HOME MISSIONS MANUAL
HOME MISSIONS MANUAL of the REFORMED CHURCH in the UNITED STATES Revised May 22, 2014
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I. COMMITMENT When a work is opened, the congregation and denomination are to commit themselves to carrying on the work as long as it is viable. It is the responsibility of pastors and elders to instruct their congregations and stir up interest in all of the denomination’s missions programs. Pastors and people are encouraged to systematically pray for the work of home and foreign missions. Each congregation is encouraged to hold an annual Mission Festival or Annual Day of Prayer service for the purpose of calling God’s people to prayer and concern for Missions. The Synod will call for an Annual Day of Prayer for missions, to be held the second Sunday of September, and encourage the churches of the RCUS to pray for mission works on a regular basis. Each congregation is also encouraged to have special meetings for prayer for all the work of the church, including home and foreign missions. Each Home Mission work will be assigned by the SHMC Chairman, on a rotating basis, twice annually, to give a brief report and prayer requests to the Reformed Herald. The Synod Home Missions Committee chairman shall publish a prayer request package in August to be sent to all of the churches. II. OVERSIGHT Each Classis will establish a Home Missions Committee for oversight of those mission works in its jurisdiction. An annual visitation of mission works will be carried out by the Classis Home Missions Committee, and such additional visits as may be necessary. Members of the Synod Home Missions Committee residing within the local classical boundaries shall also be involved in visitation of mission works with the Classes. Annual visitations, meeting with the steering committee or consistory of the work, and with a majority of the members of the work, shall be conducted in SHMC Manual - Page 1
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person by at least two committee members, with their names and occasion noted in the Classis Missions Committee Report to the Synod Home Missions Committee. The overseeing consistory of an unorganized work should provide leadership as an ordinary consistory, make regular visits, such as having an elder present for worship services and to provide for administration of the sacraments, hold meetings with the core group to assess maturity and progress of the work, seek potential officers among the group; and the missionary shall participate in consistory meetings in person or by other means of communication. An annual written report on the progress of each unorganized work shall be sent from the overseeing consistory to the Classis Missions Committee. [revised 2014] The Classical Home Missions Committees shall provide an annual written report of their activities to the Synod Home Missions Committee at least two (2) weeks prior to the annual meeting of the Synod Home Missions Committee. Each Classis Home Missions Committee shall develop a 3-5 year strategic plan for their mission endeavors, and annually update and report on its progress to the Synod Home Missions Committee. The Synodical Permanent Home Missions Committee will consist of one pastor and one elder from each Classis. The missionary, or supply pastor, and the appropriate elders should work closely with the Classis Home Missions Committee. Any major decisions shall be made only after consultation with the Classis Missions Committee. Included in major decisions are: Closing a mission work.
6b. Any change of meeting place or acquisition of permanent location. 6c. Any problem that might threaten the work’s continuation. 7. In reporting statistics to Classis, the statistics of every Home Mission Work shall be reported as an individual congregation. 8. The Synodical Home Mission fiscal year will run from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. 9. Synodical home mission works may solicit funds for the purchase of church property (etc.) from RCUS churches and individuals. If the SHMC Manual - Page 2
requests are outside of the bounds of their Classis, they shall be channeled through the Synod Home Missions Committee for its approval and support. III. MISSIONARIES 1. As a general principle, pastors of Home Missions works should have a minimum of five (5) years experience in the ministry. a. In the case of a mission work that is not organized as a congregation, setting aside this principle would require approval of the Classis. b. In the case of a mission work that is organized as a congregation the Consistory must consult and seek the advice of the Classis before setting aside this principle. 2. No committee member shall be an active home missionary. In the event a Home Missions Committee member takes a call as a home missionary, he shall resign the committee effective at the Classis/Synod meeting immediately following the acceptance of said call. IV. EVALUATING AND ESTABLISHING NEW WORKS 1. The Permanent Classical Home Missions Committee will be responsible to appoint a “Committee on Assessment” for the evaluation of each proposed new home mission work. This committee will be comprised of men who are not a part of the group to be organized, and will be drawn from the Permanent Classical and Synodical Home Missions Committees. 2. Home mission works may be of two types: a. Those initiated by a Classis. 1) Every new work should be an extension of a local church and placed under the oversight of its Consistory. b. Those initiated by a local congregation. 1) When a group is being formed into a mission work by a local congregation, the Classis and Synod shall be made aware of the activity. 2) If continued interest is evident, the local congregation shall arrange a personal visitation by members of the SHMC Manual - Page 3
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Home Missions Committee for the purpose of assessing the work. All the steps taken in establishing a new work as a church shall be guided by the Constitution of the RCUS.
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If the work is outside the bounds of the Classis to which the organizing church belongs, permission to labor in the bounds of another Classis must be sought from the Classis in whose boundaries the work is being organized. 3. Classis agreement to support a new work will be considered on an individual basis. Viability of a proposed work shall be determined after receiving a report with recommendations from the Classis Home Missions Assessment Committee. 4. The report of an Assessment Committee ought to include, at minimum, answers to the following (to expedite their work, the Assessment Committee may send out questionnaires consisting of many of the questions outlined below): a. What is the number of “seed” families? b. What is the spiritual progress of the group? 1) Doctrinal: are they knowledgeable regarding our Confession? Are they in total agreement with it? Are they willing to subscribe to it, or only ascribe? 2) Practical: Have they read our Constitution? Are they in agreement with it? Are they Presbyterian in their view of church government? c. What are their reasons for wanting to join the RCUS? If they have left another group, why? d. How long has the group been together? e. Is there harmony in the group? Are there any over-bearing personalities? f. g. h. i.
Have they investigated other Reformed bodies? Are there any theological aberrations in the group? What evangelistic efforts have they engaged in? Questions to be asked during individual family visitation: SHMC Manual - Page 4
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1) What does each family know about specific matters of belief and practice of the RCUS (e.g., instruction, confirmation, participation at the Lord’s Table, women in office, women voting, RCUS Constitution Art. 179180, 2) Does each family have an evident desire for the salvation of the lost, and a desire to be used to proclaim the gospel? 3) Does each family have a definite conviction that a mission church should exist, and that they should be a part of it? Does this group come with its own pastor?
k. What are the area demographics? l. Are there any men who are qualified to serve in office, or who provide leadership? m. What is the financial viability of the group? (In order to determine this, the group must research and present the following information): 1) What does it cost to rent a place for worship (mortgage cost is applicable)? Do you have a place to meet now? What is the availability of meeting places? Is it / are there any good locations? What will it cost to buy liability insurance for the church? 2) What is an appropriate salary for the support of a pastor including an IRA (this can be determined by researching the average income levels in the area)? 3) What does it cost to house a family, including utilities, phone, rent/or mortgage? Can the group buy a house? Do you have money for a down payment? 4) Along with these figures, the committee should help the group fill out a one year budget with estimated costs of expenses the church may expect to incur. 5) Has the committee made the group aware of the obligation to pay Classis and Synod guidelines and what the current amount of those guidelines are? SHMC Manual - Page 5
6) With the above amounts arrived at, the committee shall determine what the core group will / can commit to the cost. 7) The committee shall then report the amount of financial involvement that would be necessary for the Classis / Synod to support the proposed work. V. APPLYING FOR CLASSIS / SYNOD SUPPORT 1. The following procedure will be used in applying for Classis / Synod support: a. When a new Home Mission work is being envisioned, application for that work shall be made to Synod through the respective Classis, by the Classis Missions Committee. b. Continued yearly application for funding shall be made to the Synod Home Missions Committee. The Classis Missions Committee will be responsible to review the three year budget with the Home Mission work and forward the budget with recommendations concerning the equitable funding of the work between the Classis and Synod. c. The amount of proportion of equitable support shall be determined taking into account the load already being born by the Classis and their financial capability to help fund a new work. As a general principle the support of Mission works should be evenly divided between the Classis and the Synod. 2. The financial support of each work is to be considered on an individual basis. The financial needs of each work are to be determined on the basis of the projected three (3) year budget required by Synod. a. Each individual mission church is to demonstrate its need with its three (3) year budget required by Synod. b. Synod maintains that mission works should establish a goal to be self-supporting within a period of 5 to 10 years. c. The original plan for reaching the goal of being self-supporting is to be established with the Assessment Committee when it meets with a new work. SHMC Manual - Page 6
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d. Reductions in support ought to begin when there has been a demonstrated rise in giving and / or communicant members. e. Reductions in support should begin no later than the third year after support begins, unless the Classis agrees to another reduction plan. f. When it becomes apparent that a mission congregation is unable to proceed to self-support, the Classis Missions Committee may recommend an alternate means of support. Each home mission pastor, along with his Consistory, and assisted by the Home Mission Committee shall make a 3 year projected budget. This budget would comprise all anticipated expenses (including, but not limited to: cost of a building, furnishings, office machines, parsonage, salaries, advertising, living expenses, etc.) This budget will be presented to the Synod for approval for the first year only, and only that part of the budget Synod intends to fund. Synod would then concur (or not) with the overall plan for the next two years. Each year this three year plan would be presented in the same fashion as long as the congregation continues to be a funded mission work. The form for this budget will be provided by the Synodical Home Missions Committee. All housing arrangements for the home missions pastors are to be approved by the Classis Home Missions Committee. Also, the home missions congregations are to be encouraged to buy parsonages for their pastors rather than supporting the pastors in buying their own homes. VI. PROCEDURE FOR CALLING AN ORGANIZING PASTOR The overseeing Consistory may establish a steering committee from the core group of the Mission work which will report to the Consistory on its meetings and activities. A list of qualified ministers shall be established by the steering committee with the advice of the overseeing Consistory and the Classis Missions Committee. The overseeing Consistory shall select a candidate from the list. The organizing pastor is called by the overseeing congregation.
SHMC Manual - Page 7
5. Following a positive vote, the Consistory shall issue a call to the pastor-elect. The call shall include at least the following particulars: a. Salary. b. Provision for housing. c. Provision for Health Insurance. d. Provision for an IRA or other retirement provision. e. Provision for moving. VlI. PROCEDURES FOR ORGANIZING A CONGREGATION 1. Seek approval from the respective Classis for organizing as a congregation with the submission of the following items: a. Articles of incorporation. (if any). b. Church constitution (see model Constitution). c. A “Memorial” with signatures. d. Request that elders and deacons be ordained and installed by the Spiritual Council providing oversight. 2. Following the approval of Classis to organize, the following steps are to be taken: a. Submit forms for State incorporation to Classis (if any). b. Request dismission of members from the Spiritual Council providing oversight. c. The Spiritual Council shall oversee the nomination, election, ordination and installation of elders and deacons. 3. Application shall be made to the respective Classis for admission as a member congregation. 4. The congregation shall extend a call to a pastor. a. The standard RCUS pastoral call form is to be filled out and issued to the minister. b. Copies of the call and its acceptance along with a request to install the pastor shall be submitted to the Classis. c. The Classis shall conduct an installation service.
SHMC Manual - Page 8
1. 2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
1. 2.
I. COMMITMENT When a work is opened, the congregation and denomination are to commit themselves to carrying on the work as long as it is viable. It is the responsibility of pastors and elders to instruct their congregations and stir up interest in all of the denomination’s missions programs. Pastors and people are encouraged to systematically pray for the work of home and foreign missions. Each congregation is encouraged to hold an annual Mission Festival or Annual Day of Prayer service for the purpose of calling God’s people to prayer and concern for Missions. The Synod will call for an Annual Day of Prayer for missions, to be held the second Sunday of September, and encourage the churches of the RCUS to pray for mission works on a regular basis. Each congregation is also encouraged to have special meetings for prayer for all the work of the church, including home and foreign missions. Each Home Mission work will be assigned by the SHMC Chairman, on a rotating basis, twice annually, to give a brief report and prayer requests to the Reformed Herald. The Synod Home Missions Committee chairman shall publish a prayer request package in August to be sent to all of the churches. II. OVERSIGHT Each Classis will establish a Home Missions Committee for oversight of those mission works in its jurisdiction. An annual visitation of mission works will be carried out by the Classis Home Missions Committee, and such additional visits as may be necessary. Members of the Synod Home Missions Committee residing within the local classical boundaries shall also be involved in visitation of mission works with the Classes. Annual visitations, meeting with the steering committee or consistory of the work, and with a majority of the members of the work, shall be conducted in SHMC Manual - Page 1
3.
4.
5. 6.
6a.
person by at least two committee members, with their names and occasion noted in the Classis Missions Committee Report to the Synod Home Missions Committee. The overseeing consistory of an unorganized work should provide leadership as an ordinary consistory, make regular visits, such as having an elder present for worship services and to provide for administration of the sacraments, hold meetings with the core group to assess maturity and progress of the work, seek potential officers among the group; and the missionary shall participate in consistory meetings in person or by other means of communication. An annual written report on the progress of each unorganized work shall be sent from the overseeing consistory to the Classis Missions Committee. [revised 2014] The Classical Home Missions Committees shall provide an annual written report of their activities to the Synod Home Missions Committee at least two (2) weeks prior to the annual meeting of the Synod Home Missions Committee. Each Classis Home Missions Committee shall develop a 3-5 year strategic plan for their mission endeavors, and annually update and report on its progress to the Synod Home Missions Committee. The Synodical Permanent Home Missions Committee will consist of one pastor and one elder from each Classis. The missionary, or supply pastor, and the appropriate elders should work closely with the Classis Home Missions Committee. Any major decisions shall be made only after consultation with the Classis Missions Committee. Included in major decisions are: Closing a mission work.
6b. Any change of meeting place or acquisition of permanent location. 6c. Any problem that might threaten the work’s continuation. 7. In reporting statistics to Classis, the statistics of every Home Mission Work shall be reported as an individual congregation. 8. The Synodical Home Mission fiscal year will run from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. 9. Synodical home mission works may solicit funds for the purchase of church property (etc.) from RCUS churches and individuals. If the SHMC Manual - Page 2
requests are outside of the bounds of their Classis, they shall be channeled through the Synod Home Missions Committee for its approval and support. III. MISSIONARIES 1. As a general principle, pastors of Home Missions works should have a minimum of five (5) years experience in the ministry. a. In the case of a mission work that is not organized as a congregation, setting aside this principle would require approval of the Classis. b. In the case of a mission work that is organized as a congregation the Consistory must consult and seek the advice of the Classis before setting aside this principle. 2. No committee member shall be an active home missionary. In the event a Home Missions Committee member takes a call as a home missionary, he shall resign the committee effective at the Classis/Synod meeting immediately following the acceptance of said call. IV. EVALUATING AND ESTABLISHING NEW WORKS 1. The Permanent Classical Home Missions Committee will be responsible to appoint a “Committee on Assessment” for the evaluation of each proposed new home mission work. This committee will be comprised of men who are not a part of the group to be organized, and will be drawn from the Permanent Classical and Synodical Home Missions Committees. 2. Home mission works may be of two types: a. Those initiated by a Classis. 1) Every new work should be an extension of a local church and placed under the oversight of its Consistory. b. Those initiated by a local congregation. 1) When a group is being formed into a mission work by a local congregation, the Classis and Synod shall be made aware of the activity. 2) If continued interest is evident, the local congregation shall arrange a personal visitation by members of the SHMC Manual - Page 3
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Home Missions Committee for the purpose of assessing the work. All the steps taken in establishing a new work as a church shall be guided by the Constitution of the RCUS.
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If the work is outside the bounds of the Classis to which the organizing church belongs, permission to labor in the bounds of another Classis must be sought from the Classis in whose boundaries the work is being organized. 3. Classis agreement to support a new work will be considered on an individual basis. Viability of a proposed work shall be determined after receiving a report with recommendations from the Classis Home Missions Assessment Committee. 4. The report of an Assessment Committee ought to include, at minimum, answers to the following (to expedite their work, the Assessment Committee may send out questionnaires consisting of many of the questions outlined below): a. What is the number of “seed” families? b. What is the spiritual progress of the group? 1) Doctrinal: are they knowledgeable regarding our Confession? Are they in total agreement with it? Are they willing to subscribe to it, or only ascribe? 2) Practical: Have they read our Constitution? Are they in agreement with it? Are they Presbyterian in their view of church government? c. What are their reasons for wanting to join the RCUS? If they have left another group, why? d. How long has the group been together? e. Is there harmony in the group? Are there any over-bearing personalities? f. g. h. i.
Have they investigated other Reformed bodies? Are there any theological aberrations in the group? What evangelistic efforts have they engaged in? Questions to be asked during individual family visitation: SHMC Manual - Page 4
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1) What does each family know about specific matters of belief and practice of the RCUS (e.g., instruction, confirmation, participation at the Lord’s Table, women in office, women voting, RCUS Constitution Art. 179180, 2) Does each family have an evident desire for the salvation of the lost, and a desire to be used to proclaim the gospel? 3) Does each family have a definite conviction that a mission church should exist, and that they should be a part of it? Does this group come with its own pastor?
k. What are the area demographics? l. Are there any men who are qualified to serve in office, or who provide leadership? m. What is the financial viability of the group? (In order to determine this, the group must research and present the following information): 1) What does it cost to rent a place for worship (mortgage cost is applicable)? Do you have a place to meet now? What is the availability of meeting places? Is it / are there any good locations? What will it cost to buy liability insurance for the church? 2) What is an appropriate salary for the support of a pastor including an IRA (this can be determined by researching the average income levels in the area)? 3) What does it cost to house a family, including utilities, phone, rent/or mortgage? Can the group buy a house? Do you have money for a down payment? 4) Along with these figures, the committee should help the group fill out a one year budget with estimated costs of expenses the church may expect to incur. 5) Has the committee made the group aware of the obligation to pay Classis and Synod guidelines and what the current amount of those guidelines are? SHMC Manual - Page 5
6) With the above amounts arrived at, the committee shall determine what the core group will / can commit to the cost. 7) The committee shall then report the amount of financial involvement that would be necessary for the Classis / Synod to support the proposed work. V. APPLYING FOR CLASSIS / SYNOD SUPPORT 1. The following procedure will be used in applying for Classis / Synod support: a. When a new Home Mission work is being envisioned, application for that work shall be made to Synod through the respective Classis, by the Classis Missions Committee. b. Continued yearly application for funding shall be made to the Synod Home Missions Committee. The Classis Missions Committee will be responsible to review the three year budget with the Home Mission work and forward the budget with recommendations concerning the equitable funding of the work between the Classis and Synod. c. The amount of proportion of equitable support shall be determined taking into account the load already being born by the Classis and their financial capability to help fund a new work. As a general principle the support of Mission works should be evenly divided between the Classis and the Synod. 2. The financial support of each work is to be considered on an individual basis. The financial needs of each work are to be determined on the basis of the projected three (3) year budget required by Synod. a. Each individual mission church is to demonstrate its need with its three (3) year budget required by Synod. b. Synod maintains that mission works should establish a goal to be self-supporting within a period of 5 to 10 years. c. The original plan for reaching the goal of being self-supporting is to be established with the Assessment Committee when it meets with a new work. SHMC Manual - Page 6
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d. Reductions in support ought to begin when there has been a demonstrated rise in giving and / or communicant members. e. Reductions in support should begin no later than the third year after support begins, unless the Classis agrees to another reduction plan. f. When it becomes apparent that a mission congregation is unable to proceed to self-support, the Classis Missions Committee may recommend an alternate means of support. Each home mission pastor, along with his Consistory, and assisted by the Home Mission Committee shall make a 3 year projected budget. This budget would comprise all anticipated expenses (including, but not limited to: cost of a building, furnishings, office machines, parsonage, salaries, advertising, living expenses, etc.) This budget will be presented to the Synod for approval for the first year only, and only that part of the budget Synod intends to fund. Synod would then concur (or not) with the overall plan for the next two years. Each year this three year plan would be presented in the same fashion as long as the congregation continues to be a funded mission work. The form for this budget will be provided by the Synodical Home Missions Committee. All housing arrangements for the home missions pastors are to be approved by the Classis Home Missions Committee. Also, the home missions congregations are to be encouraged to buy parsonages for their pastors rather than supporting the pastors in buying their own homes. VI. PROCEDURE FOR CALLING AN ORGANIZING PASTOR The overseeing Consistory may establish a steering committee from the core group of the Mission work which will report to the Consistory on its meetings and activities. A list of qualified ministers shall be established by the steering committee with the advice of the overseeing Consistory and the Classis Missions Committee. The overseeing Consistory shall select a candidate from the list. The organizing pastor is called by the overseeing congregation.
SHMC Manual - Page 7
5. Following a positive vote, the Consistory shall issue a call to the pastor-elect. The call shall include at least the following particulars: a. Salary. b. Provision for housing. c. Provision for Health Insurance. d. Provision for an IRA or other retirement provision. e. Provision for moving. VlI. PROCEDURES FOR ORGANIZING A CONGREGATION 1. Seek approval from the respective Classis for organizing as a congregation with the submission of the following items: a. Articles of incorporation. (if any). b. Church constitution (see model Constitution). c. A “Memorial” with signatures. d. Request that elders and deacons be ordained and installed by the Spiritual Council providing oversight. 2. Following the approval of Classis to organize, the following steps are to be taken: a. Submit forms for State incorporation to Classis (if any). b. Request dismission of members from the Spiritual Council providing oversight. c. The Spiritual Council shall oversee the nomination, election, ordination and installation of elders and deacons. 3. Application shall be made to the respective Classis for admission as a member congregation. 4. The congregation shall extend a call to a pastor. a. The standard RCUS pastoral call form is to be filled out and issued to the minister. b. Copies of the call and its acceptance along with a request to install the pastor shall be submitted to the Classis. c. The Classis shall conduct an installation service.
SHMC Manual - Page 8
