A. Appointment
1. The MC shall be a self-perpetuating body with members elected in accordance with the provisions of this constitution. Though empowered to elect its officers, the final appointment is by the Life BPC Board of Elders (hereinafter referred to as BOE).
2. It shall consist of not less than 5 and not more than 8 members. The MC shall consist of ministers of the gospel, elders, deacons and members of good standing.
3. The MC shall fill all vacancies caused by the death or resignation or incapacity of any members, such persons serving until the expiration of the terms of those whose places they are taking.
4. The MC shall be responsible to oversee the general operation of the committee; set all policies of operation; recommend priorities of direction; administer all funds; expand and add new officers as needed; appoint field chairmen when necessary; and screen, select, maintain, and supervise all missionary personnel.
5. The MC, recognising its cordial relationship to supporting churches and individuals, shall be open and responsive to their inquiries, suggestions, and recommendations.
6. The term of office is 3 years.
7. Membership may be renewed. However, it is subject to the approval of the BOE.
8. The term of office may be terminated if its officers are found to be incompetent during their course of service or facing the disciplinary action of the BOE.
B. Functions:
1. Provide spiritual oversight of the missionaries.
2. Provide someone specific to coordinate missions responsibilities with the missionaries and the sending church.
3. Provide an identifiable sending church in order to meet any requirements of governments at home and abroad.
4. Make and implement policy from a service perspective.
5. Promote the needs and objectives of the missionaries.
6. Become a liaison between missionaries, governments, and churches when special needs or problems arise.
7. Set down a clear means of accountability both to and from the supporters and the missionaries.
8. Keep missions needs and opportunities before a wider group of both churches and people.
9. Support specialized training and development of missionaries.
10. Work specifically with mission trends and specialized missions work, such as short-term service, medical service, youth teams, on-site missionary training, and relief work.
11. Aid and establish and strengthen indigenous Bible-believing churches, related institutions and ministries agreeable to the same doctrinal standards and principles of church government.
12. Accept gifts, devises and bequests subject to any conditions or limitations contained in such gift, devise or bequest so long as they are not contrary to law or to the purposes for which the MC is organized.
13. Establish By-laws and make all rules and regulations not inconsistent with the law or the Constitution of the sending Church or of the country which may be deemed expedient for the management of the MC.
14. Elect officers, and other personnel of the MC, and define their duties.
15. Screen missions applicants, recommend for approval and commissioning by the BOE and fix their compensation.
16. To have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes for which the MC is organized.
17. If the MC should ever be dissolved, all of its functions and just obligations will be reverted to the BOE to carry out until a new committee or agency is appointed.
18. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this missions policy, the purposes for which the MC is organized are exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational within the constitution and By-laws of Life BPC and the laws of governments.
19. Notwithstanding any other provision of this missions policy, the MC shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by the constitution and By-laws of Life BPC and the laws of government.
C. Constitution and By – Laws
1. MC members and missionaries commissioned by Life BPC shall abide by and hold to the Church stipulated Constitution, distinctives and doctrinal position.
2. MC members, at the beginning of each three year term in office, and all missionaries at the beginning of each new term of service, shall sign a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws, by which name this policy shall be known, as a declaration that they assent without mental reservation to the doctrinal basis and policies of Life BPC. Any MC member or missionary finding himself/herself not in accord with this policy is expected to withdraw.
3. The Constitution, distinctives and doctrinal position are not amendable and are irrevocable.
D. Organization
The Missions Committee comprises the following people:
1. Chairman
2. Vice-Chairman
3. Recording Secretary
4. Assistant Secretary
5. Field Representative
6. Members
E. Responsibilities
In order that the spiritual and temporal well being of the missionaries be preserved and the objective of the MC be carried out efficiently, the responsibilities shall consist of the following:
MC members
1. The MC has the power to act unilaterally (without full BOE’s approval) in the event of war or epidemic on a home or foreign field, when foreign government or employer action requires immediate decision concerning a change in location for a missionary, or other immediate emergency situations.
2. Under normal situations, missionaries and the Field Representative should allow for seven (7) days response time from the MC. In emergency situations, members of the MC must respond in twelve (12) to twenty-four (24) hours, or their approval is assumed by the Field Director. The MC will be informed as soon as it is practical, and should review the action at the monthly meeting.
Chairman
1. The Chairman shall be the head executive officer of the MC and shall have the normal powers pertaining thereto, including that of presiding over all sessions of MC. He shall also process all communications to and from the BOE concerning the business of the MC except as otherwise provided in this Policy.
2. To prepare and present an Annual Mission Budget to the BOE.
Vice-Chairman
1. The Vice-Chairman shall assume full responsibility for the duty of the Chairman if for any reason the Chairman is unable to act in his official capacity. He shall also assist the Chairman in his normal duties whenever possible.
Recording Secretary
1. The Recording Secretary shall keep accurate records of all MC meetings, such records remaining the property of the MC.
Assistant Secretary
2. The Assistant Secretary shall assume full responsibility for the duty of the Recording Secretary if for any reason the Recording Secretary is unable to act in his official capacity. He shall also assist the Recording Secretary in his normal duties whenever possible.
Field Representative
1. Field Representative shall work in close cooperation with and under the authority of the Chairman of MC, and shall receive and process all correspondence not otherwise handled by the Chairman.
2. He shall interview prospective missionary candidates.
3. He shall seek to promote the policies of the MC at home and on the various fields, and shall be the primary means of a liaison between the work on the fields and the MC at home.
4. He should therefore normally have as one of his qualifications missionary experience on the foreign field.
Members
1. To attend all MC meetings and to matters of missions promptly.
2. To promote, support and render help to all activities of missions.
3. To render help to the rest of MC members when called upon.
F. Finances
1. The MC shall refer and direct all mission funds to the Life BPC Treasurer and shall work closely with the Treasurer in the approval and disbursement of funds to missionaries and approved projects.
2. The MC, in consultation with the Emolument Committee will determine what constitutes adequate support for a missionary or missionary family in a given field of service. Each missionary will be responsible for working towards self-support; although the MC will aid, wherever possible, and provide other ways of assistance.
3. No missionary shall be sent or returned to the field without any support, and missionaries on the field will be expected to maintain home interest and support for their work. The MC will seek to assist the missionaries on the field by keeping their needs before the churches.
4. Missionaries supported by Life BPC are required to direct supporters to send their contributions through the MC. If the missionary directly receives support or donations for approved projects, the same must be reported to the MC who will then approve of its use. This does not affect gifts clearly marked or designated for “the personal use of the missionary.”
5. All contributions and gifts received for the work shall be duly receipted by the Life BPC Treasurer.
6. The MC shall annually adopt a budget to provide for its own administrative operations and that of the entire missions work of Life BPC.