Knox
Presbyterian Church,
We understand
the power of the gospel to be our only hope for renewal and the world's only
hope for change. By responding to God's grace, we can reinvigorate our
service to Christ and our commitment to the proclamation of His message.
Jesus Christ
has commissioned us to make effective disciples in all nations by spreading
His Good News to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark
The Knox World
Mission (“KWM”) Team is composed of mission-minded individuals who are
approved by the Session of Knox Church. There is no term of service. Members
are free to resign at any time by advising other KWM Team members. KWM team
members carry out the following programs and duties:
-
develop, manage and evaluate the KWM program by constantly seeking the
guidance of the Holy Spirit.
-
plan and organize an annual conference to inform the congregation of the
current status of worldwide missions, to spark specific interest within
the congregation in the respective ministries of KWM, and to encourage
support for workers through prayer and the raising of financial
resources toward the KWM Budget. [The KWM Budget will cover the cost of
the conference.]
-
encourage interest in and support (including prayer) for worldwide
ministries through the following activities and means of communication:
v
publish a monthly prayer bulletin
v
arrange periodic special meetings
v
present minute-for-mission announcements
and/or ‘live' interviews with KWM workers during Sunday worship services
v
prepare a bulletin board which is updated
with current information concerning KWM workers
v
maintain regular communication with supported
workers
v
support short-term mission trips
v
make workers letters available for the
congregation
v
keep the congregation updated via email and
web
-
prepare and administer
the annual mission budget of
v
national workers (those
serving locally and Canada-wide)
v
international workers
(those serving outside
v
mission projects
v
scholarship assistance
v
Phase 2 support
-
report
on mission activities and present financial documents and minutes to the
auditors for presentation at the Annual General Meeting of the
congregation.
-
receive
and evaluate applications submitted by candidates.
-
encourage mission
education in Sunday School, small group Bible studies and various
groups. Missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in
-
appoint subcommittees to carry out other mission activities.
- Those receiving financial support from KWM cannot serve as a committee member.
The KWM Team
consists of the following individuals:
v
the Senior minister (ex-officio)
v
8 to 12 members from the congregation with a
passion for missions, among whom will be at least one Session member and
from whom the following officers will be chosen:
Ø
a chairperson
Ø
a secretary
Ø
a treasurer
New members may be
appointed by the KWM Team with the approval of Session. All KWM Team members
must be members or active adherents of
-
Chairperson
v
Organizes meetings and provides an agenda to
all members before each meeting.
v
Submits annual budget to session for approval
v
Submits reports to the Annual General Meeting
or at other times as Session requires.
v
Normally presides over meetings of the KWM
Team.
v
Arranges for regular communication by
letter/email with KWM workers.
-
Secretary
v
Assists the Chairperson as required.
v
Takes minutes at each meeting.
v
Distributes copies of the minutes as soon as
possible to all KWM Team members. [Minutes are approved at the next
meeting.]
-
Treasurer
v
Collaborates with the Chairperson in drawing up an annual budget prior to
the beginning of the new fiscal year. This proposed budget will be finalized
at a regular KWM Team meeting.
v
Keeps accurate financial
accounts, which will be audited yearly and presented
at the Annual General Meeting
for congregational approval.
v
Researches and evaluates the best means of
investing bequests and large donations made to the KWM Program and presents
these findings to the KWM Team for its decision.
v
The KWM fiscal year runs
from January 1 to December 31.
- Other (non-officer) KWM Team members will be assigned to prepare monthly prayer bulletins and to acknowledge memorial gifts.
The KWM Team
will normally meet monthly for responding to workers' requests, planning and
consideration of other business.
All bequests made to KWM will be used only as directed by the donor and/or
by his/her estate.
Undesignated bequests will be directed to the bequest account.
Interested persons may apply to become KWM workers [as supported or
tentmakers] if they meet the following criteria:
v
They
feel called by God to serve in a mission outreach.
v
They have been actively involved in the life and ministry of Knox
Church for a period of at least two years.
v
They
have been involved in actual evangelical outreach.
v
They
have been accepted (or are in the process of being accepted) by a
KWM-approved mission agency.
v
They
have submitted the KWM application on
KWM website
and agree to the statement of faith
[below].
v
They are
willing to provide monthly requests for the prayer bulletin.
v
They are committed to keeping the KWM Team informed of their activities on a
quarterly basis.
v
They
agree to submit yearly ministry reports to KWM
PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION OF A WORKER
-
Examination of the completed application.
-
Facilitate an interview with the Senior Minister, the KWM Chairperson
and one other member of KWM Team.
-
Arrange a meeting with the entire KWM Team.
-
Must complete annual written review as found on KWM website.
-
To report to the KWM Team on their ministry's progress and needs
regularly through newsletters, email, etc.
-
To provide notice to the KWM Team Chairperson on any changes in their
location, ministry or relationship with their mission agency.
-
To attend the KWM annual Conference whenever possible and to keep the
KWM Team apprised of the time(s) of their home visits.
-
In order to be considered for regular support under the KWM Budget, an
individual must meet all of the following requirements:
v
Complete the Application form at
www.knoxworldmission.ca
v
sign and commit to the KWM Statement of
Faith.
v
believe in Jesus Christ as their personal
Lord and Saviour.
v
be a member or active
adherent of
v
display appropriate special gifts and a call
to ministry.
v
have been accepted (or are in the process)
for service under a mission board whose purpose, doctrine, practice and
methods are acceptable to Knox Session.
v
commit to maintaining regular communication
with KWM as mandated by the Team.
v
agree to notify the KWM Team in advance of
any change(s) in their appointment, status, ministry or state of financial
need.
-
Workers who require
further studies directly related to their work should apply to KWM for
consideration of financial help.
[Formerly the George Lowe Scholarship Fund]
-
The amount of KWM support will normally cover only a portion of the
worker's total required support. This amount will be decided after
consulting with the mission agency as to the worker's total needs and
after considering the availability of funds within the KWM Budget.
-
Support normally begins the month that the worker begins his/her term of
mission service. It will continue unchanged through regular furlough
periods, provided that the furlough period
does not exceed one year.
-
Workers will not
solicit funds for personal support from the congregation, groups or
individuals within
KWM is committed to the value of short-term
workers
-
All applicants must complete the
Application form found on the KWM web
site.
-
Individuals wanting to carry out a short-term mission must present their
project need to the KWM Team at least three months in advance for its
approval.
-
The KWM Team will evaluate the proposed plan to determine the
effectiveness of the short-term ministry.
-
Generally, short-term
missions should be self-funded. However, where there is a need, support
will be considered.
-
Short
term workers agree to report to KWM on completion of their term of
service.
-
-
Support
will be reassessed on an annual basis.
-
Requests for additional support should be directed to the KWM Team prior
to April 30. Each case will be considered individually and on its own
merits, taking into account the overall support level reported by the
appropriate mission agency.
-
Although KWM prepares
its budget prayerfully and with sincere faith, in the event of a severe
shortfall of funds, any committed support may
require reduction.
- All applications will require the filling in of
the
Short Term Project form.
- Projects must promote an evangelical outreach.
The proposal must outline how it reaches out with the gospel through
the proposed activities.
-
KWM must approve and agree with the supervision and accountability
structure.
- The worker or his/her supervisor must keep full
and accurate financial records for the project, which are sufficient
for CRA auditing purposes.
- Ideally, projects will be funded to completion.
- Funding for the project
does not form part of the worker's support.
- All funds donated for these particular projects
shall be forwarded to the worker in accordance with CRA rules.
-
Such projects may include: PWS&D, projects of Knox workers, refugee
support, disaster relief, Knox Dinner and Food Bank.
Preference given to opportunities presented by
KWM Workers.
- All projects submitted for financial support must
have full support of all members of KWM committee. Projects, once
approved by the KWM Team, must be recorded in the minutes.
- Projects proposed for consideration must have a
period of 6 to 24 months.
- Applications for project funding must have the
following items: 1) a justification of the project, 2) overall goals
and objectives of its phases; 3) a detailed budget of how funds will
be spent; 4) a pre-defined period for its execution.
- Quarterly financial and activities report are
mandatory for continuation of funding. Expenditures must be in
accordance with budget proposal.
- A final project report is due at the end of the
period of each approved project proposal. This report must state
whether or not goals were reached and the reasons why they were not
when that is the case.
- Following completion of the term of support, in
accordance with the proposal, renewal is subject to new application
and approval by the KWM committee.
KWM Team may consider providing ongoing support to KWM workers who have served for more than 10 years, to allow them to continue ongoing ministry.
It may become necessary for
-
The development of serious personal or moral problems in the life of the
worker.
-
The use of support funds for a purpose other than as agreed to by the
KWM Team.
- A
change in the worker's status under the mission agency.
- A
worker's inappropriate solicitation of support, including the following:
v
the direction of funds secured from persons
associated with Knox to personal accounts or directly to mission agencies,
bypassing the channel of KWM.
v
exerting undue pressure
upon anyone within or outside of the congregation of
-
If, for any reason, the mission agency
decides to discontinue its association with the worker.
-
The failure of the worker to communicate
with the KWM Team over a period extending beyond six months.
-
If the worker is no longer able to agree with every element of the
statement of faith.
Initial
communication to the worker of the issues regarding the termination of
support will be through a designated member of the KWM Team, either in
writing or in person. This initial communication shall be reported to the
KWM Team.
If the initial
action does not resolve the situation or if the offence is repeated or
continued, the worker(s) shall meet with the entire KWM Team. The outcome of
this KWM Team meeting shall be binding.
This meeting
may include other members of Knox Church–lay or staff. The worker(s) may
bring a non-family member to this meeting in order to facilitate
understanding and/or to provide him/her with support.
Should the
meeting result in the termination of support; the KWM Team will typically
continue regular support payments for up to three months after termination.
Exceptions to
this mission policy may be made but must be approved by the KWM Team and,
when necessary, by the Session.
This mission
policy will be reviewed from time to time as necessary. All revisions to
this mission policy must be approved by the KWM Team and Session prior to
being instituted.
I accept the central truths of Christianity, as revealed in Scripture,
including:
·
The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
·
The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final
judgment.
·
The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture, as
originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and
conduct.
·
The universal sinfulness and guilt of all humankind since the fall,
rendering them subject to God's wrath and condemnation.
·
Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely
through the sacrificial death (as our representative and substitute) of the
Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.
·
The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and his
ascension to the right hand of God the Father.
·
The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.
·
The justification of the sinner by the grace of God through faith alone.
·
The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
·
The one holy universal Church which is the body of Christ and to which all
true believers belong.
·
The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Date
Signature
KWM committee as of
May 2015:
Sabrina Simmons, Jeff Bloom, Sherin Hanna, Carol
Herd,
Nancy Howard,
416-921-8993
Fax: 416-921-5918
