arrange for the mission worker to be met at the mission destination. It is suggested the World Mission Committee and Parish Group assist the mission worker with travel arrangements and try to be among those seeing him/her off at departure. The mission worker will appreciate the presence of familiar and supportive people, as he/she takes this leap of faith to serve the church in mission.

It is important to maintain contact with the mission worker while he/she is in the field, so plans should be in place for the exchange of letters and dissemination of a monthly newsletter throughout the diocese (containing news form and about the mission worker). A sub-committee from the parish could be responsible for getting the newsletter out each month. All parishes in the home diocese should be encouraged to pray for the mission worker on a regular basis, and to send cards on special days (i.e. birthday, holidays, etc.).

Commissioning . . .

To further validate the mission call, honor the affirmative response before the Church, proclaim support of the mission worker, and commit to a partnership with the mission service, it is recommended that the diocesan Bishop conduct a Commissioning Service before the mission worker depart for the field. This service may be held at the mission worker’s parish.

The Commissioning may be simple or elaborate according to the desires of the Bishop, and mission worker, the parish rector, and significant others There are two forms in the Book of Common Prayer which might be suitable as is, or modified to suit the occasion. One is a "A Form Of Commitment To Christian Service," (pages. 420 - 421), or a "Celebration Of A New Ministry," (pages. 559 - 565), with alterations to fit the circumstances. Another option would be to design an appropriate Commissioning Service. Whatever is decided should always be with the consultation of the Bishop and parish rector.

Some mission agencies arrange for a Commissioning Service after a group of mission workers complete their training, but this should now be in place of the diocesan event.

RE-ENTRY PROCESS FOR RETURNED MISSIONERS

The process of re-entry for missioners into their own homeland is not easy. It takes time and effort to integrate, within the North American context, the values, insights, and skills gained in another country - another culture - another environment.

A well planned re-entry process offers returned missioners the opportunity to come together with others who are going through a similar transitional journey in their lives. While the exercises and group activities listed below cannot solve all the issues or problems, they can help participants understand themselves more fully and enable them to continue on with their lives in a productive manner. The skilled facilitator helps participants search their own journeys - from "Letting Go" to "Letting Blessing" to "Letting Be and Giving Thanks" to "Letting New Beginnings."

The recommended re-entry process should contain the following components:

Telling The Story - A format which allows participants to tell their mission story, sort out feelings, and acknowledge experiences resulting from the return to the home culture and church.

Integrating Mission Experience - A time for participants to share models of theological reflection, with the understanding that the mission experience will influence their future.

Skills Assessment and Goal Setting - Reviewing individual skills, and assisting participants in setting short-term goals that may utilize elements of skills acquired during their mission experience.

Networking - Learning the value of networking and methods of maintaining contact with other returned missioners.

Support Systems - Methods of identifying and establishing connections with persons or groups who can function as a mutual support network.

Additional Materials on Sending:

Missionary Recruits: Qualities That Might Make A Difference

A. Spiritual Maturity

Persons with a deep personal commitment to and experience of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Person who have a love and concern for others in body, mind, and spirit (and who have made a contribution to their present faith community: "If you won’t be missed where you are, maybe you aren't’ the right person to become a missionary elsewhere.").

Persons who have a deep personal humility.

Persons who can live and talk convincingly about their faith in Christ in their local situations.

Persons who are willing to place every facet of their lives into the hands of God, not clinging to security, status, rights, or other worldly trappings.

Persons who are certain of their calling and dedication to missionary service.

Persons who understand the Anglican concept of tradition, Holy Scripture, and reason as the bases of authority and action in all matters of faith and practice.

Persons who have Biblical knowledge and persist in regular Bible study.

B. Personal Maturity

Persons who have accepted the responsibilities of adult life and been able to fulfill them. This includes financial, employment, and family responsibilities to the extent experienced.

Persons who are able to cope emotionally with the stresses and hardships of the missionary vocation, especially the adjustments to new and radically different cultures.

Persons who are mature in their relationships; who can cope humbly with strong differences of opinion and the associated clash of personalities.

Persons who are not prejudiced; who are free from cultural, class, color, and religious bias.

C. Willingness

Willing to serve how, when, and where Christ and His Church desire.

Willing to serve alongside others, especially missionaries from other countries and national Christions.

Willing to serve in loving Christian fellowship on a team, not remaining aloof from others.

Willing to yield to sacrifice, scarcity, and suffering which are still in demand in this calling.

Willing to maintain relationship with the sending Parish and other supporters.

____________________

A Message for Married Couples:

What should be the approach of a couple when the partners do not see eye to eye on the subject of missionary service? In fact, very few couples are equally convinced that they should become missionaries, especially at the earliest stages of considering a call. It is quite normal to see one spouse pushing the issue forward while the other is at least cool or even hostile to the idea. But it is not normal or right for a couple to embark on missionary service when one partner feels they are not called.

If you are a couple considering missionary service and do not agree on the matter, here is a simple covenant that you can make with each other. The terms are both faithful and practical. If you are the one against it, agree to explore the issue fully with your partner; and if you are the one for it, agree to drop the issue if, having explored it, your partner does not want to move forward. It is vital that such an agreement be made when the issue of missionary service first comes up, before either spouse begins to feel their point of view is not being respected.

Beyond the personal covenant, trust the judgment of experienced people and the missionary agency on such a matter. Remember it is not in the interest of the mission agency to send out people who are not called. The issue of agreement between spouses is likely one of the first items that a mission agency will examine when considering a couple for service.

Sample form for Missionary Candidacy

(taken from the Diocese of Southern Ohio)

MISSIONARY CANDIDATE APPLICATION FORM

A separate Application Form should be completed for each candidate.

Please note that the submission and/or acceptance of an Application Form does not constitute a contract of any sort. The Application Form is one of many tools utilized to ascertain suitability for overseas service. Either the Diocesan GEM Committee or the Candidate may withdraw from the application process at any time.

Please write legibly or use a typewriter.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name ____________________________________________________________

Other names by which you may be known__________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Telephone ____________________________________________________________

Date of Birth ____________________________________________________________

Marital Status:

__single __separated (date_____________)

__married (date_____________) __divorced (date_____________)

__widowed (date_____________) # of any previous divorce__________

Spouse’s name:_________________________________Date of Birth_________________

Children:

Name/Date of Birth/Highest Grade Attained

_________________________________ ______________ ______________

School/University Years Attended, Degree/Certificate Received

________________________________________________________________________

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Company Position Held/Primary Dates/Reason for or Organization Responsibilities Leaving

________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Please list skills or experiences you have which might be helpful in a cross cultural setting:

________________________________________________________________________

What Bible training have you had?

________________________________________________________________________

Have you had any cross cultural experience? If so, please describe:_____________________

________________________________________________________________________

Was there a language barrier? If so, please describe how you overcame the barrier or otherwise handled the situation:

________________________________________________________________________

Describe your relationship with those of the other culture:_____________________________

________________________________________________________________________

PERSONALITY/PERSONAL RELATIONS

Please describe you personality:

________________________________________________________________________

How do you respond to those subordinate to you?__________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

How do you respond to those in authority over you?________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

How do you relate to members of the opposite sex?________________________________

If married, describe you marriage relationship:_____________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Does your spouse have the same call to serve cross culturally as you?___________________

________________________________________________________________________

If you have children, how do they feel about serving cross culturally?____________________

________________________________________________________________________

What concerns do you have about raising them in a cross cultural setting?

________________________________________________________________________

What have you considered as options for the education of the children?

________________________________________________________________________

If single, do you enjoy being single?_____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

If single, how have you dealt with the possibility of remaining single for life?________________

________________________________________________________________________

How do you react in stressful situations?________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

How do you handle conflict?__________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

How do you handle loneliness?________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

How do you react in new situations?____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

How do you handle anger and frustration?________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What are your greatest strengths?______________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What are your greatest weaknesses?____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Have you experienced living a simple lifestyle?_____________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

FINANCIAL

Do you currently have any debts?______________________________________________

If so, do you plan to dispense with them prior to leaving?_____________________________

If so, how?_______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

PERSONAL HISTORY

On a separate sheet of paper, please give details of you personal history.

SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY

On a separate sheet of paper, please give your spiritual autobiography. Include your first awareness of God working in your life, your subsequent growth (or lack of growth), and your current relationship with God.

INTEREST IN MISSION

On a separate sheet of paper, please give details of your interest in mission work. How and when did you first sense a call to mission? What has led to your pursuit of missionary service at this point in your life? Explain your understanding of the biblical basis for mission.

Please describe any reading or other preparation you have done for cross-cultural service.

PERSONAL REFERENCES

Please give names and address of those we could contact for a personal reference:

Rector: